[WSIS CS-Plenary] FW: Bureau meeting during extended PrepCom - fellowships

[Renata BLOEM]

Hi all,

In response to the many questions, I forward to all the message I sent to
the Bureau last night.
Best
Renata


-----Original Message-----
From: Renata BLOEM [mailto:rbloem at ngocongo.org]
Sent: Saturday, November 15, 2003 6:43 PM
To: CS Bureau
Subject: Bureau meeting during extended PrepCom - fellowships
Importance: High

Dear friends,

I assume most of you have followed on the various lists and on
www.prepcom.net/wsis and www.worldsummit.org the extentensive work done by
CS throughout extended PrepCom 3.

The Bureau only met once for a couple of hours to discuss three clusters of
issues:
1.	General Environment for Civil Society in the second phase, run up to
Tunis
2.	Arrangements for the Summit, including speakers lists, press conferences,
logistics, over-passes etc
3.	Fellowships
Attending were reps from Media (Tracey) , Gender(Bernadito Vigano), Youth
(Adam Jantunen), Disability (Hiroshi), Indigenous (Noli), Volunteers
(Viola), Philantropics (Wolfgang), NGOs (Renate), Africa (Arab Subgroup -
Mustapha)

1.	Louise and Alain reported on their visit to Tunis to safeguard full
participation of CS in all processes. So far they received satisfactory
responses. (An openended Governmental WG met three times throughout
PrepCom3a to discuss prosess in the run up, see more on
www.prepcom.net/wsis)  Another aspect in follow up to Geneva is the
uncertain role of the ITU, (no more finances) Mr. Utsumi will see Kofi Annan
in the coming week to discuss modalities. In order to state CS' continued
commitment to the follow up process the CSD had drafted a letter to Kofi
Annan which was signed for the Bureau by Media and NGOs. I will
ask Louise to put the letter on the web.

2.	Speakers proposals for Opening Ceremony, Plenary and Roundtables have
been coordinated (and are still in the process to be finalized) by the CT
Group. I had negotiated some extension for submission. Final list need to be
at Mr Utzumi's Office on Tuesday. During the Summit CS will have each day
opportunities for Press Conferences. In addition, Terra Viva will do an
official newspaper/sheet each day. CS Bureau will have some Office space
during the Summit. Over pass arrangements for the Plenary have been agreed
to as previously outlined with some amendments

<Distribution:

<Working groups and Caucuses:  27 of these each with 8 = 216 (assumption
that many family members are part of WGs)
<Bureau Families 21 families each with 4 =   84
<Content & Themes group 5

<Total pre allocated:  305
<First comes first served = 295.

<A Pass Desk would have to be set up near the entrance.  As people leave,
<they would hand the Pass back to the Pass Desk to go back into the pool -
<or they could hand them on to someone else.

<Each Workoing group /Causus/Family would nominate two people in advance
<either of whom could pick up the passes (to a maximum above) first thing in
<the morning' or else a list of names could be provided in advance, and
<those names would pick them up.  Any pre-allocated passes not picked up by
<10:00 am would go back into the First-come-first-served pool.

<Speakers everyday would also be provided passes on a priority basis.

In addition, some more to those who report back on other Side/Summit events
and some more should be allocated to CT Group.

All this is only proposal, need to be finalzed with Secretariat and
Security.

3.	On fellowships Louise reported that funds available for CS participation
were so far dramatically less than anticipated. Again, final answer to be
received hopefully during the coming week. Another problem: from the
application lists so far received, only 30% were from LDCs, which donors
would not accept. It is a very sad stage we are in at this time. I hope, I
have some better news soon.

Hanging in and somewhat exhausted but with all best wishes,
Renata



Renate Bloem
President of the Conference of NGOs (CONGO)
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Tel: +41 22 917 1881
Fax: +41 22 917 0373
E-mail: rbloem at ngocongo.org
Website: www.ngocongo.org
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