The International Crisis Group is a brave new venture. Time and again the international community has failed to prevent humanitarian disasters and has had to pay a high price both in monetary terms and more importantly in terms of human lives.

The experience of ICG's first year of operation has shown that there is a viable alternative. There are fresh approaches that we, the world community, can take to head off crises. Government, business, non-governmental organisations and others can come together to avert disaster if only opportunities are provided to air mutual interests and coordinate effective action. ICG has shown that it can provide just such opportunities.

In Sierra Leone ICG was able to focus the attention of governments and the media on that country's plight; to influence international policy decisions; reinforce the role of the UN; and encourage the involvement of the business community. In Bosnia ICG has played both a monitoring role and made a tangible contribution to realising the goals of the Dayton Peace Accords, as well as providing an information resource for other NGOs, the media and the international community. In Burundi ICG has again acted as a facilitator, bringing together the various representatives of the African countries concerned, the United Nations and representatives of western governments. In the year ahead ICG will maintain its commitment to Bosnia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Burundi and undertake major new strategic assessments in the Balkans and the Great Lakes region of central Africa.

We are most grateful to all those who have given financial support to ICG, as an act of faith, through the early stages of its development. We are particularly grateful to the governments of Australia, Canada, Finland, Ireland, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of China, the States of Jersey, Sweden and the United States and to the foundations and individuals who have supported us with donations. Without such assistance, ICG could not have made such a promising start.

Finally, may I thank all members of the Board. Much is expected and much has been achieved by their collective and individual efforts to bring influence to bear on governments and others in order to avert humanitarian crises.