EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING IN GENEVA

The Executive Council met in Geneva on March 11th and 12th for what is now its only annual meeting other than at the Conference. The meeting was hosted by Television Suisse Romande and afforded a good opportunity for the handover of the Treasurer's responsibilities from Jean-Sylvestre Cosandey to Wolfgang Dehn. The meeting also allowed for further discussions amongst the Organising Committee for the Budapest Conference.

Two major decisions were made:

• The 1998 Conference and General Assembly will take place in Florence, Italy, hosted by RAI. This decision followed the presentation of two possibilities for the conference, the other one being a joint BBC/BFI proposal for London. Vittorio Sette and Angelo Sferrazza joined the meeting to make the successful proposal for Florence and the conference will take place between 27th September and 1st October 1998.
• Tedd Johansen reported on the meeting of the Round Table in Paris in February. After a discussion on the importance of the Technical Coordinating Committee, it was decided that FIAT/IFTA should withdraw from the TCC, though continuing to work with the Round Table.

In addition, the Executive Council discussed: a proposal from MAP-TV for co-operation with the FIAT/IFTA Award; a proposal for co-operation with the Prix Italia; the proposed meeting of Balkan archives; the 1998 FIAF Summer School; training seminars; reports from the Commissions; the handover of the Treasury; membership and internal communications. Any member who would like a copy of the full minutes of the Council can request one from our Administrative Secretary, Gösta Johansson.

Florence in 1998, but where in 1999?

As we look forward to our conference in Budapest we can also now look further forward to the 1998 Conference and General Assembly in the wonderful Italian city of Florence.

But where will we meet in 1999? This is something we must now begin to consider and it was also discussed at our Geneva Council Meeting. After three years in Europe, we must now look to hold the 1999 conference on a different continent.

However, we currently have no offers of hosting this conference from any of our members from outside Europe. If any such member or members would be interested in hosting a conference, either on their own or jointly, we would ask them to contact the President, General Secretary or any other member of the Executive Council.

NEW MEMBERS

FIAT/IFTA welcomes the following new member:

• Public Broadcasting Services Limited, Malta