01-14-2007, 08:39 PM
Distinguished guests,
As sovereign host I have the honor to open the conference with this initial address. I promise not to make this address a lengthy affair, and yet I can not gloss over the significance of this conference both for Hanover nor, I believe, for the community of nations.
For Hanover the response from the community of nations has been tremendous. I do believe there are more than a few delegates for whom this conference shall be their first serious interaction with Hanover and I assure the new comers and the veterans alike that Hanover extends her warmest hand of friendship to all present, and to those who may still yet arrive later. Hanover knows that your participation here is a leap of faith, and having placed your faith in Hanover I can tell you we will do our utmost to meet your expectations. Of course, I cannot determine the conclusions of the conference, but for as long as you are here you shall be our valued and respected guests.
For the community I only have to read the registry of all the names of those present to see incontrovertible proof that the community of nations has already embraced the general tenants this conference rests upon: unity, cooperation and trust. Such broad support means that the conclusions reached here can be widely implemented across the entire community of nations. This will benefit all nations, even those that, for whatever their reasons, did not attend.
What remains is to determine the finer details of how to strengthen the community, and those things I leave to the conference delegates knowing that with so many view points and minds working on the product, I have no reservations that real lasting important conclusions will be the result. I have no doubt that this conference will generate lasting effects that will reach into all of our lives in a way that moves all of us just a little farther down the road to better nations all around.
As I draw this address to its close I do want to add one exhortation that my years as Sovereign as taught me, and that surely many of you already know, but none the less is so pertinent as to be worthy of restatement: Reasonable men may disagree.
When you are putting forth your ideas, be sure that some others will not agree with them, at least initially. And as you review the offerings of others, you may not feel in league with their concepts as stated. Disagreement is healthy and good and is not something to be avoided. Disagreement unlike conflict, is not destructive, although it is often unpleasant. There is only one thing standing between disagreement and conflict, and that is respect. As all the delegates here respect and accommodate each others opinions, civility will remain and conflict will be kept out of the passionate discussions. For that is exactly the aim of this conference, passionate, frank, respectful discussions. So long as those emotions are at the forefront, then this conference shall be a success.
Without further ceremony We declare the Bergen Conference open.
Alexander R.
As sovereign host I have the honor to open the conference with this initial address. I promise not to make this address a lengthy affair, and yet I can not gloss over the significance of this conference both for Hanover nor, I believe, for the community of nations.
For Hanover the response from the community of nations has been tremendous. I do believe there are more than a few delegates for whom this conference shall be their first serious interaction with Hanover and I assure the new comers and the veterans alike that Hanover extends her warmest hand of friendship to all present, and to those who may still yet arrive later. Hanover knows that your participation here is a leap of faith, and having placed your faith in Hanover I can tell you we will do our utmost to meet your expectations. Of course, I cannot determine the conclusions of the conference, but for as long as you are here you shall be our valued and respected guests.
For the community I only have to read the registry of all the names of those present to see incontrovertible proof that the community of nations has already embraced the general tenants this conference rests upon: unity, cooperation and trust. Such broad support means that the conclusions reached here can be widely implemented across the entire community of nations. This will benefit all nations, even those that, for whatever their reasons, did not attend.
What remains is to determine the finer details of how to strengthen the community, and those things I leave to the conference delegates knowing that with so many view points and minds working on the product, I have no reservations that real lasting important conclusions will be the result. I have no doubt that this conference will generate lasting effects that will reach into all of our lives in a way that moves all of us just a little farther down the road to better nations all around.
As I draw this address to its close I do want to add one exhortation that my years as Sovereign as taught me, and that surely many of you already know, but none the less is so pertinent as to be worthy of restatement: Reasonable men may disagree.
When you are putting forth your ideas, be sure that some others will not agree with them, at least initially. And as you review the offerings of others, you may not feel in league with their concepts as stated. Disagreement is healthy and good and is not something to be avoided. Disagreement unlike conflict, is not destructive, although it is often unpleasant. There is only one thing standing between disagreement and conflict, and that is respect. As all the delegates here respect and accommodate each others opinions, civility will remain and conflict will be kept out of the passionate discussions. For that is exactly the aim of this conference, passionate, frank, respectful discussions. So long as those emotions are at the forefront, then this conference shall be a success.
Without further ceremony We declare the Bergen Conference open.
Alexander R.