UNITED NATIONS

GENERAL ASSEMBLY
News and Highlights from the President

President presided over Second-day Meetings of the General Assembly devoted to information and communication technologies for development; attended a luncheon hosted by the Head of the Swiss Federal Office for Communication, State Secretary Marc Furrer; left for Rome on official visit
18 June 2002

This morning, General Assembly President Han Seung-soo presided over the opening of the third plenary meeting devoted to information and communication technologies for development. Yesterday, statements were delivered by the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General, the President of Senegal and the President of the Economic and Social Council. The Secretary-General of the International Telecommunications Union, the Chairman of the ICT Task Force and the Chairman of the G-8 Digital Opportunity Task Force also spoke as did the representatives of 28 Member States.

Dr. Han attended a luncheon hosted by the Head of the Swiss Federal Office for Communication, State Secretary Marc Furrer. In his statement, he emphasized that the digital divide was one of the most critical issues that the international community needed to address. Dr. Han went on to say that the success in dealing with it would critically affect our ability to eliminate global poverty and underdeveloped in the 21st century.

Today, there are 30 Member States on the speaker's list plus Switzerland, the Holy See and the International Organization of La Francophonie. The Assembly also heard reports from two informal panels.

The meetings did not end with the adoption of a resolution or decision but the President of the Assembly made concluding remarks. In his remarks, Dr. Han said that the ICT revolution was opening new opportunities for economic growth and social development. A wide consensus emerged on the potential of ICT to promote sustainable growth. The United Nations and other international organizations were recognized as a catalyst for fostering digital opportunity and putting ICT at the service of development. The General Assembly, the most universal and representative body of United Nations System, was recognized as a forum for evolving a meaningful, action-oriented and coordinated response by the international community to bridge the digital divide and thus helping to achieve the development goals of the Millennium Declaration. The private sector had a role in developing and disseminating ICTs. Governments were responsible for providing transparent regulatory and legal frameworks that integrate the specific needs of developing countries. Civil society could bring a broader, participatory and inclusive approach to ICT development.

Tonight, Dr. Han left for Rome on an official visit.

Statement at the luncheon hosted by the government of Switzerland

Closing remarks at Meeting of the General Assembly devoted to Information and Communication Technologies for Development 

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