The recent visit of the special consultant of the United Nations Secretary General, Ntin Dezai, in Greece and his meeting with the Minister of Transports & Communications, Michalis Liappis, signaled the entrance in the final stage of preparations of the 1st World Internet Governance Forum to be held in Athens from 30th October to 2nd November.

The goal of the Forum to be held in Divani Apollon Palace Hotel (Vouliagmeni area), is the reduction of the digital gap so as all inhabitants of the planet acquire the opportunity of utilizing new technologies and access the Information Society.

During the meeting, the agenda was finalized and many details regarding the Forum were arranged; the decision on the forum was taken within the framework of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), in last November in Tunis. Prior to Mr. Desai’s visit, a summit was held in Geneva a few days ago of the Consultation Team of United Nations Organization under the presidency of Mr. Desai; the item of the meeting was the World Forum.

The key components of the World Forum are: transparency in the Internet, freedom of expression and free flow of ideas, security, development of a trustworthy medium for Internet collaborations, access, and cost of international interconnection’s use.

Mr. Desai expressed to the Greek minister his full satisfaction on the high level of organization as well as on the complete infrastructure of the conference spaces. He also reassured him that Greece would have the full support of the United Nations so as this World Forum is successful.

On his side, Mr. Liappis who will address an introductory speech to the participants, stressed out the following: “we are very happy to host in our country the 1st World Internet Governance Forum, for which we have the full support from the United Nations Organization. Internet has radically changed the field of knowledge forms a useful tool for the support and promotion of the freedom of knowledge, the development of a dialogue between institutions so as the digital gap is minimized and citizens get familiarized with new technology and respond to the new filed to be formed in the future”.

It is estimated that participation in the Forum (Society of Citizens, private sector, academic and technological community) will translate to more than 500 people, including many well-known names, i.e. Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn –the said ‘parents’ of Intermet- in the list of participants. It should be pointed out that many “participants” who will not be able of coming to Athens will participate through teleconference in the discussions and workshops, utilizing in this manner the possibilities provided by new technologies.
For more information, visit the electronic addresses: www.intgovforum.org και www.igfgreece2006.gr.