Opening address by Ms. Hedina Sijerčić Chair of the sixth session of the Forum on Minority Issues “Guaranteeing the rights of religious minorities” Tuesday, 26 November 2013, 10:00 a.m. Palais des Nations, Salle XX Madam President, Distinguished delegates and participants, Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends and colleagues, It is a sincere pleasure for me to address you this morning as we open the sixth session of the Forum on Minority Issues on “Guaranteeing the rights of religious minorities”. I would like to thank the previous speakers for their kind words on my appointment as Chair of this sixth session of the Forum on Minority Issues. I have followed the work of this Forum with great interest and it is a real honour for me to be here in my capacity as Chair of this session. Living in different countries as a member of the Romani minority, as a citizen, as an asylum seeker, as a refugee, as a migrant, as a permanent citizen, 1