1 16th session on the UN Forum on Minority Issues Concluding Remarks by Professor Nicolas Levrat, Special Rapporteur on minority issues Excellencies, Dear Participants, First, let me first tell you how happy I am to see that so many of the participants, whether NGO or State representatives, are still present at the time of these concluding remarks. Thank you for your presence, thank you for our participation. Last year’s conclusions from the previous Special Rapporteur on minority issues was taking note of the fact that more 100 registered speakers did not have the opportunity to take the floor, due to recurrent disturbance to the debate. He was then interpretating that situation as both a proof of the success of the Forum – many registrations, genuine interest to participate and to take the floor – and as the proof that a two day forum on minority issue was an insufficient answer to the needs of minority issues to be heard in the UN HR system, calling for extension and strengthening of the Forum. I heard during these two days several identical calls for strengthening the forum, making it longer, even making it permanent. I naturally support such claims, but it is neither for