Thanks Adam for drafting the letter.
 
I agree that the first version should be fine as the = letter appears neutral. Moreover, regardless of some undesirable = government=20 resistence to NGOs' participation, GLOCOM deserves our gratitude at any = rate for=20 its attempt and efforts to make the multi-stakeholder drafting process=20 happen.
 
(P.S. there's a typo for "spirit".have highlighted = it for=20 reference.)
 
Cheers,
Serena
 
----- Original Message -----
From: "Adam Peake" <ajp@glocom.ac.jp>
To: <communication@wsisasia.org= >
Cc: <izumi@anr.org>; = <alalegre@yahoo.com>; <sacha@forumasia.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2003 12:30 PM
Subject: [communication 519] URGENT comment please -- letter of = thanks to=20 Japan Govt.

> I think we should send a letter of thanks to the = Japanese=20 government.
> Sorry for being so slow, I sent a draft to the list = quite a=20 while ago
> (January 23) and then got a little busy with other=20 work.
>
> I don't think there's time for signatures, and I = would=20 anyway hope
> that we can all agree that saying "thank you" is a=20 generally positive
> thing!
>
> I think it is = important to=20 get a note on the record with the Japanese
> government and WSIS = that=20 recognizes the multi-sector drafting
> process. This is a real = step=20 forward. And asks for further similar
> support. Despite the mess = that=20 arose over Taiwanese participants, the
> Asia regional meeting = seems to=20 be regarded as the best event to date
> as far as civil society=20 participation is concerned.
>
> Note.  There are 2 = versions of=20 the first sentence.
>
> 1.  We are writing to you [on = behalf=20 of the] NGOs and civil society
> organizations that attended the = Asian=20 Regional Conference for WSIS
>
> 2. We are writing to you = [on=20 behalf of our friends among the] NGOs
> and civil society = organizations=20 that attended the Asian Regional
> Conference for WSIS
> =
> I=20 am concerned some of you may object to us writing on everybody's =
>=20 behalf, hence the second version. "Friends" is used in a the broad =
>=20 diplomatic sense and is not intended to imply any favoritism (it =
> means=20 "ally" or someone with the same cause.)
>
> Comments = please. =20 OK to send?  Which version, 1 or 2?
>
> Many = thanks,
>=20
> Adam
>
>
>
> Dear Minster/Vice = Minister (cc=20 to Mr. Samassekou)
>
> We are writing to you [on behalf of=20 the]  [on behalf of our friends
> among the] NGOs and civil = society=20 organizations that attended the
> Asian Regional Conference for = WSIS,=20 Tokyo January 13-15, 2003, the
> organizations and members of the = Asia=20 and Pacific region NGO and
> civil society mailing list (communication@wsisasia.org= ), and=20 members
> of the Asia and Pacific NGO Coordinating Committee=20 (AP-NGO-CC.)
>
> We would like to congratulate you on a = successful=20 conference and the
> valuable contribution all participants were = able to=20 make to the WSIS
> process. The innovative multi-sector = declaration=20 drafting process you
> introduced was in the true spirt of the WSIS. It was a pleasure to be =
> able to=20 work with our colleagues from government and the private
> sector = in=20 creating the Tokyo declaration.
>
> We would like to thank = your=20 staff for the excellent support they gave
> to NGOs and Civil = Society=20 throughout the preparation for the
> conference, and particularly = while=20 so many visitors from overseas
> were in Tokyo.  Ministry of = Public=20 Management, Home Affairs, Posts
> and Telecommunications (MPHPT) = staff=20 were highly professional, acting
> with consideration at all=20 times.
>
> As a  result of your efforts at Ministry of = Public=20 Management, Home
> Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, = Ministry of=20 Foreign Affairs,
> and all organizers and contributors, the Asia = and=20 Pacific region has
> been able to make a significant contribution = to the=20 World Summit on
> the Information Society. We hope we can look = forward to=20 your
> Ministry's continued support for NGOs and civil society to = be able=20 to
> participate to the fullest extent possible in the WSIS=20 process.
>
> Yours sincerely,
>
> pp = GLOCOM
> --=20
>