<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"></BLOCKQUOTE><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Colleagues:</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I've taken the liberty of reformatting the earlier message sent by Chekib so that it reads "better"...(it is below)</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I will comment briefly :</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">1. there are concerns being raised about what the significance is on being (or not) on a governmental delegation. </DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Might I add, that many in CS have the priviledge of being invited as NGO and/or civil society advisors on governmental delegations. This was done by certain governments to make sure civil society was able to participate in (listen to and comment on) all the activities at the prepcom. With numerous sessions being "closed" - it was the only way CS could in fact know what was going on.</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I and many others in CS took up this offer . Might I add that most, if not all of us were VERY open and clear about our roles. That we had been invited as advisors to a governmental delegation, but we are not members of the government. </DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">The outstanding issue is one of transparency - certain people were quite clear and open as to 1. their background, 3.. their organization, and 4.. if they are members of parliament of one or another country - this issues remain unsolved. </DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">2. Dear Chekib , I gather you want to pick a fight with most of the Civil society at WSIS, right? Your combative style and failure to recognize that the nomination of speakers can't just come from a very small and quickly convened selection committee.. It has been clear , for about a week now that a very large # of organizations and individuals are supporting Ms. Ebadi's nomination as opening speaker . This support, is seen by many as coming from the "plenary" - "the ultimate decision making body of CS", and as such overrides any structure that you and your buddies might sit on..</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">3. The ITU has before it a list of CS's nominations for speakers, including the one for opening speaker. What issues do we seem to have:</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">- a nobel peace prize winner : Who some object to.</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">- 2 Tunisian parliamentarians : Who, unlike others, fail to disclose the fact they are in fact appointed members of the parliament...</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Again - the issue is one of disclosure. Some people are more than happy to be open, transparent and mention all their affiliations - others, prefer to hide facts. </DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">In summary - Some, among us have chosen not to support Ms. Ebadi. Well, too bad the rest of us could not convince you. Thank you for your opinions - but, so far , the majority does not seem to back your view. This decision, i do not think can be taken by consensus.</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">The larger issue:</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">It seems the rest of the world is more than happy to give the many Tunisians that have been involved in the WSIS the right to express their opinions, to move around freely, and to enjoy basic human rights. The question is, as we get closer to the summit - will our Tunisian hosts extend the same rights to the rest of us....many of us doubt that...</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">regards,</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Robert</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000DD"><B><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></B></FONT></DIV><BR><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><B>From: </B>Chekib Dhaouadi <<A href="mailto:chekib_dhaouadi@yahoo.fr">chekib_dhaouadi@yahoo.fr</A>></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><B>Date: </B>October 18, 2005 7:21:43 PM EDT (CA)</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><B>To: </B>Rik Panganiban <<A href="mailto:rikp@earthlink.net">rikp@earthlink.net</A>></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><B>Subject: RE: Fwd: Speaker Background Notes and Recommendation of Ms. Ebadi</B></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Cher Ami RIK,</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">j'ai recu ton courrier comme d'habitude,et je ten remecie.Je te remercie pour les efforts que tu fais pour nous tous.Seulement,il y a une clarification que je voudrais apporter et qui s'avere necessaire.Elle concerne la nomination de Mme EBADI.En effet,ma reserve concerne des regles de procedure et du respect qui doit regir les relations entre les divers acteurs,qu'ils soient individus ou entites.Il est bien entendu qu'un "caucus" en forfaiture ou un eternel absent parceque preoccupe par "ses affaires" ou plutot par ses engagements au sein de la DELEGATION GOUVERNEMENTALE de son pays(BADGE A L'APPUI) tout au long de Prepcom3,ne devraient honnetement pas aspirer aux memes chances que ceux qui ont partage le travail pour que Prepcom3 connaisse la reussite.</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Je dis cela,car ce sont toujours les memes qui posent prqbleme.La nomination de Mme EBADI nous honore tous, sans aucun,mais ne change ma conviction que la nomination de notre Amie RENATA pour la ceremonie d'ouverture aurait ete un merveilleux couronnement pour toute sa carriere et pour tout ce qu'elle continue de faire quand d'autres sont aux abonnes absents ou trop pris dans leur delegation gouvernementale.</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Cher RIK,j'ai voulu aporter cette precision par acquis de conscience mais par respect a Mme EBADI.Tu eras bien aimable de transmettre cette precision al'UIT ainsi qu'a la pleiniere.SALUTATIONS SINCERES. CHEKIB. </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></BODY></HTML>