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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 36pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'"><FONT
size=6><STRONG>World Summit on the Information
Society</STRONG></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 24pt; COLOR: green; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'"><FONT
size=5><STRONG>Open Consultation: Expression of Views on Venue for WSIS Forum
2011</STRONG></FONT></SPAN></P></DIV>
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<P align=justify><FONT face=Verdana><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 0.8em"><FONT
size=3>Dear WSIS Stakeholders,<BR><BR>WSIS Forum 2010, which marked the fifth
anniversary of the World Summit on the Information Society, was a successful
event and gathered unprecedented number of participants. You can find details on
the WSIS Forum 2010 webpage </FONT><A
href="http://www.itu.int/wsis/implementation/2010/forum/geneva/"><FONT
size=3>http://www.itu.int/wsis/implementation/2010/forum/geneva/</FONT></A><FONT
size=3>, they include: the final executive briefing, interviews, video clippings
and webcast of the event.<BR><BR>ITU, UNESCO, UNCTAD and UNDP are pleased to
announce that the WSIS Forum 2011 will be held from 16th to 20th of May 2011
(</FONT><A href="http://www.wsis.worg/forum"><FONT
size=3>www.wsis.worg/forum</FONT></A><FONT size=3>). The year 2011 paves the way
for the path beyond the halfway point between the successful conclusion of the
WSIS in 2005 and 2015, the year by which world leaders are committed to attain
the internationally agreed development goals, including Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs) and WSIS targets. We need to redouble our efforts in the
implementation of the decisions with the determination to meet our own
commitments. <BR><BR>Taking into account the above mentioned considerations,
several WSIS Stakeholders suggested holding the WSIS Forum 2011 in New York. It
was considered that WSIS Forum 2011 in New York would offer several
opportunities for further improving the WSIS process and would help: a) enlarge
the geographic reach of the discussions on the implementation of the WSIS
decisions b) enhance visibility of ICT debates in UN diplomatic circles of NY;
which may result in better reflection of this aspect in the relevant UNGA
resolutions concerning economic, social, educational and cultural development,
particularly in the least developing countries, land-lock countries c) attract
new stakeholders, including international organizations, private sector and
civil society organizations active around the UN in New York, d) enhance
participation of NY based organizations, including, UNDP, UNDESA, UNICEF, UNOCHA
and others in WSIS implementation and follow-up process. It should also be noted
that the move of the event to NY may entail some logistical challenges for
organizers, may add to travel and visa expenses for participants as well as may
have implications for planning of next annual session of the Commission on
Science and Technology for Development, assisting ECOSOC as the focal point in
follow-up of WSIS. <BR><BR>In this context, building upon discussions during the
last WSIS Action Line Facilitators Meeting (14 May 2010) at WSIS Forum 2010, the
organizers are pleased to invite all WSIS Stakeholders to participate in an
<B>Open Consultation to exchange their views on moving the venue of the WSIS
Forum from Geneva to New York.</B> </FONT></FONT><BR></FONT><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 0.8em" face=Verdana><BR><FONT size=3>The multi-stakeholder
on-line consultation will take place in three phases:</FONT></FONT></P>
<P><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 0.8em" face=Verdana><FONT size=3>• <B>Phase One:</B>
<B><FONT color=#6089cb>10th August – 10th September 2010</FONT></B>: Online
discussions at </FONT><A href="http://www.wsis-community.org/"><NOBR><FONT
size=3>www.wsis-community.org</FONT></NOBR></A><BR><FONT size=3>• <B>Phase
Two:</B> Deadline for submitting official statements <B><FONT color=#6089cb>12th
September 2010</FONT></B> at the </FONT><A
onclick="return popupWindow('http://groups.itu.int/Default.aspx?tabid=1200')"
href="http://groups.itu.int/Default.aspx?tabid=1200"><FONT size=3>online
submission page</FONT></A><BR><FONT size=3>• <B>Phase Three:</B> <FONT
color=#6089cb><B>13th – 14th September</B></FONT>: Analysis of submitted
official statements<BR>• <B>Final Announcement of Results:</B> <FONT
color=#6089cb><B>15th September 2010</B></FONT> </FONT><A
href="http://www.wsis.org/forum"><NOBR><FONT
size=3>www.wsis.org/forum</FONT></NOBR></A></FONT></P></DIV>
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<DIV>Bazlu<BR>_______________________<BR>AHM. Bazlur Rahman-S21BR<BR>Chief
Executive Officer<BR>Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication
(BNNRC)<BR>[NGO in Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social
Council]<BR>& <BR>Head, Community Radio Academy <BR> <BR>House: 13/1,
Road: 2, Shaymoli, Dhaka-1207 <BR>Post Box: 5095, Dhaka 1205
Bangladesh<BR> <BR>Phone: 88-02-9130750, 88-02-9138501<BR>Cell: 01711881647
Fax: 88-02-9138501-105<BR>E-mail: <A
href="mailto:ceo@bnnrc.net">ceo@bnnrc.net</A> <A
href="http://www.bnnrc.net">www.bnnrc.net</A></DIV>
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