- On behalf of my colleagues with IFES, founded n 1987 as the International Foundation for Election Systems, I congratulate
o the Government of Hungary,
o the Hungarian Ministry of the Interior
o the Hungarian Election Office and
o the Association of Central and Eastern European Election Officials
For organizing and hosting this historic event on the shores of beautiful Lake Balaton.

- This gathering marks the third time that election officials from across the globe have joined together for the GEO Conference.

- In 1999, our friend and IFES Board member, Jean-Pierre Kingsley, hosted the first GEO Conference.

- In 2003, the Federal Electoral Institute of Mexico and the Electoral Tribunal of Mexico hosted the second GEO Conference.

- IFES is pleased to again join with our partners in GEO, a celebration of democracy and free and fair elections. We are proud to join together with ACEEEO, IFE, Elections Canada, International IDEA and the United Nations to support this year’s conference here in Siofok Hungary.

-We live in an age in which more people are aspiring to the ballot box as the means to effect political change.

- We find ourselves living in a very tumultuous time. There are newly-formed democracies emerging in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

- The current turmoil in the Middle East is all the more reason why we must re-dedicate our commitment to making sure that the ballot, and not the bullet, is the preferred means of political change

- In January of this year the world watched in awe as the brave people of Iraq risked their lives to vote in the election for the interim Iraqi government. The Iraqis truly demonstrated to the world the value of the vote.

- IFES was proud to have worked side-by-side with the United Nations and the Independent Election Commission of Iraq to help make those elections a reality.

- IFES is proud to be celebrating our 18th anniversary of extending the reach of democracy around the world.

- We have worked in 120 countries in elections, rule of law, civil society, and governance and have played a crucial role in many countries such as Afghanistan, Albania, Ghana, Haiti, Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya, Peru, South Africa and Yemen.

- From the beginning our founder, F. Clifton White, recognized that there is no blue print for democracy and that the work of IFES must always be based upon respect for the history, culture and reality in each country.

- For this reason, we have planted seeds that have encouraged the formation of electoral networks. Such as the:
o Association of Central and Eastern European Election Officials
o The Association of African Election Officials
o The Asian Association of Election Officials and
o The Association of Caribbean Election Officials

- We believe that an important way to strengthen democracy is to build networks of election officials to:
o Exchange information on best practices
o To learn about new technologies
o To Promote professional development
o And Advance the field of Election Administration

- We believe that the GEO conferences must become a regular event and IFES is committed helping organize the next GEO Conference in the United States.

-The GEO initiative is unique. It offers a venue to election administrators from every continent to gather & share information and help advance the field of election administration.

- The organization of the GEO Conference sends a message around the world about the key role of the election administrator as “The” Guardian of Democracy.

- At a time when we need democracy more than ever, the GEO Network is helping countries to learn from one another to build strong democratic institutions.

- Over the next four days, we will be discussing vital topics such as:
o Legal Remedies in the Election Process
o International Standards for Electronic Voting
o Money and Politics
o The Importance of Regional Election Networks

- Today, I salute all election administrators. You are truly the guardians of the democratic process. It is because of you that people across the globe are realizing their right to vote that is enshrined in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

- I also want to recognize Dr. Zoltan Toth, Secretary General of the ACEEEO and all of the members of the organization for the role you continue to play in helping build democracy around the globe.

- I want to pay special tribute to Hungary and the Hungarian people for their achievements in building a democratic electoral system that is truly a marvel.

- As Chairman of the IFES Board of Directors, I am honored to be part of this wonderful assembly and to strengthen the role of election management as the “Guardian of Democracy”

- At this GEO conference let us re-dedicate ourselves to doing everything in our power to guarantee the process of Free and Fair Elections and the right to vote as a fundamental human right.