I think we should send a letter of thanks to the Japanese government.
Sorry for being so slow, I sent a draft to the list quite a while ago
(January 23) and then got a little busy with other work.
I don't think there's time for signatures, and I would anyway hope
that we can all agree that saying "thank you" is a generally positive
thing!
I think it is important to get a note on the record with the Japanese
government and WSIS that recognizes the multi-sector drafting
process. This is a real step forward. And asks for further similar
support. Despite the mess that arose over Taiwanese participants, the
Asia regional meeting seems to be regarded as the best event to date
as far as civil society participation is concerned.
Note. There are 2 versions of the first sentence.
1. We are writing to you [on behalf of the] NGOs and civil society
organizations that attended the Asian Regional Conference for WSIS
2. We are writing to you [on behalf of our friends among the] NGOs
and civil society organizations that attended the Asian Regional
Conference for WSIS
I am concerned some of you may object to us writing on everybody's
behalf, hence the second version. "Friends" is used in a the broad
diplomatic sense and is not intended to imply any favoritism (it
means "ally" or someone with the same cause.)
Comments please. OK to send? Which version, 1 or 2?
Many thanks,
Adam
Dear Minster/Vice Minister (cc to Mr. Samassekou)
We are writing to you [on behalf of the] [on behalf of our friends
among the] NGOs and civil society organizations that attended the
Asian Regional Conference for WSIS, Tokyo January 13-15, 2003, the
organizations and members of the Asia and Pacific region NGO and
civil society mailing list (communication@wsisasia.org), and members
of the Asia and Pacific NGO Coordinating Committee (AP-NGO-CC.)
We would like to congratulate you on a successful conference and the
valuable contribution all participants were able to make to the WSIS
process. The innovative multi-sector declaration drafting process you
introduced was in the true spirt of the WSIS. It was a pleasure to be
able to work with our colleagues from government and the private
sector in creating the Tokyo declaration.
We would like to thank your staff for the excellent support they gave
to NGOs and Civil Society throughout the preparation for the
conference, and particularly while so many visitors from overseas
were in Tokyo. Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts
and Telecommunications (MPHPT) staff were highly professional, acting
with consideration at all times.
As a result of your efforts at Ministry of Public Management, Home
Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
and all organizers and contributors, the Asia and Pacific region has
been able to make a significant contribution to the World Summit on
the Information Society. We hope we can look forward to your
Ministry's continued support for NGOs and civil society to be able to
participate to the fullest extent possible in the WSIS process.
Yours sincerely,
pp GLOCOM
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