DELEGATES FACE NUMEROUS RESOLUTIONS AS ITU PLENIPOT NEARS CONCLUSION

Documents adopted at Thurs.’s first reading include: (1) Modification of Constitution that calls for ITU, “to the extent practicable and within the possibilities at its disposal,” to cooperate with other international organizations having related telecom interests and activities. (2) Changes in Convention to direct ITU Council to adopt its own rules of procedures and to direct it to give member states summaries of its activities within 30 days after each of its sessions. (3) Resolution on regional preparations for Plenipot conferences that would require Secy.-Gen. to consult with and assist all ITU member states and regional and subregional telecom organizations in preparations for future conferences. (4) Resolution calling on ITU to continue to hold World Telecommunication Policy Forums on ad hoc basis within union’s existing budget constraints. (5) Resolution urging ITU to continue to organize world and regional telecom exhibitions and forums on regular basis. (6) Recommendation that ITU nations engage in bilateral and multilateral coordination to facilitate rotation of Council member states. (7) Recommendation that future Plenipots set date for submission of first report of Credentials Committee at date earlier than 9th calendar day of conference.

However, delegates sent resolution on telecom in service of humanitarian assistance back to drawing board after Mexico objected to language related to Tampere Convention on provision of telecom resources for disaster mitigation and relief. Mexico hasn’t acceded to convention, its delegate said, because document doesn’t adequately define “disaster” and because Mexican govt. opposes provisions giving immunity to nongovernmental organizations and allowing reimbursements or payments for telecom services provided during disaster relief.

To applause, delegates also officially approved resolution floated several days ago by Saudi Arabia on behalf of 44 delegations. Document calls upon ITU to assist and support Palestinian Authority in rebuilding, restoring and developing its telecom system. After first reading, delegates were asked to try to reach consensus on resolution, plenary chmn. said. Revised document was accepted without objection.

However, failure to agree on top limit of members’ voluntary contributions to union for next 4 years prompted contentious vote in middle of already-late plenary session. ITU rules require each Plenipot to set such upper limit, but members of administration and management committee (Committee 6) charged with crafting recommendation couldn’t agree, its chmn. said. Many countries supported annual contribution of 315,000 Swiss francs (CHF), he said, while others wanted to increase it to 330,000. France floated compromise: 315,000 for 2004-2005, 330,000 for 2006-2007.

U.S. backed 315,000 limit, saying increase would be hard to support in light of current economic environment. Contribution of 315,000 CHF is adequate to perform work of ITU, U.S. delegate said, but union must use its resources more efficiently and focus on its core competencies. U.S. Oct. 7 proposed principles for putting ITU on solid financial footing, including: (1) Improving budget development, Council appropriation and resource allocation processes. (2) Re-establishing emphasis on ITU core responsibilities with focus on Sector activities and staff that support those activities. (3) Beefing up responsibility and accountability of Sectors to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Doing those things, U.S. said, could amount to total saving of 64,229,000 CHF over next 4 years.

Australia said that while it had been paying current 315,000 level, it also had incurred involuntary contributions of more than 30% of that amount caused by inflation of Swiss franc and U.S. dollar. Countries that want to pay more are free to do so, Australian delegate said. Several countries sided with U.S. position, while others favored either upper limit of 330,000 CHF or French compromise. South Africa said that, faced with choice of either saving few thousand Swiss francs or contributing to telecom for all, “the choice is clear for us -- to serve the broader good.”

After haggling over what proposals were to be voted on, majority of delegates late Thurs. approved France’s recommendation. Members states now have until Oct. 16 to tell Secy.-Gen. what they intend to pay next year.

Among many documents under discussion in various venues is draft resolution on the role of ITU member govts. in management of internationalized domain names (IDNs). It cites rapid developments in convergence of telecom and Internet; fact that people are “generally more comfortable reading or browsing through texts in their own language;” and that “there are challenges of intellectual property [IP] associated with the use of [IDNs] and addresses.” It recognizes existing role and sovereignty of ITU Member States with respect to allocating and managing their respective country-code top-level domains, and role of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in guarding against abuse of IP rights in use of those domains. Resolution resolves to instruct Secy.-Gen. to: (1) Take active part in all IDN talks and initiatives. (2) Take any necessary action to ensure sovereignty of ITU Member States with regard to country-code numbering plans. (3) Promote role of Member States in internationalization of domain names and addresses in their respective languages. (4) Report annually to Council on activities undertaken on subject. (5) Submit resolution to WIPO, “stressing the concerns and requests for assistance of member states with regard to IDNs and addresses.”

Other resolutions circulating include proposals to establish Gender Unit in ITU to accelerate “gender mainstreaming” in all union activities and policies and to step up ITU participation in preparations for the World Summit on Information Society. Plenipot continues today (Fri.) with meetings of Committees 5 and 6. Meetings of those groups scheduled for last night were canceled after lengthy plenary session.