It’s my great honour and pleasure to attend and participate in this highly important Conference. First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to the organizer of this conference for the kind hospitality extended to me. I would also like to affirm my deepest respect for all the participants present here.

The main topic of our conference deals with children and protection of their rights. It is doubtless that protection of the rights of the child and creation of decent conditions of life has a vital importance for every country, and, at the same time, it is clear that many efforts are required for the positive resolution of this issue.

We have to mention that living conditions for all people on Earth has become more unsafe and unreliable than ever, especially for children who belong to the most unprotected group of our society. Children are our future. The world belong to them and it is obvious that we have obligations and responsibility to preserve this world for the sake of children. Unfortunately, there are still wars going on in various parts of the Earth, there are many hot points, and there are places where the rights of the child are severely violated.

Thus, I think our meeting at this conference is of much importance, which creates the opportunity for us to find the ways for solving the problems we are facing. It is clear that protection of the rights of a child represent the sphere of our common interests.

As for more particular details regarding the topic of our conference, and namely: `Empower the International Court of Justice to safeguard the future of worlds two billion children and generations yet to be born, I think that it is very significant and this represents the idea which, if it is implemented, will result in creation of a strong international mechanism for protecting the rights of the child.

It is clear that for solving the mentioned problem successfully, only the efforts of participants of this conference will not be enough. I think that the idea of assigning the authority to the International Court of Justice for the protection of children’s rights will be successful only when if it is supported by all or almost all the states, as far as the mentioned agreement does not have an effective mechanism and mandatory power for coercing the parties, then, I think, it will fail to have any impact.

I just want to remind you fine example when states decided to empower the international court to safeguard the human rights and fundamental freedom. Ofcourse I mean the European Court of human rights so called Straburg Court. Many countries including Georgia accepted the jurisdiction of this court. I suppose this example is worth noticing.
Therefore, based on the aspiration of the conference, I consider that we also think of the care for the generations yet to be born; and I think that it is very important that the discussion has already started on creation of a new and effective mechanism for protecting the rights of the child.

I do hope that very soon the time will come when all of us would admit with satisfaction that "Empower the International Court of Justice to Safeguard the Future of World's Two Billion Children and Generations Yet to Be Born” It is the idea, whose time has come.

Having the belief that the conference will be successful, let me express my hope that respective answers will be provided to all the burning issues raised in reference to the protection of the rights of the child and I think that this will be the guarantee that safe future will be secured for our children.

In the end I would like to wish all the participants and guests of the conference PEACE, HEALTH, HAPPINESS and GOOLUCK. Believe me, in my wishes I was absolutely sincere.

Thank you for your attention.