Dear Carlos,<p>

I am very happy of the idea of a common effort of the ion community to
assess the present status of this hot and fascinating field, in
particular in view of the running in of RHIC, and to suggest options
for the experimental activity at CERN around the year 2000.  Therefore
I encourage you to get together a few people representing the ion
community to prepare a report along these lines.  It would be precious
if this report could be ready in fall, in order to be an element of
the annual report of the Director General at the December meeting of
Council.<p>

Good work and many thanks<br>
Lorenzo