Ms. Anna Frangoudaki, University of Athens, Center of Intercultural Research and Pedagogic Intervention, Greece stressed the need for optimism, underlining that it is possible to change discriminatory policies within a short time but cautioning that bilingualism is not a panacea. Ms. Sawsan Zaher, Attorney, Adalah – the Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel highlighted the principle of the best interests of the child and underscored that the language of the recommendations should be strengthened consistent with the International Covenant Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Mr. Yusuf Sayed Senior Researcher, University of Sussex, UK and Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa suggested that the recommendations be recast as “characteristics” with a sharper focus and fewer points, underlining that responsibilities need to be clearer, time should be attached to targets and recommending the inclusion of a monitoring mechanism. Dr. Bamo Ayi, Professor, Central University of Nationalities, Beijing, China highlighted linguistic issues, segregation and affirmative action measures. Mr. Biram Dah Abeid, Lawyer and researcher, Save Slave Organisation, Mauritania, emphasized forced labour issues. Mr. Leonardo Reales, Coordinator of the International Human Rights Committee, AfroColombian National Movement CIMARRON, Colombia / USA emphasized difficulties associated with implementation. Mr. Tahir Alam, Education Policy and Community Engagement Advisor for the Muslim Council of Britain, UK highlighted the need to make the wording of the recommendations more relevant and therefore to have greater impact. Ms. Erica Ayan Dayas, International Federation Protection of Rights of National, Linguistic Minorities made reference to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Minorities and underlined that the Forum on Minority Issues should not be a political forum. Closing remarks by the Rapporteur of the Forum on Minority Issues and Member of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Professor Patrick Thornberry In his address Professor Thornberry expressed his gratification by so much interest in the question of minorities and education and the many useful proposals, which have been made. He proffered that it would be an interesting intellectual discipline to see if participants could suggest a deletion for every additional paragraph proposed. Professor Thornberry recalled that the draft needs revision, without losing coherence: it needs to be more than an unstructured accumulation of disparate experiences. It should 18