zones, and on the relevance of this for the Middle East. But there is still no consensus on the agenda and the issues which such a forum would need to address. I will continue my consultations with Member States in the Middle East with a view to convening a productive forum as early as practicable. Report of the Commission of Eminent Persons The Agenda includes a discussion on The Report of the Commission of Eminent Persons on the Future of the Agency . I hope Board Members have been able to give serious consideration to the proposals made by President Ernesto Zedillo and his colleagues. The Commission members brought together an unrivalled range and depth of experience of government, science and diplomacy, from both developed and developing countries. They understand the constraints under which governments and international organizations have to operate. The Commission's proposals deserve in-depth consideration and they should lead to action. The Agency's work is of crucial importance for international peace and security and for addressing poverty, hunger and disease in the developing world through the use of nuclear technology. I therefore encourage Board members to engage in a structured discussion of the Commission's Report. This could perhaps involve the establishment of issue-specific focus groups which would look into each area in which the Commission has made proposals and then make recommendations to the Board. It is clear that the work of the IAEA will be needed more and more in the decades to come. The decisions which