The United Nations Information and Communications Technologies Taskforce (UN ICT TF) concluded its special meeting a week ago to create an Arab network, by issuing the Amman Declaration that establishes the Arab Regional Network headquartered in Amman. The first of its meetings will be conducted in September of this year in the Jordanian capital.
The meeting emphasized the need to enhance cooperation in the region in the field of IT and telecommunications for development activities, and the necessity of guaranteeing the reflection of the region’s specific needs in international initiatives.
Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh was elected as chairman of the Arab network. At the same meeting the members of the transitory executive office till September 2002 were chosen. Among them was Dr. Mohammed Said Jazaerli, the prime minister’s counselor.
The UN ICT TF was officially formed on November 20, 2001 at the UN headquarters under the auspices of UN Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan. It includes 18 members representing their governments; 8 members of which will be elected from the private sector, 6 members from development and funding agencies, and 4 members from non-governmental agencies (NGO).
The representatives of the Arab nations presented the taskforce with the reality of IT and telecommunications in their countries, and what’s been accomplished in the strategic areas, infrastructure, special projects for electronic governments, e-commerce and e-education.
During his speech as regional chairman for the Arab area, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh talked about the taskforce’s objectives that focus on tying in IT and telecommunications with development means, in addition to the extreme importance of global coordination and cooperation in the information sector.
He added: “One of the most pressing challenges in the new century is to harness this extraordinary force, spread it throughout the world, and make its benefits accessible and meaningful for all humanity, in particular the poor. The UN ICT TF will also work closely with the Implementation Teams set up as a follow-up to the Digital Opportunity Task Force (DOT Force) of the Group of 8 (G-8) countries. In particular, the UN ICT Task Force will play an important role in the establishment and support of universal participation when addressing new international policy and technical issues raised by the Internet and lCTs.”
Relating to the internet revolution, Abu-Ghazaleh stated: “The bursting of the Internet bubble deflated much of the hype regarding the Internet and ICTs, and some of the prevailing enthusiasm. This has had some disruptive effects but it was necessary and will be beneficial in the long run, as it redirects resources in a more productive way.
This leads us to the question of strategy and our anticipated activities in the Arab Region Network of the Task Force. Clearly, our most crucial initial task is to take inventory of our regional stakeholders and of the initiatives that are underway that utilize ICT-for-development concepts; I think it is important that this inventory be as fully complete and definitive as possible, and it probably needs a fulltime officer assigned to keep track of the inventory and developments, to keep it current. Secondly, we will need to disseminate this information to our stakeholders. Thirdly, I think we will need to analyze and assess these efforts to identify those efforts that merit special consideration at either the national, regional or global level.”
Abu-Ghazaleh pointed out that the actions related to the network’s administration and execution should reflect the principles of transparency, objectivity, and impartiality. He said that everyone should contribute to the noble aim of “better harnessing ICT for the socioeconomic development of all the disenfranchised people in the Arab region.”
During the meeting of studies planning, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh stressed the need to commit to usage of modern IT and telecommunications to achieve growth and fight poverty, pointing out that IT and telecommunications can be used as an effective method for all developmental efforts.
The first meeting of the executive office presented a number of suggestions relating to coordination with the UN ICT TF, to prepare strategic meetings with Arab governments, follow the taskforce’s guidelines in coordination on regional projects, work with the Arab League to achieve common goals and host initiatives and activities specific to IT and telecommunications in the Arab states.