it is an honor for me to call upon a very distinguished guest visiting from mexico, omero ortiz. is he here? if i may ask him to come on up. and he's here -- there will be an event tonight panel discussion on something i will be introducing a resolution on today which is the disappearance of the 43 students in mexico but it's my pleasure to honor and welcome the renown mexican poet and activist here. i want to acknowledge him for his outstanding contributions to poetry, to international literature, environmentalism and human rights across the world. he has been elected twice president of the international pen which he is now president emeritus. in 1985 he cofounded and chaired group los see an and a group of writers that included. [speaking spanish] . the group has called for the protection of the environment in mexico, latin america and the rest of the world. his most recent novel pictures mexico's current reality of violence, corruption and impunity and indifference and he's served as the ambassador to the netherlands and to switzerland and in paris. in 2000 he organized and pr

it is an honor for me to call upon a very distinguished guest visiting from mexico, omero ortiz. is he here? if i may ask him to come on up. and he's here -- there will be an event tonight panel