Thanks for drafting the letter Adam. I think the first letter is fine.
Arfa
On Fri, 14 Feb 2003 10:16:26 +0800, Chiting Serena Chuang wrote
> 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
> resistence to NGOs' participation, GLOCOM deserves our gratitude at
> any rate for its attempt and efforts to make the multi-stakeholder
> drafting process happen.
>
> (P.S. there's a typo for "spirit".have highlighted it for 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 Japan Govt.
>
> > 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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