CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION: THE APRM PROCESS AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN BENIN __________________________________________________________________________ could take up the challenge, that there was nothing to hide, and that no subject was taboo. He took the opportunity to speak about the importance of the assessment for changes in policies that he wanted to make;  the prolonged session for the presentation of the preliminary conclusions of the mission during a discussion, followed by a dinner. This grouped the entire government and institutions of the republic around the president; and  the invitation to members of the assessment mission, during its second visit to finalise the report, to attend the Cabinet meeting of Wednesday 10 October 2007. This meeting was personally chaired by the president of the republic, and was intended to enable members of the mission to hold direct discussions with all the members of the government. This rare and exceptional fact in Africa deserves to be adequately highlighted. This meeting enabled the mission to realise the progress made in its activities and to obtain from the president of the republic and all the ministers the necessary information for finalising the report before its second consideration by the panel. A firm, personal commitment at such a high level is currently rare on the continent. It deserves to be cited as an example of best practice. It may also be affirmed that it gave the Benin exercise an exemplary character as it communicated an enthusiasm for participation to all the stakeholders at the central level and at the level of prefectures and communes. 43