[WSIS CS-Plenary] Re: WSIS update

[Liliane Ursache]

Dear Renate,
Dear Bureau Members,

Thank you for this very timely and accurate update.  To recap the number 
of civil society speakers for the Summit:

1.  Opening Session:  1 speaker
2.  Plenary Statements:  12 speakers
3.  Round Tables:  20 speakers
4.  Reports of Summit Events:  5 to 7 speakers

Attached please find a Proposal Form which you may use to recommend 
speakers for the Round Tables.  Thanks to John who very kindly offered 
his help with the format.  We would be most grateful if you could make 
your suggestions by returning the Proposal Form(s) before 15 November.

I take this opportunity to give you an update you on the negotiation 
process.  Following PrepCom 3, the Swiss government has appointed the 
former President of the Confederation, Mr. Adolf Ogi to facilitate 
consensus around the adoption of the Declaration and Plan of Action.  
Mr. Adolf Ogi will initiate consultations with representatives from 
governments and civil society in the following days. You will find a 
local press article on www.geneva2003.org under "media coverage" (French 
only).

On this same issue, please be informed that the President of the 
PrepCom, Mr. Adama Samassékou has started a series of "Open-ended 
Meetings for Informal Consultations" today, 20 October.  The CSD has 
attended today's meeting and will issue a short report for the CS Bureau 
in the following days.  The  President's next meetings will be held on 
30 and 31 October.

We will get back to you as soon as possible with a full report on the 
funds situation (following Al's request) and additional updates on the 
issues raised by the Bureau.

best wishes,

Liliane

***********************************************

Chère Renate,
Chers membres du Bureau,

Merci beaucoup pour ces informations très opportunes et très justes.  
Pour récapituler le nombre d'intervenants de la société civile au Sommet:

1.  Session d'ouverture:  1 intervenant
2.  Sessions Plénières:  12 intervenants
3.  Tables Rondes:  20 intervenants
4.  Rapports des Evénements du Sommet:  5 à 7 intervenants

Veuillez trouver ci-joint un formulaire-proposition que vous pourrez 
utiliser pour recommander les intervenants pour les Tables Rondes.  Un 
grand merci à John qui nous a offert son aide pour trouver le bon 
format.  Nous vous serions très reconnaissants si vous pouviez nous 
faire parvenir vos suggestions en nous envoyant le(les) formulaire(s) 
avant le 15 novembre.

Je profite de cette occasion pour vous donner un complément 
d'information sur le processus de negotiation.  A la suite de PrepCom 3, 
le gouvernement suisse a nommé l'ancien Président de la Confédération, 
M. Adolf Ogi pour faciliter l'adoption de la Déclaration et du Plan 
d'Action par consensus.  M. Adolf Ogi devrait initier des rencontres 
avec des représentants gouvernementaux et de la société civile dans les 
jours qui suivent.  Sur ce sujet, vous pourrez trouver un article de la 
presse locale sur www.geneva2003.org / "revue de presse" (en français 
uniquement).

Sur cette même question, veuillez noter que le Président du PrepCom, M. 
Adama Samassékou a commencé une série de  "Réunions ouvertes pour des 
consultations informelles", aujourd'hui, le 20 octobre.  La Division 
société civile a suivi la réunion d'aujourd'hui et transmettra un bref 
rapport au Bureau SC dans les prochains jours. Les prochaines réunions 
du  Président se tiendront le 30 et le 31 octobre.

Nous vous recontacterons aussi rapidemernt que possible avec le rapport 
financier complet (suite à la demande de Al), ainsi que pour faire suite 
aux questions supplémentaires soulevées par le Bureau.

meilleures salutations,

Liliane




Renata BLOEM wrote:

>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
>_________________________________________
>The Conference of NGOs (CONGO) is an international, not-for-profit
>membership association that facilitates the participation of NGOs in United
>Nations debates and decisions.  Founded in 1948, CONGO's major objective is
>to ensure the presence of NGOs in exchanges among the world's governments
>and United Nations agencies on issues of global concern. Our broad
>membership email-network has become a major source of information for NGOs
>active within the United Nations and seeking collaboration/partnerships with
>other NGOs of similar concerns.  For more information see our website at
>www.ngocongo.org or email congo at ngocongo.org
>
>
>
>
>
>  
>
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