<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><DIV>Dear Colleagues,</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV>It looks like the next session of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development will occur from 15-19 May in Geneva. No word on whether or not there will be discussion on modifying its mandate and structure in light of the WSIS. My understanding is that until ECOSOC considers the request of the WSIS at its next substantive session in July, that the CSTD continues to operate under its old mandate and structure. And thus only NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC will be allowed to participate. This is the relevant section from the "Tunis Agenda":<DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><DIV class="WW-TableContents"><B>105.</B><SPAN style="mso-tab-count:1"><B> </B></SPAN><SPAN lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><B>We</B></SPAN><SPAN lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"> <B>request</B></SPAN><SPAN lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"> that ECOSOC oversees the system- wide follow-up of the Geneva and Tunis outcomes of WSIS.</SPAN><SPAN lang="EN-GB"> </SPAN><SPAN lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">To this end, we request that ECOSOC, at its substantive session of 2006, reviews the mandate, agenda and composition of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), including considering the strengthening of the Commission</SPAN>, <SPAN lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">taking into account </SPAN>the multi-stakeholder approach<SPAN lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">.<O:P></O:P> <BR></SPAN></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE><DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>The ECOSOC substantive session is from July 3-28 in Geneva.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Rik Panganiban</DIV><DIV>CONGO</DIV><DIV><BR><DIV>Begin forwarded message:</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" color="#000000" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><B>From: </B></FONT><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica"><A href="mailto:Mongi.Hamdi@unctad.org">Mongi.Hamdi@unctad.org</A></FONT></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" color="#000000" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><B>Date: </B></FONT><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">January 17, 2006 3:33:49 AM EST</FONT></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" color="#000000" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><B>To: </B></FONT><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica"><A href="mailto:rik.panganiban@ngocongo.org">rik.panganiban@ngocongo.org</A></FONT></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" color="#000000" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><B>Subject: </B></FONT><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica"><B>Re: CONGO e-Update for 16 January 2006</B></FONT></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV> <BR><FONT size="2" face="sans-serif">Please note that the 9th session of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) will take place in Geneva from 15 to 19 May 2006. The Commission will address the technology gap and the digital divide between and within countries. Accredited NGOs to ECOSOC are welcome to participate.</FONT> <BR> <BR><FONT size="2" face="sans-serif">Regards</FONT> <BR><FONT size="2" face="sans-serif">Mongi Hamdi<BR> Chief, Science and Technology, PCBB, DITE<BR> United Nations Conference on Trade and Development</FONT> <BR><FONT size="2" face="sans-serif">and Secretary to the CSTD<BR> Tel. 004122 917 5069<BR> Fax. 004122 9170122<BR> <A href="http://www.unctad.org/stdev">http://www.unctad.org/stdev</A></FONT> <BR> <BR> <BR> <TABLE width="100%"> <TBODY><TR valign="top"><TD> </TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></DIV><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; "><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; "><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>* Submit NGO Events to <A href="http://www.ngoevents.org">http://www.ngoevents.org</A></DIV></SPAN></SPAN><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN> </DIV><BR></BODY></HTML>