UAE co-facilitates intergovernmental negotiations of the outcome document

The United Nations (UN) General Assembly will convene a High-Level Meeting on 15th and 16th December, to review the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and discuss how Information Communications Technology (ICT) can support sustainable development.

The meeting will be attended by high-level representatives from governments, civil society and the private sector.

Obaid Salem Al Zaabi, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations and Other International Organisations in Geneva, and Janis Mazeiks, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Latvia to the United Nations, have co-facilitated the intergovernmental negotiations between New York and Geneva of the outcome document to be adopted at the High-Level Meeting.

The UAE representative spoke about a host of topics which had received international consensus including those related to ICT like development, bridging digital divides, financial mechanisms, human rights in the information society, building confidence and security in the use of ICTs, internet governance, enhanced cooperation and follow-up processes.

Noting the reconciliatory spirit that prevailed in the meeting, Al Zaabi expressed his confidence that the document would achieve consensus at the General Assembly High-Level Meeting.

He also thanked the Republic of Latvia for the co-operation it showed with the UAE in facilitating these negotiations.

The ITU-backed Geneva Internet Platform has organised the event through a video conferencing technology between New York and Geneva. Al Zaabi presented the UAE's observations on the inter-governmentally agreed outcome document which will be adopted by the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly.