[WSIS CS-Plenary] TR: WSIS: Information about the intersessional negotiation work and the Resumed PrepCom-3 in Tunis

[CONGO - Philippe Dam]

Dear all, 

 

In follow-up to what was previously sent by Bertrand and Renate on this same
issue over the week end, please find below the official message for the CS
Bureau we received yesterday from Charles Geiger (WSIS ES) on intersessional
negotiation groups and Resumed PrepCom-3.

 

Note the additional last paragraph of this text, about the possible
introduction of overpasses for observers, depending on the venue of the
meeting. Even though the resumed PrepCom-3 will follow the Rules of
Procedure of the PrepCom, including the participation of observers in
Plenary and Subcommittee meetings, it seems clear that because of material
limitations related to the venue, it will not be a full-fledged PrepCom, but
rather the final negotiation stage.

 

The attribution of overpasses, if confirmed, will be based on a
self-organizing mechanism of civil society.

 

For the expected work plan of the resumed PrepCom-3 in Sub-Committees and
working groups, I refer to the message I sent on Sunday afternoon (Geneva
time).

 

Best regards, 

 

Philippe

 

 

  _____  

To the Civil Society Bureau

 

Dear Sir, Madam, 

On behalf of the President of the Preparatory Committee of WSIS, I would
like to inform you as follows: 

As mandated by PrepCom-3 of the Tunis phase of WSIS, the PrepCom Bureau
decided in its today's meeting the dates of the intersessional negotiation
work ahead of the Tunis phase as well as on the dates, venue and modalities
of the resumed PrepCom-3 back to back to the Tunis Summit. 

Intersessional negotiation work 

Under the Chairmanship of the President of PrepCom of the Tunis phase of
WSIS, the Negotiation Group will meet in two consecutive sessions from 24 to
28 October 2005.

In its first session, on 24 and 25 October 2005, its objective will be to
finalize the negotiation on the Political Chapeau and on the paragraphs
remained in brackets of Chapter two of the Operational Part. In its second
session, from 26 to 28 October 2005, the Negotiation Group will aim to
finalize the negotiations on Chapters one and four of the Operational Part
of the final documents of the Tunis phase. It will be an intergovernmental
negotiation process, to be held every day from 10.00 - 13.00 and from 15.00
- 18.00 hours in the UNOG. Interpretation in the six UN working languages
will be provided. 

These sessions are not open to observers. After each session, the President
of PrepCom will inform the observers on the advancement of the work (in a
way which will be defined later, probably by e-mail, or by teleconference). 

Resumed PrepCom-3 back to back to the Tunis Summit 

The Prepcom Bureau decided that PrepCom-3 of the Tunis phase of WSIS will be
reconvened on 13 November 2005, at 10.00 hours, in Tunis, for a three-day
session (13-15 November 2005). Information about the venue will be provided
at a later stage. The resumed PrepCom-3 will start with a short
organizational Plenary meeting. The modalities of work of the resumed
PrepCom-3 will follow the Rules of Procedure of the PrepCom, including the
participation of observers in Plenary and Subcommittee meetings.
Interpretation in the six UN working languages will be provided. As this
resumed PrepCom will be the final negotiation stage,  the chairs of the
working groups will decide how the observers may participate (observing
without intervention, or present at the beginning in the room, or not at all
present but with information from the chair etc). The Executive Secretariat,
at the actual stage, cannot predict which form of participation will be used
in the working groups.

Please not that this will not be a full-fledged PrepCom like the PrepComs in
Geneva. We may have a relatively small venue (perhaps a room for 400-500
persons only) and we may have to introduce overpasses (e.g. 2-3 for
governments, and the remaining seats divided through the three observer
categories). Therefore only few participant from observers will be able to
follow the resumed PrepCom, and the space/seats for observers from civil
society may be limited. 

 

Sincerly yours, 

Charles Geiger
Executive Director WSIS 

 

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