The Queen of Spain accepted to be the Honorific President of 14th World Conference "The world of information: opportunities and challenges for the gifted and talented" to be hold in Barcelona, July, 31 - August, 4. The organization of this World Conference is grateful for this support in the most important event celebrated every 2 years on gifted and talented children education, and for the first time it is going to be hold in Spain. It is hoped that, as in other international events, our country, and Barcelona specifically, gets a great organization and scientific success.

In the light of UNESCO´s own action in the fields of special needs education and communication, the pertinence to us of the theme 'The world of information: opportunities and challenges for the gifted and talented' to be discussed at your Conference need hardly be stressed. Furthermore, the important work carried out over the past ten years by the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children in undertaking research and disseminating information in this field is greatly to be commended. It is indeed encouraging to us to note that non-governmental organizations are playing an increasingly active role in forming alliances for education together with governments and other partners for it is through these alliances that education systems can become more responsive to the diversity of learner populations.

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr Walter Schwimmer, has asked me to thank you for your letter of 4 April concerning the 14th World Conference on Gifted and Talented Children that will take place in Barcelona from 31 July to 4 August 2001.

I have the pleasure to inform you that the Secretary General gladly accepts to grant his patronage.

Accordingly, papers and documents relating to this important event should carry the following wording:

« Under the auspices of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr Walter SCHWIMMER »

I wish you every success with the organisation of the 14th World Conference.

Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr Walter SCHWIMMER