Ways of bridging digital divide dominate debates at UN summit on IT

6 July -- Despite the sophistication of today's instruments of communication, the African continent finds itself marginalized and presented only through its conflicts, diseases and famines, President Alpha Oumar Konaré of Mali today told a global gathering on information technology at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Delivering a keynote address at the High-Level Segment of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), President Konaré President Konaré said that the African continent was always portrayed as "a person in the throes of continuous agony" in the world's media. "Though that is one image of Africa, it is not the only image of Africa," he said, noting that the continent today was pushing ahead with hundreds of small-scale projects, micro-credit and the establishment of democracy. He stressed that collective access to the Internet must be given priority because the Web allowed Africa to be better known worldwide.

Mali's President was one of 21 speakers this morning, who addressed the high-level segment's theme "Development and international cooperation in the twenty-first century: the role of information technology in the context of a knowledge-based global economy." A number of the speakers stressed the need for local content to increase the relevance and value of available information to African users and users in other developing countries.

. In another keynote address, Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Gennady Novitsky, said the issue of information and communications technology was critical for the UN itself. He supported the creation of a much stronger UN by increasing its adaptability to the latest technologies, and stressed the importance of harnessing widespread support for the initiatives outlined in reports by Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Introducing Mr. Annan's report on information technology, Under Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Nitin Desai highlighted the need to recognize the diversity of concerns related to the issue of global communications. He drew attention to the contribution of regional meetings in the preparation of the high-level segment, as well as the input from leaders of the information technology industry, which he said had been "very enthusiastic" about the current forum.

On behalf of the European Union and other countries, Michel Duffour, the Secretary of State to France's Minister of Culture and Communication, said that developing countries might find information technology a formidable tool in combating poverty, but its benefits were inequitable, divided between North and South and within countries themselves. The quantitative need for equipment infrastructure should not be underestimated, he said, pointing out that, without electricity, a computer would serve no purpose.

During the three-day meeting, the participants are reviewing both a report from an independent panel of experts and Mr. Annan's report on "Development and international cooperation in the twenty-first century: The role of information technology in the context of a knowledge-based economy." The entire proceedings of morning and afternoon sessions are being broadcast live at www.un.org/webcast/ecosoc2000/. Tomorrow, the high-level segment is expected to issue a ministerial-level declaration and action plan involving the UN, international agencies, Member States and the private sector on how to bridge the technology gap between developed and developing countries.