Dear Friends, Dear Humanist Colleagues, Dear Freethinker Comrades,

We wish to thank the IHEU for entrusting to us the organisation of this Congress. We wanted to hold it in symbolic venues: it is the pages of history that you have turned during these three days. I wish to thank all the French Free Thinkers who worked hard for the success of the 16th World Humanist Congress, and on your behalf, particularly Roger Lepeix. This 16th World Humanist Congress is his achievement. I say to my English friends: if Roger was in charge of the battle of Trafalgar, history would have been different, as would the decision for the 2012 Olympic Games!

This Congress was based on the theme of Separation of Religion and State in its different institutional, philosophic, social, cultural and political aspects. Separation is a reality that needs to be defended in a number of countries, and at the same time an objective to be
achieved in many others. The route to this is different in each country, but we have a common destination.

The Separation of Religions and the State is a necessary and indispensable condition for democracy and for the freedom of conscience. But it is not enough by itself - we must fashion Humanism, Laicite and Freethought as a great movement for emancipation of society and give it a social dimension and depth.

As you know, this 16th World Humanist Congress was preceded by the World Congress of Atheism and Freethought. This was done in complete friendly and amicable collaboration with the IHEU. This coming together has brought the Atheists of Minnesota to join the IHEU. Other organisations will do the same. We are happy that our contacts with Robert Boston of Americans United for Separation have led him to speak at this Congress. We will work to get this important organisation to join IHEU as soon as possible.

This is how our relation with IHEU is, has been and will be. That is why, I can tell you that soon we will publish once a year a French language version of International Humanist News for francophone countries. We hope that this will encourage the others to do the same in Spanish for hispanic countries.

In conclusion, I would like to thank you for coming - some have travelled thousands of kilometres to be at Paris. I hope you will retain happy memories of this 16th World Humanist Congress, and of your stay in Paris.

Christian Eyschen