<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; ">Dear Colleagues,<DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>The following memo was directed to the WSIS Executive Secretariat today on behalf of the selection committee. The background information on the recommended speakers is a large file (over 1 Meg) so I have uploaded it here:</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV> <A href="http://www.ngocongo.org/ngomeet/WSIS/Tunisspeakerbios101705.doc">http://www.ngocongo.org/ngomeet/WSIS/Tunisspeakerbios101705.doc</A></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Regards,</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Rik Panganiban</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><DIV class="MsoNormal">Yoshio Utsumi<O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal">Secretary-General <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal">World Summit on the Information Society<O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal">Dear Mr. Utsumi:<O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal">Please find attached to this letter the recommended list of civil society speakers with relevant background information for the various speaking slots allotted to civil society during the World Summit on the Information Society from November 16-18, 2005 in Tunis, Tunisia.<O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal">In addition, we understand that Ms. Shirin Abadi has been nominated by numerous caucuses and civil society organizations to speak at the opening ceremony of the WSIS (please see attachments 2 and 3).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The selection committee has deliberated on this request, and it recommends that Ms. Abadi address the opening ceremony on behalf of civil society. We note the reservation of the representative of the Arab caucus to this recommendation.<O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal">We also inform you that Ms. Renata Bloem and Mr. Roberto Bissio, whom we had earlier recommended for the opening ceremony, have both indicated to us their support for Ms. Abadi and their willingness to step aside to allow Ms. Abadi to speaking at the opening.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Thus we would request that Ms. Renata Bloem and Mr. Roberto Bissio be considered for other speaking slots along with our other recommendations.<O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal">We thank you for this opportunity to make the following recommendations, and trust that it will receive your careful consideration.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Please contact us if we can provide any further assistance or guidance.<O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal">Sincerely,<O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal">Rik Panganiban<O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal">On behalf of the Civil Society Selection Committee<O:P></O:P></DIV><P class="MsoHeader" style="tab-stops:.5in"> <O:P></O:P></P><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style=""><FONT class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14.6667px;">ATTACHMENTS:</SPAN></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style=""><FONT class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14.6667px;">1. Background information on recommended speakers from civil society</SPAN></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style=""><FONT class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14.6667px;">2. Letter from Human Rights Caucus recommending Ms. Shirin Abadi dated 12 October 2005</SPAN></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style=""><FONT class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14.6667px;">3. List of endorsing entities to Ms. Abadi’s recommendation (as of 16 October 2005)</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><FONT class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"> <O:P></O:P></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR><DIV> <SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><DIV>===============================================</DIV><DIV>RIK PANGANIBAN Communications Coordinator</DIV><DIV>Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO) </DIV><DIV>web: <A href="http://www.ngocongo.org">http://www.ngocongo.org</A></DIV><DIV>email: <A href="mailto:rik.panganiban@ngocongo.org">rik.panganiban@ngocongo.org</A></DIV><DIV>mobile: (+1) 917-710-5524 </DIV><DIV><BR></DIV><DIV>* Information on the WSIS at <A href="http://www.ngocongo.org/wsis">http://www.ngocongo.org/wsis</A></DIV><DIV>* Information on Millennium+5 at <A href="http://www.ngocongo.org/mdg">http://www.ngocongo.org/mdg</A></DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN> </DIV><BR></BODY></HTML>