We thank the Excellency Mrs. Ambassador Alicia Buenrostro, for her work in leading the ORA steering group during these two fruitful years. I want to recognize your capacity in management by leading the ARCAL Presidency, and we are committed to continuing this dynamic for the benefit of the Latin American and Caribbean region.
It is a great honour for me to take the presidency of this body in this important celebration. As mentioned by Mr. Yukiya Amano on the occasion of the twentieth meeting of ARCAL's Technical Cooperation Body in May this year in Cuba, "ARCAL and the IAEA have worked together effectively over the past 35 years to ensure that science and technology n available in health care, food and agriculture, industry and many other areas.
The IAEA cooperates directly with each of its 21 states parties, but ARCAL has proven to be an excellent framework for taking a more strategic approach to the use of nuclear technology to help address common problems in this region of some 580 million people."
Thank you all so much for your trust in Cuba to continue these important achievements.
(Embacuba Austria)