Thalia Zolotas
Vice- president, International contacts

Much has been said during the last month about the new century and much more about the new millennium. All over the world people spoke about a new era.

This 1st century of the new millennium, has all the assets of becoming a century of international cooperation; although there is a lot to be done so that we may achieve the stage of full growth.

One of the basic European Union challenges for year 2000 is its expansion.

At the Helsinki Meeting, besides Turkey's candidacy, the Fifteen state members have unanimously resolved to carry out unification negotiations with twelve countries, i.e., the ten candidate countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Cyprus and Malta.

These negotiations are already on the way for the first five Eastern European countries (Slovenia, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Estonia) and Cyprus; while for five other Eastern European countries (Bulgaria, Rumania, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania) and Malta negotiations have just started in April.

A wide geopolitical gap will however remain in Europe's "unifying tissue", for as long as concrete rationales will not be expressed as to what will be the position of countries like Russia, Ukraine, Byelorussia, Moldavia, Albania, Yugoslavia, Croatia and the Caucasian Democracies in this "unifying tissue" .

The CPLOL will assume a leader's role, as it is the pioneer. And in that sense, it should play the role of a generous, extrovert leader, taking initiatives and making positive proposals. Initiatives in what regards the creation of trust and cooperation. Suggestions around an axis of investing scientifically in our profession.

In a few words, the CPLOL should and is able to assume a leader's role; because CPLOL has now become acquainted with substantial influences, cooperation within frameworks of differences and dissimilarities, as well as with the points of convergence of all the professional Unions that belong to the European Union and has already established a background of collective responsibility and consent.

As world of the 21st century will be more complicated and antagonistic CPLOL should be in a position of readiness to handle this issue and to communicate it to the other parties. We therefore need more extroversion.

We also need a good preparation and organization, in order to establish stable relations which will facilitate the union of these countries with CPLOL as soon as the European barriers of the European Union enlarge.

Of course, as you already know, long ago, in CPLOL, we have envisaged the importance of forging links with Speech and Language associations of Eastern or Central Europe, as well as the possibilities that these contacts offer for a cooperation and exchange of ideas that will enrich our body of knowledge and strengthen the status of our profession as a whole.

During these last years and since 1995 in particular, pursuant to the resolution of the GA in Luxembourg, we had the pleasure to welcome as auditory members, Cyprus and Estonia. Both Logopedic Associations in these countries meet the criteria and prerequisites of the CPLOL and do not show any fundamental inconsistencies with the provisions of our statutes. Two more countries - Norway and Switzerland - are auditory members of the CPLOL, almost from the beginning of its establishment. Unfortunately though, we realized that many of these countries and, of course, the national associations do not have the resources to cover their expenses and meet the cost of their membership, and that they would require a financial aid - if they are to play an active role in the CPLOL and the European Union in the future.

A number of countries and CPLOL Associations have already initiated a limited way of sponsorship: e.p.DBL (Germany) offered to sponsor the Polish Logopedic Association; NVLF (Holland) maintain contacts with our Russian colleagues; FND (France) with the Rumanian Logopedic Association and with some Bulgarian colleagues; Finland with Estonia; and Sweden with Lithuania, Greece with Cyprus and Bulgaria.

By covering their expenses, representatives from these countries are able to attend our congresses and, in fact, being here with us today, which gives great pleasure to all of us and an excellent opportunity for discussion, exchange of ideas and cooperation.

We still need more efforts to bring together speech and language associations and colleagues from all over the world.

The main issue that we all have to face and give the appropriate answer is "Why Sponsorship?"

- Is it only financial support?
- Is it charity?
- Is it exchanging visits or perhaps some ideas?
- Is it only to give help to others?
- Is it only getting them to know us?

Of course not. Our aim is not only to cover the cost of the representatives attendance of our Congress or the annual General Meeting, or the Commission's meeting.

Financial support is a means to achieve our goals and aims. And, of course, our aims must be subject of scrutiny and publicity, visits, exchange of ideas, personal exchange, participation of individual representatives in national logopedic activities are some possibilities to structure these professional and scientific contacts. Further expedient actions will automatically result during the course of the contacts. From such contacts and collaboration, motivation shall be borne, in a manner that our work will become more effective and productive. Congresses, General Meetings and meetings of the Commission offer excellent opportunities to meet, communicate and discuss common problems that arise, in connection with our profession and regardless of the country we come from.

We also need to learn a lot from the different cultures, the way others think and how they apply their knowledge.

Our concern must also be in ways to help our colleagues in these countries to improve the curriculae of their initial training and reinforce their role and function in their respective countries.

To assist them in establishing associations of speech and language therapists, in those countries where such associations are nonexistent.

Moreover, exchange of speech and language therapy literature or therapy materials, in English or French, are most welcome and of great importance.

We also believe that CPLOL must be recognized as the representative and expert in the field of speech and language therapy, by international institutions i.e., the European Union, UNESCO, UNICEF and, of course, national governments.

That is why our second objective, towards which we also work is to keep in touch, to inform and convince countries and International Associations in Europe and abroad, U.S.A., Canada, Asia, Australia, South America, etc., on the importance of CPLOL.

Contacts with associations like the IALP, ASHA and others are of great importance.

In this 4th Paris Congress, which I believe will mark the starting point for the next millennium, CPLOL tried to assemble as many Speech and Language Associations as possible, from all over the world and thus succeeded in forging links between East and West. We have here among us, colleagues from USA, Peru, Tunisia, Russia, Rumania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania.

In doing this, we are investing in both the future of speech and language therapy and our CPLOL group.

Today, many speech and language associations are established all over the world. All these associations very soon became aware that only via communication between us and understanding we shall be able to structure, maintain and promote our profession.

This is the goal CPLOL is working on.

On the other hand, technology, via direct international communication and information has transformed the world into a small neighborhood. Now, we all know a lot about the life, the struggles, the concerns and the scientific achievements of all people on earth. Now, international organizations and technology can assist people in matters of communication and understanding.

My dear colleagues,

The past is gone and left us with our experiences.

The present is what we experience and is, in fact, all what we have. Today we are enjoying our successes and achievements.

The future is unknown; however, all of us, united, can set the foundations for a future that will be to the benefit of our country, Europe.