GLOBAL INFORMATION SOCIETY SUMMIT SPURS SOLIDARITY,

ALLIANCES BUT HARD WORK, ACTION AHEAD

GENEVA, 12 December 2003 (ITU) -- The World Summit on the Information Society closed on an optimistic note of consensus and commitment, but Yoshio Utsumi, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Summit cautioned that the meeting was only the start of a long and complex process.

UN ICT TASK FORCE PROPOSED AS FORUM FOR DISCUSSING INTERNET GOVERNANCE

(Received from a UN Information Officer.)

GENEVA, 12 December -- Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, the Vice-Chairman of the United Nations Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Task Force, today told the closing meeting of the World Summit on the Information Society that the Task Force should host the debate on Internet governance.

World Summit of the Information Society

Closing Meeting (PM)

WORLD SUMMIT ON INFORMATION SOCIETY CONCLUDES FIRST PHASE

BY ADOPTING DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES AND PLAN OF ACTION

Affirms Right to Freedom of Expression; Recommends Creation of National Cyber

Strategies in All Countries by 2005; Requests Working Group on Internet Governance

(Reissued as received.)

World Summit on the Information Society

4^th & 5^th Plenary Meetings (AM & PM)

WORLD SUMMIT ON INFORMATION SOCIETY CONCLUDES GENERAL DEBATE

Speakers Underscore Need to Bridge Digital Divide

And Spread ICTs through Means Like Digital Solidarity Fund

(Reissued as received.)

E-SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE LAUNCHED TODAY AT INFORMATION SUMMIT

Will Connect Pupils, Villagers across Developing World

GENEVA, 12 December (UN Information Service) -- The Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative (GeSCI) was launched today at the World Summit on the Information Society.  The Initiative seeks to connect thousands of schools and villages in the developing world through information and communication technologies (ICT).

World Summit of the Information Society

Round Table (PM)

WSIS ROUND TABLE DISCUSSES HOW TO USE ICTS TO ACHIEVE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 11 December (UN Information Service) -- The issue of how to use information and communication technologies (ICTs) to achieve the Millennium Development Goals was this afternoon discussed by a round table of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).

World Summit on the Information Society

3^rd Plenary Meeting (PM)

WSIS:  PROMOTION OF ICTS CAN HELP WORLD ATTAIN MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Participants Stress ICTs Must Be Harnessed to Ensure

Sustainable Development, Inclusive Information Society Based on Human Rights

(Reissued as received.)

World Summit on the Information Society

Round Table (AM)

WSIS ROUND TABLE DISCUSSES DIVERSITY IN CYBERSPACE, CHALLENGES

BEFORE WORLD’S USERS AND PROVIDERS OF INTERNET

(Reissued as received.)

                                                            PAL/1972*

GOVERNING COUNCIL OF UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION COMMISSION

TO HOLD FIFTIETH SESSION FROM 16 TO 18 DECEMBER

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 12 December -- The Governing Council of the United Nations Compensation Commission will hold its fiftieth session from 16 to 18 December 2003 under the Presidency of Ambassador Michael Steiner (Germany).