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002241 We look forward to hearing from the various panels of Colorado River system experts in the next two days. There is much to learn. This symposium is not intended to provide immedi- ate cooperative projects. We would expect that out of this symposium the United States and Mexico will have a group of stakeholders and decision makers that is more informed in these three disciplinary areas. Two days is a short time to cover all the details for many of the subjects discussed of this symposium. The United States is, of course, aware of Mexico's concerns regarding developments in the United States of those waters that are re- served to the United States. These are matters that are being addressed by the two govern- ments through appropriate consultative pro- cesses. The United States supports this symposium to further the objective to provide expert stake- holders and decision makers in both countries a new level of knowledge in the areas of legal and institutional issues in the conveyance system issues and the environmental issues. The decision makers in both countries, when you have more knowledge to help implement whatever technical summaries come from this meeting, this is itself a significant progress. There is significant amount of knowledge of a technical nature that is to be shared in these next two days. The United States invites and encour- ages participants to adhere to the symposium objective. We are very pleased to know that this plan- ning group considered that a key element of this symposium will be that of memorializing the proceedings in the form of a publication. We will make every effort possible in this process to have the proceedings available to the public by the end of the year. Thank you and good luck in your endeavors. BENNETI W. RALEY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR WATER AND SCIENCE, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (VERBATIM): Thank you. I thank the Mayor, this fine city and the university for this opportunity. We all know that there have been tragic events in the United States, but our history teaches us that we cannot let events like that take us from the course of working together. Our nations have a shared destiny, and the issues that we deal with, the bonds that we have, the communications we will share are essential for those of us as free people to continue to do the work that our citizens would have us do regardless of outside forces. So it's with somewhat of a heavy heart but a resolve to stay the course, to focus on what can be done here because that has enduring importance. I would like to offer some remarks on behalf of the Department of the Interior. I would particularly like to thank the Mexican Section of the International Boundary and Water Commis- sion (IBWC) and the University for their hard work in putting this together. Issues regarding the ecological status of the Colorado's Delta have emerged on both sides of our shared border in recent years. On behalf of Secretary Norton, I want to reaffirm and empha- size the commitment of the Department of the Interior to work together with all interested parties to seek out creative, cooperative solu- tions to conservation issues in the Delta through the IBWC process established under Minute 306, which was signed by the United States and the Republic of Mexico this past December. The first step contemplated is this very important conference which provides an oppor- tunity for discussion of important technological issues, including the law applicable to the Colorado River and the ecological status of the Delta region. Secretary Norton and I both recognize that the Mexican Delta is an important ecological re- COLORADO RIvER DELTA BI-NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS ENGLISH 13