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Geneva, 15/9/03 by Johnson Honimae, Solomon Islands Broadcasting
Corporation<br>
<br>
Pacific Islands Leaders have been strongly urged to attend the World
Summit for the Information Society (WSIS) to be held in Geneva,
Switzerland, 10 - 12 December 2003 "because this is where the
islands special problems would be addressed."<br>
<br>
In an interview with PACNEWS and PINA Nius Online in Geneva after the
opening of the third meeting of the Preparatory Committee for WSIS,
President of the Committee, Adama Samassekou said, "its very
important, its very crucial that Pacific Islands leaders attend the
Summit."<br>
<br>
"It is very important that they attend because the Summit will try
to put the benefits of the digital age to the developmental aspirations
of the Pacific Islands."<br>
<br>
"It is at the Summit that the special needs of the Pacific Islands
will be addressed with the use of Information and Communication
Technologies,"said Mr Samassekou.<br>
<br>
Swiss Government officials have indicated that only two Pacific Islands,
Cook Islands and Tonga have confirmed that their Government leaders will
attend the Geneva Summit.<br>
<br>
Pacific Islands participation has been lacking during the preparatory
process with only two countries, Fiji and Samoa consistent in their
attendance of the Preparatory Committee meetings so far.<br>
<br>
Earlier, the United Nations Secretary General's Special Representative to
the WSIS, Nitin Desai told a press conference that island countries were
the first to be considered for ICTs because of their isolation.<br>
<br>
When asked what is it in the WSIS for Pacific Islands countries some of
which are struggling to provide basic drugs or educational materials, Mr
Desai said: "For ICT's to appeal there is a need to connect them to
health, education and other developmental areas."<br>
<br>
"Let us not think of ICT's as a science but how can we use them in
better connectivity in our societies."<br>
<br>
ENDS.<br>
<br>
(Editors, PACNEWS and PNO, please include background sent in earlier
stories)<br>
<br>
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Chat Garcia
Ramilo
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Project Manager<br>
Association for Progressive Communications Women's Networking Support
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Manila,
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