WORLD TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE (WTDC -02)
ISTANBUL, TURKEY, 18-27 MARCH 2002
AFRICAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS UNION (ATU)

DRAFT RESOLUTION FOR ENGAGING ITU
IN THE NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT (NEPAD) INITIATIVE

The World Telecommunications Development Conference (Istanbul 2002),

considering

the ITU Constitutional provisions as contained in Chapter 1V on the Telecommunications Development Sector with particular regard, inter alia, to the functions of the Sector on awareness building as regards the impact of telecommunications in national economic and social development; its catalytic role in promoting the development , expansion, operation of telecommunications services and networks especially in developing countries and the need to maintain and enhance cooperation with regional and other telecommunications organizations,

considering further

Resolution 31 of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference ( Kyoto , 1994 ) on telecommunications infrastructure and socio-economic development highlighting :

a) telecommunications as a prerequisite for development,
b) its impact on agriculture, health, education, transport , human settlement, etc.,
c) the continuing decline in development resources available to developing countries,

noting

a) that the World telecommunications Development Conference ( Valletta, 1998 ) reaffirmed in its Declaration and resolutions commitment to enhance expansion and development of telecommunications services in developing countries and to harness capacity for application of new and innovative services,
b) the adoption of the Valletta Action Plan incorporating key Chapters on global information infrastructure development and the special programme for least developed countries,

aware

that the ITU Administrative Council in its Resolution 1184 on WTDC- 02 urged the conference to make " a special emphasis on the problem of ' bridging the digital divide',

taking note

a) of the recognition by the United Nations General Assembly in its Resolution A/RES/56/37 of the adoption by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African Unity at its thirty-seventh ordinary session Lusaka, July 2001 of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD),
b) and the declaration by the Economic and Social Council, on the role of the United Nations system in supporting the efforts of African countries to achieve sustainable development,

taking cognizance

of the operative provisions contained in the United Nations Resolution A/RES/56/218 on the Final review and appraisal of the UN New Agenda for the Development of Africa, regarding consideration of plans and modalities during 2002 for future engagement with the New Partnership for Africa's Development and calling on the United Nations system and the international community to support the New African Initiative and to ensure effective representation,

recognizing

that in spite of the impressive growth and expansion in info-communication services registered in the African region since the last WTDC -98 many areas of major concern still exist and considerable disparities in distribution pervade the region; significant too is the continuing growth of the ' digital divide',

1. REQUESTS

the Secretary General of the ITU to urgently initiate special measures and programme for supporting and engaging the New Partnership for African Development.

2. INSTRUCTS

the Director of BDT to evolve and maintain close and effective collaboration with ATU which is engaged in the various implementation aspects of NEPAD.

3. RESOLVES TO INVITE

the ITU Council and the Plenipotentiary Conference ( Marrakech, 2002 ) to ensure that appropriate resources and means are available to BDT to effectively participate in the NEPAD initiative.