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 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.)

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.)

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 on Information Society

Round Table (PM)

FIRST ROUND TABLE OF WSIS DISCUSSES CREATING DIGITAL OPPORTUNITIES

(Reissued as received.)

The first high-level round table of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was held this afternoon with Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal, opening an interactive dialogue which was moderated by Maria Livanos Cattaui, Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Commerce.

World Summit on the Information Society

1^st Plenary Meeting (PM)

WSIS OPENING MEETING DISCUSSES HOW DIGITAL DIVIDE IS PREVENTING

EQUAL SHARING OF OPPORTUNITIES CONCERNING ICTS

Speakers Call on Need to Promote

International Cooperation to Reduce Digital and Other Divides

(Reissued as received.)

World Electronic Media Forum

Round Table (PM)

WEMF:  NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN HANDS OF ACTORS IN INFORMATION

AGE HAVE REPLACED TRADITIONAL MEDIA

Speakers Note That New Ways of Acquiring

Information Have Important Political Implications

(Reissued as received.)

INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS LAUNCH ‘GLOBAL E-POLICY RESOURCE NETWORK (ePol-NET)

AT WORLD SUMMIT ON INFORMATION SOCIETY

Inter-Active Discussion

UN PUBLIC INFORMATION CHIEF MODERATES DISCUSSION ON DIGITAL DIVIDE,

ICTS, EDUCATION THROUGH INTERNET

Conference Video-links Students from Turkey, Uganda

With Counterparts from United Nations Geneva International School

World Summit on the Information Society

2^nd Plenary Meeting (AM)

WSIS:  INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES ARE NOT END IN THEMSELVES,

BUT WAY TO FIGHT POVERTY

Many Speakers Support Creation of Digital Solidarity Fund

(Reissued as received.)