Chairperson and Board Members of Iringa Press Club,Representatives of the Media Council and the Union of Tanzanian Press Clubs,Representatives of Regional and District Authorities,Dear Media Practitioners and Friends,It is always a great privilige to visit Iringa. This is my fifth visit here and I would like to thank you so much for inviting me to officiate as the Guest of Honour at todayｴs Annual General Meeting of the IPC. As some of you know Iringa is very close to my heart for various reasons. One is the pleasure of dancing chiduo with the farmers in villages outside Iringa town; something which I have done several times together with the Regional Commissioner. The heart is also involved when it comes to the press and the media with whom my Embassy has very good and constructive relations. So, for me the combination Iringa and media is just perfect.Master of Ceremony, Dear Friends,I wish to warmly congratulate the IPC for being in the forefront of the process of establishing viable press clubs in the regions, thereby paving the way for free and independent media on a national scale. I would also like on this occasion to commend you for covering the development needs and challenges in the Iringa Region so well. During my long stay in Tanzania I have seen many good reports and stories coming from here, not least in the important field of HIV/AIDS, where your Region is now developing impressive best practices, which can hopefully be emulated in other parts of the country. Sweden has for some years now been a generous partner in suppor-ting the Media Council of Tanzania. Seven months ago – in August 2002 – we took another important step by providing extra financing (TSH 430 million) through the MTC to a special program in support of Regional Press Clubs. The pioneer and instigator of this special program has been Mwanza Press Club and I am very happy to see its Chairman Abubakar Karsan here with us today, also in his capacity as the Secretary-General of the Union of Tanzania Press Clubs (UTPC). I know that Mwanza Press Club and Mr Karsan in particular has been facilitating the process of organising this General Meeting with the IPC. We should all thank them for this constructive effort and also urge them to continue to play this facilitator role vis-a-vis other regions.I have a very deep sympathy for journalists and media practitioners who are struggling out there in remote places far away from the centre stage. Regional Press Clubs, like the IPC, and the assistance that they can get through the MCT can make a difference for these courageous people. In any case, the establishment of Regional Press Clubs – under wings of MCT – is another positive stepping stone in the development of the media situation in Tanzania. It is already a shining light in Africa in many ways. But it can always be even better. You need strong organisations and a very good network in order to protect what is most important of all: your freedom and your independence. Some African countries, not far away from Tanzania, are today trying to use repressive legislation to close down independent media. Let us hope and pray that this will never be tried in this good country.With these few words I wish all of you in the IPC all success in the future. You have a very important role to play in promoting peace, stability and development here in the Iringa Region. Please carry on the very good work that you are already doing. And please continue with the excellent reporting on the HIV/AIDS situation – which I see as a model in the nation.A santeni sana.