STATEMENT FROM
the Liechtenstein
Government
Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the Liechtenstein Government
I would like to express my gratitude to the Tunisian
Government for hosting this event and for the warm welcome
and kind hospitality. It is a great honor for me as Minister
for Information and Telecommunication to address this
assembly and to share with you some ideas on the information
society from a Liechtenstein point of view.
Information and communication
technologies are powerful engines of economic and social
progress. They have also become increasingly important for
Liechtenstein and its progressing integration into the
global economy during the last century. National and
international enterprises, especially in the areas of
high-tech industry and financial services, rely, to a large
extent, on excellent communication systems. For them, the
ICT factor plays a central role, increasing the potential of
the traditional productive forces i.e. human resources,
means of production and materials. One of the challenges
Liechtenstein has been facing is the provision and promotion
of adequate education and training of experts. In this
respect I am pleased to note that today the university of
Liechtenstein offers bachelor and masters degrees as well as
post-graduate training in ICT, which is adapted to the
specific needs of finance and industry in our country.
Regular exchange with foreign universities allows to keep
pace with the developments of ICT and constitutes one of the
main reasons for the considerable percentage of foreign
students enrolled in ICT courses at Liechtenstein
university.
Mr. Chairman,
Talking about challenges, we also have to
mention the security aspect, which is somehow the other side
of the medal when promoting and developing ICT systems and
networks. Crimes committed through the use of the internet
not only affect persons individually but can pose a risk to
the overall economic prosperity. Liechtenstein is striving
to ensure the highest possible level of security and data
protection. We have implemented the European standards as
set out in the respective EU directives, and participate
actively in several programs of the European Union on
e-Commerce, e-Health, e-Finance, e-Content, e-Security,
e-Accessibility or e-Learning. The national police of
Liechtenstein have set up a special-unit to combat cyber
crime and established close operational relations with
several of their foreign counterparts. For a small country
like Liechtenstein, constantly meeting the ever evolving
requirements and guaranteeing the European-wide high
standard entails an enormous administrative effort. However,
we are convinced that this effort is well invested in order
to offer high quality of services combined with high
security.
I would like to point out in this regard
that Liechtenstein attaches great importance to the aspect
of international cooperation. The security chain is only as
strong as its weakest link. There is a need for universal
collaboration in the setting of standards and their global
implementation. Such cooperation must not be limited to the
intergovernmental level. Active participation of civil
society and the private sector is indispensable if we are to
maximize the benefits of ICT for all while keeping its
potential risks to an absolute minimum. Risks of misuse may
also arise through the collection and distribution of
personal data, in particular if this is done without the
knowledge of the individuals concerned. We have to ensure
that the right to privacy is respected in all parts of the
world. Preserving the right to privacy and the protection of
personal data is especially important in connection with
current national and international efforts to further step
up counter-terrorism measures.
Mr. Chairman,
The main objective of the Summit on the
Information Society has been and still is to overcome the
digital divide between and within countries and to ensure
that all people can benefit from the potentials of
information and communication technologies. We have all
subscribed to this goal, which is one of the Millennium
Development Goals. One of the most successful projects
initiated by the Liechtenstein development service in recent
years has been a radio education program in Central America.
It enables people living in remote areas to attend classes
and to obtain a degree, including members of indigenous
groups since part of the program is conducted in indigenous
languages. The project which was originally launched in one
country has been constantly expanded at the national level
and covers now also other countries in the region. The
Liechtenstein development service is also supporting the
creation of an internet information platform for farmers in
Eastern Africa. The platform will provide information on
inexpensive and locally adapted methods of ecological pest
and disease control for human beings, animals and useful
plants as well as on sustainable agriculture. It is intended
to help improve health, nutrition, education and income
situation of the rural population. These examples show that
the promotion of information and communication technologies
is not a goal in itself but a means to improve other areas
of life. We consider it important that new information and
communication technologies are used particularly for the
rural development as well as for the empowerment of women
and girls and other disadvantaged groups.
Mr. Chairman,
The two-phased nature of this summit has
given us the opportunity to focus our attention on the
challenges of an inclusive, safe and human-rights-based
information society for a longer time-span than is usually
the case. We are called upon to keep up the momentum at the
national and international levels in order to close the
digital divide and to make our networks as secure as
possible. We have to seek for global solutions while taking
into due account that the needs and challenges are not the
same in the different parts of the world. Let me assure you
that Liechtenstein remains fully committed to these goals.
I thank you.
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