COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION SUSPENDS TWENTY-FIRST SESSION AT HEADQUARTERS CORRECTION

Press Release
PI/1140/

COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION SUSPENDS TWENTY-FIRST SESSION AT HEADQUARTERS CORRECTION

On page 8 of Press Release PI/1140 issued 14 May, the statement by the representative of Guyana should read as follows:

YUNIYA COX (Guyana), on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, said the resolution on information in the service of humanity would renew the United Nations objective of enhancing the capacity of developing countries in the field of information. With the ongoing advances in information and communication technology, it was imperative that the resolution be implemented vigorously, because without such assistance, most developing countries would be unable to share in the benefits of the improved technology which was now an indispensable component of international affairs and activities.

She said that the Group, in drafting the resolution on United Nations public information policies and activities, had hoped this year to deal with several of the issues directly and purposefully. Among them were: the integration of United Nations information centres; the implementation of the pilot project for the development of an international radio broadcasting capacity for the United Nations; the creation of partnerships with media and educational institutions to carry the United Nations message; and the full and direct access of delegations of the Members States to all the briefings by the Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

She said the process of engaging in open-ended informal consultations involving the Committee as a whole, which was introduced during its last session, has proven once again to be a very valuable mechanism for advancing the Committee's work. Her delegation hoped that in the ensuing sessions, it would become an established practice in the Committee's operations. The practice would encourage transparency in negotiations and the full participation of all members of the Committee.

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