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afrol.com, 29 July - "We must not let the new information technologies become another resource that divides rich and poor nations", UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, told the Economic and Social Council this morning in his closing address as the Council prepared to conclude its 2000 substantive session. With help from civil society organizations and the private sector, even the remotest corners of the globe could be connected to the new economy and ensure that the rural poor were not left out, the Secretary-General. Information technology could give many poor countries the chance to leapfrog some long and painful stages in the development process. The United Nations could play a key role in expanding the impact of information technology on development and in promoting digital opportunities. It was not only information technology that needed resources. All the development goals agreed at the United Nations conferences of the 1990s needed to be implemented. "We must abide by the commitments made, and truly demonstrate global solidarity", he said. Action must be taken to accelerate debt relief for poor countries. Pledges were no longer enough: concrete and immediate measures were needed. Similarly, debts owed by countries that had suffered major conflicts or natural disasters should be cancelled. Much was expected of the United Nations. To live up to those expectations, adequate, stable and predictable funding was needed. "I hope that recent trends of stagnation and declining resources will be reversed, so that the United Nations is able to maintain its capacity to help countries make real progress towards the eradication of poverty, the overriding goal we all share", Mr. Annan said. Also this morning, the Council adopted without a vote a resolution on funding operational activities for development of the United Nations system, by whose terms the Council stressed the primary responsibility of national Governments for their country's development, and reaffirmed that the impact of operational activities for development of the United Nations system must be enhanced by a substantial increase in funding. The Council also adopted without a vote a resolution on the triennial policy review of operational activities for development, in which it requested the Secretary-General to assess the extent to which harmonization and simplification had benefited programme countries. Address by the Secretary-General The High-level Segment had helped raise awareness of the tremendous potential the digital revolution holds for economic growth, poverty eradication and development. However, access was crucial. "We must not let the new information technologies become another resource that divides rich and poor nations", he said. With help from civil society organizations and the private sector, even the remotest corners of the globe could be connected to the new economy and ensure that the rural poor were not left out. Investment in basic infrastructure was one key factor. But helpful government policies, and transparent and consistent laws and regulations, were also essential. Information technology costs must be reduced and made affordable for all. Still, he asked, what was the value of an Internet connection to those who could not read or write? The first step towards technological literacy was basic education for girls and boys alike. Similarly, promoting information technology could complement but not replace efforts to develop human capital and health services, and to strengthen democratic institutions and the rule of law. Only healthy people, living in free, open and transparent democracies which provide for their basic needs, would be able to take full advantage of information technology. Another major obstacle to the emergence of a real World Wide Web was content. Today, 80 per cent of the material available on the Web was in English, aimed primarily at well-heeled and well- educated people. Automatic translation, and the creation of local content, must be encouraged to ensure that the Internet revolution brings real benefits to all. Information technology could give many poor countries the chance to leapfrog some long and painful stages in the development process, he said. The United Nations could play a key role in expanding the impact of information technology on development and in promoting digital opportunities. The Ministerial declaration adopted by the Council contained specific recommendations to that end. It was not only information technology that needed resources. All the development goals agreed at the United Nations conferences of the 1990s needed to be implemented. "We must abide by the commitments made, and truly demonstrate global solidarity", he said. Action must be taken to accelerate debt relief for poor countries. Pledges were no longer enough, the Secretary-General said: concrete and immediate measures were needed. He urged the donor countries and international financial institutions to cancel the official debts of poor countries that were committed to poverty reduction, and to expand the number of countries eligible for the so- called Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Debt Initiative by allowing them to qualify on grounds of poverty alone. Similarly, debts owed by countries that had suffered major conflicts or natural disasters should be cancelled. Those countries had gone through terrible hardships. International humanitarian aid, even when it flowed generously, was in itself not enough to help them recover. People in poor and devastated countries placed great hopes in the international community to help them live a decent life. This session showed how much was expected of the United Nations. To live up to those expectations, adequate, stable and predictable funding was needed. "I hope that recent trends of stagnation and declining resources will be reversed, so that the United Nations is able to maintain its capacity to help countries make real progress towards the eradication of poverty, the overriding goal we all share." The African Initiative Percy M. Mangoalea, representative from Lesotho introduced the draft entitled “Information and communication technologies task force”. He said that it was a simple text that recalled the Ministerial Declaration that emerged from the high-level segment earlier on in the current substantive session. That text had recognized that the United Nations should play a leadership role in the age of information technology, especially in developing countries where it should spearhead efforts to bridge the digital divide. He said the time could not be more opportune for the establishment of a task force. The Secretary-General’s statement this morning indicated his commitment to promoting information technology, especially in developing countries. The decision to formulate a resolution on the topic was taken only two weeks ago. The strong show of cooperation had resulted in the text now before the Council. The Council thus decided to take action on the draft at this afternoon scheduled meeting. Council Work Programme Source: UN
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