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Distinguished Delegates,

±á´Ç±ôà!

I am delighted to send warm greetings to this seventeenth session of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization. The World Heritage City of Cartagena, with its unique historical and cultural treasures, provides an auspicious venue.

Tourism is becoming increasingly important to the world economy and global community. It is more and more connected with issues at the top of the United Nations agenda, from terrorism and conflict to natural disasters, epidemics, poverty and climate change.

The UN General Assembly recognized this four years ago, when it transformed the UN World Tourism Organization into a specialized agency.

Your institution is the smallest and youngest in the UN family, but it tackles big issues. I commend you on your choice of themes for this Assembly.

First, risk prevention and crisis management -- including preparing for the possibility of a flu pandemic, which would have such a severe impact on your industry.

Second, sustainable tourism as a tool for reaching the Millennium Development Goals.

Third, adapting to the impact of climate change, and limiting tourism's own contribution to greenhouse-gas emissions. I particularly welcome this focus as we prepare for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali next month.

These themes show that tourism cannot be looked at in isolation from the global UN agenda. I thank you for your serious commitment, and wish you every success in your deliberations.

Thank you very much.