[WSIS CS-Plenary] Speakers and Format of Tunis Summit

[Renata Bloem]

French version will follow on Monday. 

 

 

Dear all, 

 

Further to the ongoing discussion on Format for Tunis, speakers and other
preparations, here is some more information to be shared.

I was called yesterday to a short meeting with the WSIS Executive
Secretariat to define further modalities for Speakers, and I refer to the
adopted PrepCom II document Note by the Executive Secretariat, Annex 1: Time
Management contained in Doc.WSIS-II/PC-2/DOC/4-E 25 February 2005.

 

1.Speakers

 

I was told that due to enormous pressures from the International
Organizations, in particular from the UN Agencies who all want to speak, in
accordance with customary UN protocol some of the time given to observers
will need to take their multiple requests into consideration. However, equal
time will be given to CS and PS.

As it looks now, CS will have the following slots

*         1 speaker at the Opening Session, (there was no acceptance of
slicing this slot)

*         1 speaker at the First Plenary

*         1 (or 2) speakers at Second Plenary (depending on the number of
Heads of State)

*         1 (or 2) speakers at Third Plenary  (depending on the number of
Heads of State)

*         2 speakers at all following observer slots

 

This means 12 CS speakers for sure and alternates should be ready. 

In addition, CS will be invited to participate in the parallel Round Tables
(with only 20 participants as 30 compared to Geneva) which will be held in
parallel and consecutively and in the three interactive High-Level Panels,
to be held probably during lunch-time (with 5 panalists). The process of
identification of CS speakers should ideally be finalized by the end of
PrepCom III

 

The good news is that after the discussion the WSIS ES affirmed that CS
decides through its own mechanisms who will speak (in coordination with the
Secretary- General of the Summit –Mr. Utsumi, who is now known to accept
decisions by CS)

CS speakers will be called by name and accredited entity and then identified
through their self-organizing mechanism (Caucus, WG or other)

It was nevertheless pointed out that the President of the Summit or his
Representative, chairing the Summit, could just not call on a particular
speaker if he so decides (!)

 

2.Overpasses

 

Because of some limited capacity – the Plenary contains some 2500 seats –
overpasses will be given to participants

*	1200 to governments 
*	  300 to IGOs 
*	  400 to PS 
*	  600 to CS 

 

The CSB will be asked to work out a scheme for best possible participation.
CS overpasses will be non- nominative

 

3. Security 

 

Badges will be issued in the same format as in Geneva, (I asked for a very
short detection distance and pointed to the existing expertise within CS in
this field. I also requested that the ES should insist that the Host Country
agreement with the UN, particularly the section on Immunity should be soon
an accessible document)

 

4. Venue

 

Venue will be as in Geneva all under one roof. However space other than
Plenary and specific areas for the ITU and other Offices will be open
spaces, meaning that probably the noise level in rooms for parallel events
will also be the same as in Geneva. The adjacent exhibition area will be
open to general public, not needing official badges. This area will be under
Tunisian authority.

 

More information will be sent out soon by the WSIS ES.

 

We are here following the Commission on Human Rights, see also
www.ngoCHR.org <http://www.ngochr.org/>  and www.unhcr.info
<http://www.unhcr.info/> 

 

Best

Renata  

 

 

 

 

Renate Bloem 

President of the Conference of NGOs (CONGO)
11, Avenue de la Paix
CH-1202 Geneva
Tel: +41 22 301 1000
Fax: +41 22 301 2000
E-mil:  <mailto:rbloem at ngocongo.org> rbloem at ngocongo.org
Website:  <http://www.ngocongo.org> www.ngocongo.org

 

 

 

The Conference of NGOs (CONGO) is an international, 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.  For more information see our
website at  <http://www.ngocongo.org> www.ngocongo.org

 


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