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International Telecommunication Union
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ITU Conference signals enhanced international
cooperation in ICT
Plenipotentiary Conference endorses expanded mandate for ITU
Antalya, Turkey, 24 November 2006 —
The 17th ITU Plenipotentiary
Conference wound up Friday evening by setting out a road map for the Union to
chart its future course as the pre-eminent world body for telecommunications and
state-of-the-art information and communication technologies (ICT). It endorsed
ITU’s essential role in Bridging the Digital Divide and ensuring the continued
expansion of global communication networks. The Conference renewed focus on
implementing the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS),
which was organized by ITU.
The Conference also elected the new management team of the Union that will
take the helm of the 141-year old organization. The new Secretary-General Dr
Hamadoun I. Touré of Mali, along with his team of elected officials, will take
office on 1 January 2007.
The Conference, which took place at the foot of the Taurus Mountains
overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, met for three weeks, 6-24 November, at the
Vega Convention Centre, Sungate Port Royal Hotel, under the skilled chairmanship
of Dr Tanju Çataltepe of Turkey. "The ITU Plenipotentiary Conference noted the
many developments that have occurred in a rapidly changing telecommunication and
ICT environment that will have significant implications for ITU," Mr Çataltepe
said. "It set the guidelines for ITU, as the pre-eminent intergovernmental
organization in ICT, to foster the sustained development of telecommunications
and ICT networks so that people everywhere can participate in the emerging
Information Society and benefit from its vast potential." At the closing Press
conference, Mr Çataltepe said that ITU was ready to face the challenges of the
future, especially in implementing the outcomes of WSIS.
The Conference was opened by the Prime Minister of Turkey, His Excellency Mr Recep
Tayyip Erdoğan.
Looking Ahead
Over 2000 participants from 164 countries, including more than one hundred
ministers attended the Plenipotentiary Conference, the supreme organ of ITU
which meets every four years, and lent their support to the future work of the
Union. The conference focused on a number of key issues:
ITU’s role in Implementing the outcomes and
action lines of WSIS
Enhanced cooperation among the membership on
international public policy issues related to the internet, such as
internationalized domain names, to build bridges within the internet
community and in the intergovernmental process
To study ways for ITU to invite stakeholders to
work together
Promoting telecommunication/ICT development in
line with WSIS objectives and the Doha Action Plan 2006, with emphasis on
assistance to developing countries and disaster mitigation, prevention and
relief
Embracing cooperative projects that benefit all
users in dealing with cybersecurity, in keeping with WSIS action line C5
Convening a World Telecommunication Policy Forum
in 2009 to address internet-related public policy issues such as
interoperability and convergence
Organizing a World Conference on International
Telecommunications (WCIT) in 2012 to review the International
Telecommunication Regulations (ITR), a treaty that governs international
communications
Deployment of next generation networks (NGN) in
developing countries
Rotation of Telecom W ORLD
events
The Plenipotentiary Conference agreed on a strategic plan to guide the Union
in its future work and decided on financial parameters for the 2008-2011
quadrennial. Several options were considered to reduce expenditures, including
greater coordination and harmonization of work in hand. The process of
‘results-based budgeting’, introduced at the last Plenipotentiary Conference in
Marrakesh in 2002, was reviewed and used as a spring board to launch
‘results-based management’ as the next step in reforming the Union.
Other decisions relate to:
Strengthening of the ITU’s project execution
function, including countries with special needs, to reflect new trends
emerging in development and commercially oriented projects
Special measures for least developed countries (LDC)
and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), in keeping with the Doha Action
Plan established earlier this year at the 2006 World Telecommunication
Development Conference
Specific mention of economies in transition in
the ITU work plans
Cost-recovery measures on satellite network
filings and arrears accounts of Member States, Sector Members and Associates
Strengthening ITU’s regional presence, to enhance
the effectiveness of ITU programmes and activities.
Twenty-five major Regional initiatives adopted by
WTDC-06, including implementation of the ICT programme for the New
Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the agenda for connectivity
in the Americas based on the Quito Action Plan
Promoting the use of six official languages
(Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) on an equal footing
in the work of ITU by unifying databases for definitions and terminology
Human Resources Management and Development within
ITU with a focus on training and capacity building
Celebrating World Telecommunication and
Information Society Day annually on 17 May in keeping with the
recommendation of WSIS, which was endorsed by the UN General Assembly in
March 2006
Studying the management structure of the Union to
enhance efficiency.
Convening the next Plenipotentiary Conference in
2010.
The Plenipotentiary Conference closed with the signing of the Final Acts
which contain amendments to the Constitution and Convention of the Union.
A Turning Point
Outgoing Secretary-General Yoshio Utsumi expressed his satisfaction at the
accomplishments of the last eight years of his tenure and stated that his legacy
would pave the way for the enhancement of the future role of ITU. "I have come
to the end of a long journey, a road of many twists and turns
which took ITU to the pinnacle of
achievement," said Mr Utsumi. "During this period more than two billion new
users have been added to the world’s networks, most of them using mobile phones,
and more than 800 million users have been connected to the internet. ITU had
anticipated and helped create this change by setting aside spectrum and by
developing interoperability standards. ITU continues to be at the cutting edge
of technological change, and telecommunications now lie at the heart of a global
ICT business which is valued in terms of trillions of Dollars contributing more
than 7 per cent of global wealth."
"The Plenipotentiary Conference has succeeded in opening many doors for
enhancing the work of ITU and reasserting its mandate as the leading United
Nations agency for telecommunications and ICT," said Dr Hamadoun Touré,
Secretary-General elect. "I look forward to the challenge of fostering the
development of the industry as well as using the latest innovations to help
connect people everywhere and especially the underserved. I expect to work in
close collaboration with Member States and industry which have reaffirmed their
support to ITU here in Antalya to achieve the goals and objectives set before
us." He added, "Along with my dedicated staff and colleagues at ITU, I will
build bridges to a digital future through the active and meaningful
participation of all stakeholders, including the private sector and civil
society dealing with ICT. I believe that teamwork is the key to success."
At the closing Press conference, Dr Touré said, "The membership has set a
task to deal with International Public Policy issues related to the internet in
which ITU has been involved for many years in developing standards and providing
services." Responding to a question on ITU’s role in internet governance and
management of the internet, Dr Touré said, "ITU is not looking at taking over
internet governance. ITU is very well positioned to manage internet resources and
will continue to contribute to the growth of the internet in its area of
expertise and along with all stakeholders."
Referring to the financial situation of ITU, the Secretary-General elect said
that he would make all efforts, along with his management team, to present a
balanced budget to the Council in September 2007 and continue the efforts of the
outgoing Secretary-General in establishing good management practices.
The New Team
The Plenipotentiary Conference formalized the team of newly elected officials
of the Union at a swearing-in ceremony on Monday, 20 November. Dr Hamadoun Touré
took the oath as Secretary-General along with Deputy Secretary-General Houlin
Zhao of China and the Directors of Bureaux: Mr Malcom Johnson of the United
Kingdom (Telecommunication Standardization Bureau) and Mr Sami Al Basheer of
Saudi Arabia (Telecommunication Development Bureau). Mr Valery Timofeev of the
Russian Federation (Radiocommunication Bureau) was re-elected to a second term.
For earlier press releases on the elections, see
www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2006/23.html
and
www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2006/25.html
Forty-six countries were elected to sit on the ITU Council, which acts on
behalf of the Plenipotentiary during the intervening years. The following were
elected:
Region A (Americas): Brazil, Mexico, Argentina,
United States, Canada, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela
Region B (Western Europe): France, Spain,
Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Portugal, Turkey
Region C (Eastern Europe): Russian Federation,
Romania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Ukraine
Region D (Africa): Morocco, Senegal, Algeria,
Nigeria, Mali, Tunisia, South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Kenya,
Tanzania, Cameroon
Region E (Asia and Australasia): Japan, Korea
(Republic of), China, Thailand, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia,
Pakistan, India, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Australia
The Plenipotentiary also elected the members of the new Radio Regulations
Board:
-
Region A (Americas): Ms Julie Napier Zoller
(United States), Mr Robert W. Jones (Canada),
-
Region B (Western Europe): Mr Mindaugas Zilinskas
(Lithuania), Ms Martine Limodin (France)
-
Region C (Eastern Europe): Mr Baiysh Nurmatov
(Kyrgyzstan), Mr Wladyslaw Moron (Poland),
-
Region D (Africa): Mr Hassan Lebbadi (Morocco),
Mr Shola Taylor (Nigeria), Mr Aboubakar Zourmba (Cameroon)
-
Region E (Asia and Australasia): Mr Ali Ebadi
(Malaysia), Mr Shahzada Alam Malik (Pakistan), Mr P.K. Garg (India)
Among its functions, the Radio Regulations Board approves technical criteria
used by the Radiocommunication Bureau in the application of Radio Regulations.
A detailed report on the outcome of the Conference can be found
here.
For further information, please contact:
Sanjay Acharya
Chief, Media Relations and Public Information
ITU
Tel: +41 22 730 6135
E-mail
Contact
In Antalya, until 25 November 2006:
Phone: +90 242 824 1046 / +90 242 824 1047
Mobile: +90 533 603 8333
This press release is also available in 中文
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