[WSIS CS-Plenary] Re: WSIS update

[Alan G. Alegre]

Dear Renata

Greetings of solidarity from Manila...

Thank you very very much for these helpful updates--exactly what everyone
has been asking for (explicitly and implictly) during the past three
weeks... please do not apologize for the length as it is exactly the info
which we should be getting, especially from the Secretariat, on a regular
and continuous basis... as I assume the CSD in its mandate to support the CS
mecahnisms should at the very least provide us with important information in
the most timely manner.

I hope you and the other Geneva-based CS people continue with these updates
to feed into our online consultations...

Regards
Al


----- Original Message -----
From: Renata BLOEM <rbloem at ngocongo.org>
To: CS Bureau <bureau at geneva2003.org>; CS Plenary <plenary at wsis-cs.org>
Sent: Saturday, October 18, 2003 3:39 AM
Subject: WSIS update


> Hi all,
>
> I have been in and out of the Office and could not follow all of your
> discussions. But here are some up-dates (according to discussions with
some
> persons available in the Secretariat, including with Mr. Samassekou and
with
> Ambassador Nouminen)
>
> * Proposed Format of the Summit, Statements, Roundtables etc: Most of you
> have probably seen, but please look again at the ITU Website PrepCom 3 and
> look for Document WSIS/Pc-3/Doc/8(Rev.2)-E (29 September 2003) with the
> Annexes 1 and 2.(This document contains still up to date information) It
> says all about Statements in Plenary, (4 times at end of each session, 1
> hour for observers, CS 3 Minutes statements) Roundtable discussions: 4
> Roundtables on the overarching theme:"An Information Society for All:
> Opportunities and Challenges", with three of them discussing related
> subthemes. Decision on those subthemes will be made next week. The
> Roundtable interventions will probably be the most newsworthy, with full
TV
> coverage etc. To each of the Round tables we can suggest 5 CS speakers. If
> e.g. Shirin Ebadi would not be available on the 10th (because of receiving
> her Nobel prize) to open CS intervention in the Plenary, she could
> participate as one of the major CS representative on the overall
Roundtable.
> We can submit names until 15 November, explicitly through our own
> self-organizing mechanisms. We should, of course, be in contact with the
CSD
> and Mr Utsumi, the Secretary-General of the Conference.. who has the last
> say on this.
>
> * Access: Please look at www.palexpo.ch under facilities and the
Conference
> Centre. At the bottom you will find Multipurpose rooms. Only those and
Hall
> IV, ICT 4D, will be accreditation-badge free. (I hope Sean, you have one
of
> those rooms). However, an entrance fee for no badge holders will be asked
> for of CHF 20 per day to cover installation costs. Security measures will
be
> heavy in all restricted (for badges) areas.
>
> * Overpass tickets: The Secretariat wants to let CSB organize the
> distribution of the 600 tickets for the Plenary. Since I have nightmarish
> memories on what happened in Durban and Johannisburg, I suggest a short
> discussion on how to do this inclusive and intelligently. Please come up
> with best practice!
> E.g.:I received today the following from New York for the upcoming
> High-level Section of the General Assembly:
> "...1.  As usual, passes will be handed out at the main lobby at the
> visitor's
> entrance to the UN on 45th street and 1st Avenue.  There will be a desk at
> the lobby of the visitor's entrance, where passes can be picked up, from
> 9am to 9:45 am and 2pm to 2:45 pm on 28, 29 and 30 October 2003.  Please
> note that your pass will be vaild for all three days of the High Level
> Dialogue."
> This is first come first, neutral, but can take a lot of time and long
> quews. I would suggest to give overpasses out during the day at intervals
> each one ahead of the next day. (To note: In general interest for Plenary
> sessions diminishes after the official opening. So called other/side
events
> are more interesting)
>
>
> * Fellowships for Summit: Categorically 60% from LDCs and 40% from
> developing and transition countries. No way to try arguing about an extra
> list for CSB or CT Group members, they will fall according to their
> countries into the overall list which will cover some 100 persons.
>
>
> * PrepCom 3 extended, Nov.10 -14: No need to reregister, but the
Secretriat
> would like to have a short announcement of participation via fax: 41 22
730
> 5881. Registration is still open also for those who did not attend
PrepCom3
> but are accredited. PrepCom 3 procedures apply, but this all does not help
> us very much. There are no funds for CS participation for this period!
>
> * Current Consultations: PrepCom 3 gave the mandate to Mr Samassekou to
> engage in informal consultations to find ways and mechanisms how to
approach
> the sticky issues in the document. There will be a number of informal
> governmental meetings to address these, e.g. whether or how some
governments
> want to work together on some of the issues and propose solutions to
> PrepCom3 extended. These consultations will go on until 30/31 October.
From
> what I understand, no negotiations before that. But we (CT Group) should
> have ready soon our "life and death issues," e.g. on the declaration. We
> should single out two to three priority ones,(before going into the rest)
> and submit language on these to Ambassador Nouminen directly. Can CT Group
> please do this?
>
> That is all for today and apology for this lengthy epistle.
>
>
>
> Renate Bloem
> President of the Conference of NGOs (CONGO)
> ________________________
> Palais des Nations, E2-B
> CH-1211 Geneva 10
> Tel: +41 22 917 1881
> Fax: +41 22 917 0373
> E-mail: rbloem at ngocongo.org
> Website: www.ngocongo.org
> _________________________________________
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>
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