President of Romania visits ITU

Geneva, 12 October 2001 — The strategic use of information and communication technologies (ICT) and the World Summit on the Information Society topped the agenda of talks on Friday between the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Mr Yoshio Utsumi, and the President of Romania, His Excellency Mr. Ion Iliescu at ITU  headquarters in Geneva.

Mr Utsumi discussed with the President recent trends in ICT and telecommunication development and the importance of the World Summit for coordinating the various Digital Divide initiatives undertaken by governments and civil society as well as the emerging national Information Society strategies.

President Iliescu explained the importance of the World Summit for his country, outlining the fundamental transformation of Romania's society through the implementation of an aggressive national information society strategy. He underlined how the efforts made by all segments of society – NGOs, universities, industry and businesses, as well as government, enjoyed the support of the highest political authorities of the country. Romania's new Information Technology strategy was also the subject of discussion and in particular the way in which it was developed through an extensive Web-based process involving all actors of civil society. Against a background of active change towards the emergence of the information society in Romania, President Iliescu extended an invitation to hold one of the WSIS regional preparatory meetings in Bucharest.

Both the President and the Secretary-General exchanged views on possible cooperation including in the area of digital signatures, information society projects, Internet training, distance-learning and e-commerce with the possible organization in Bucharest of a regional seminar for Europe and countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) next year. The discussions also covered regulatory issues particularly as Romania is opening its basic telecommunication services to competition next year.

The Secretary-General welcomed Romania's efforts to reform the telecommunication sector and explained how ITU provides a forum where policy-makers and regulators can network and coordinate policies, exchange their views and experiences, have access to policy and regulatory expertise and engage in an on-going dialogue at the global level. He also supported Romania's desire to establish a more structured relationship with the ITU, possibly through a Memorandum of Understanding or a cooperation agreement which would lead to tangible results.

The President was accompanied by H.E. Mr. Dan Nica, Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Mr Serban Constantin Valeca, Minister Delegate for Research, Mrs Simona Miculescu and Mrs Corina Cretu, Presidential Counsellors, Mrs Anda Filip, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Romania in Geneva, Mr Petru Dumitru, Minister Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Romania in Geneva, Mr Dimitru Honciu, State Counsellor and Mr Florin Ciolacu, Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of Romania in Geneva.

Romania has been a member of ITU since February 1866.

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