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Information Session
In addition to the Forum itself, a special Information Session has been
arranged for Sunday 15 March, from 11h00 – 13h00 and 14h30 – 17h30 at the CICG. This session aims to provide
information on the general nature of the new WTO agreement on trade in basic telecommunication services, and
will examine a number of country case studies specially commissioned for the Forum. It is open to all registered
Forum participants.
Forum
The working hours of the Forum will be Monday to Wednesday from 0900 to
1200 and 1400 to 1700 hours. The general outline of the Forum is given below.The opening will take place on 16
March 1998 at the CICG at 09.00 hrs
Timing |
Agenda |
15 March |
Information
session on WTO agreement and review of country case studies |
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16 March (morning) |
- Inauguration of the Second ITU World Telecommunication Policy
Forum
- Election of the Chairman
- Chairman's Remarks
- Keynote addresses (Dr. Pekka Tarjanne, Secretary-General
of the ITU, Mr. Renato Ruggiero, Director-General of the World Trade Organization,
Mr. Ahmed Laouyane, Director, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau and
Mr. T. Irmer, Director, ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau )
- Presentation of Secretary-General's report
- Discussion of the Secretary-General's report
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16 March (afternoon) |
- Consideration of Draft Opinions concerning WTO Agreement
- The implications of the WTO Agreement on Basic
Telecommunication Services for the ITU Membership
- The implications of the WTO Agreement for Developing countries
and Cooperative Actions between ITU Member States and Sector Members to Facilitate
Adaption to the New Telecommunication Environment
- The Evolution of the International Telecommunication
Environment, Particularly the Accounting and Settlement System.
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17 March |
Consideration of Draft Opinions
concerning the WTO Agreement (continued) |
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18 March |
- Adoption of Chairman's Report and Opinions
- Other Business
- Closure of the Forum
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The Issues
The second World Telecommunication Policy Forum will focus on how the policy-makers,
regulators and telecommunications industry will adapt itself to the changes now being brought about by the
introduction of global competition to telecoms markets. The conference’s agenda will basically cover the
following broad areas of discussion:
- the general implications of the WTO agreement on trade in basic telecommunications
services, with respect to both the telecommunications policies, regulations and regulatory structures of
ITU Member States, as well as the policies, regulations and financial strategies deployed by developing
countries to promote the development of telecommunications and the national economy in general;
- actions to assist ITU Member States and Sector Members adapt to the changes in the
telecommunications environment, including an analysis of the current sitation and the formulation of
possible cooperative actions involving ITU Member States and Sector Members;
- development and evolution of the accounting and settlement rate system, taking into
account activities currently being undertaken by ITU-T Study Groups.
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