[WSIS CS-Plenary] Re: Veni's objections

[Veni Markovski]

At 04:04 15-09-04  -0400, Ronald Koven wrote:
>In other words, we will not consider competence as the first factor but
>geography. That's not something new. It's exactly how the UN system
>recruits its Secretariats, with the result that they are riddled with
>incompetents who have the right passports.

Ronald,
I wouldn't be so sure there are not enough competent people in the South. 
On the contrary, from my experience is not only they are competent, but 
they also have other features, which are contributing to the work of the 
civil society. And could contribute to the work of the WSIS, should we all 
try to ensure equal (quota) participation.

North is taking many things for granted, while South is often forced to 
fight for them. This fight builds characters, which we need now in the WSIS.

>"Something new" would be for civil society to advance its best, most
>experienced and competent people with a chance having real impact on the
>outcome. Civil society could dominate the process intellectually if its
>representatives were superior in knowledge and brainpower to the
>governmental representatives.

That's another argument we may start, but it will be completly off topic.

best,
veni