AW: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Re: [CS Bureau] Next GFC Meetings

[Dr. Francis MUGUET]

Hello,

The CS must react strongly  but wisely.

Currently on the ITU site we have :
What is currently annonced on the ITU sites are the following dates :
Fifth meeting*
27 June 2005, Geneva (Switzerland)    
Sixth meeting
4 July 2005, Geneva (Switzerland)
Seventh meeting
11 July 2005, Geneva (Switzerland)
*Meeting open to representatives from GFC Members and observers from 
governments.
Nothing is said concerning CS participation to GFC6 and GFC7

Let me remind everybody that previous "Open" GFC meetings were
meetings Civil Society could take part as speaking observers, and this
was really great.
 
"Closed" meetings were completely closed to Civil Society,
as far as I remember.

Now, it seens that we are entering the twilight zone of
"Semi-closed"/"Semi-Open" meetings.
It is good that previously "Closed" GFCs meetings could
become open to some silent states observers.

What would be a severe blow to the CS
is that there should no other "Open" GFCs meetings at all, at least
in a decent proportion,  33% to 50% seems acceptable,

It would better that CS silent observers be
admitted in all the "Closed" meetings, this
 was my understanding of the closing remarks by
Karklins, at the June 13 meeting
 and not that all next GFC meetings should be
be "semi-closed" with CS as silent observers.

If there is such a non-inclusive and sad evolution,
the CSB, since we are dealing with procedural matters,
and speciffically Renate and Viola, the elected CSB liaison officers,
should have ASAP a meeting with Karklins and the executive secretariat
to have further explanations and possibly negotiate
a better deal.

If the situation is locked, and hopefully
knowing who are the true responsables of this
surprising non-inclusive evolution,
then the CSB can draft a letter to be proposed to the CS plenary to be
discussed.
Writting a letter without knowning the real motives and without
identifying the puppet masters, could paradoxically destabilize our 
friends,
those who, like seemingly Karklins, are supporting the multi-stakeholder 
approach,
because their enemies could bring our protest letter as a sign
of "mismanagement" and further weaken their positions.
Our strong protest letter must be on target, the right target.

Best regards

Francis


> 
>Dier List, 
> 
>if CS is excluded officially from the GFC, we should write an official letter of protest to both Mr. Karkelins and Mr. Utsumi (probably also to Mr. Annan), arguing, that while we recognize the intergovernmental nature of the WSIS process, we insist, that principle 1 of the WSIS Declaration of Principles has to be implemented by all sides, and in particular by governments.
> 
>Principle 1 reads :    
>
>"1)    The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
>
>1.        Governments, as well as private sector, civil society and the United Nations and other international organizations have an important role and responsibility in the development of the Information Society and, as appropriate, in decision-making processes. Building a people-centred Information Society is a joint effort which requires cooperation and partnership among all stakeholders." 
>
> 
>
>Principle 1 says clearly, that CS has to be included into policy development and, as appropriate, also in the decision making processes. While we recognize, that in this phase, when we move towards a decision making process, it can be not appropriate, that CS is included (but even this is a questionsmark), we call for our "right to be informed" which is part of Article 19 of the Univeral Declaration of Human Rights. We can refer to the WGIG practice, where "closed sessions" has been open for "onlookers", that is parties who have a special interest but have no right to speak. The practicie worked and did not underminde the efficiency of the work of the group. 
>
> 
>
>It would be a great step backwards, a violation of the WSIS principles by the governments and a provocation which could lead to (unwanted) alternative actions in the preperation of the Tunis summit which could undermine the constructive involvement of all stakeholders bnoth in further development of the WSIS process and the implementation of the Plan of Action. And it would be in sharp contrast to the emerging spirit of mutual trust and cooperation. 
>
> 
>
>The letter should be signed officially by the President of the CS Bureau and the Spokespersons we have elected during PrepCom2. 
>
> 
>
>Best
>
> 
>
>wolfgang
>
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>
>
>  
>


-- 

------------------------------------------------------ 
Francis F. MUGUET Ph.D 

MDPI Foundation Open Access Journals
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ENSTA   Paris, France
KNIS lab.  Director 
"Knowledge Networks & Information Society" (KNIS)
muguet at ensta.fr   http://www.ensta.fr/~muguet

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