Strong belief that ICT can be harnessed to achieve all development goals at international level, delegations requested that the commitments which Member States have subscribed, including those made at the end of the two Meetings of the World Summit on the Information Society, were honored.

The enormous potential of science and technology for the promotion of socio-economic development and poverty reduction remains largely under-exploited, "said the representative of Antigua and Barbuda, speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. The use of these technologies can facilitate the fight against climate change, the response to epidemics, the operations of reconstruction and rehabilitation after natural disasters, job creation and strengthening of a participatory democratic process , Highlighted various stakeholders. The importance of ICT in promoting development is well known, summarized the representative of Brazil, urging the international community to work to fulfill the commitments it has made for regions and populations most disadvantaged.

Among the targets was assigned the international community appears primarily that of bridging the digital divide North and South. The rate of Internet penetration has now reached 85% of the population in some countries, but only 5% in others pointed out, for guidance, the representative of China. For some, including the representative of Tunisia, this gap is the product of a global economic context marked by a profound imbalance between the industrialized North and developing South. For others, the persistence of the digital divide illustrates the unwillingness of the international community in reducing the gap between rich and poor.ICT development is becoming a source of marginalization, rather than being a vehicle for integration, deplored the representative of Tunisia.

The delegation of Kenya, speaking on behalf of the African Group, explained that the challenges posed by the digital divide forcing African countries to choose between the different objectives they assign to their development process, due to their limited resources. He hoped that investment resources are appropriate and sustainable mobilized for the establishment of infrastructure and services related to ICT. His counterpart in France, representing the European Union, acknowledged that ICT had become an "unavoidable issue" in development policies, and recognized the need to deploy new forms of digital solidarity for the promotion of development.

In this context, many delegations welcomed initiatives such as that which led to the creation of the Global Digital Solidarity Fund, which proposes a funding mechanism particular, called principle of "1% digital solidarity", to finance the Acquisition of property and digital services to bridge the gap between North and South. Regarding the regional level, the representative of Morocco welcomed the initiative "Connect Africa", launched in October 2007 to mobilize the necessary human, financial and technology to African ICT within reach of all rural communities of the continent by 2015. Fifty-five billion U.S. dollars of contribution were promised under the Initiative, welcomed the representative of Kenya. He stressed that "Connect Africa" has highlighted the importance for Africa to build a favorable investment environment for ICT and human resources that accompany them.

The reports of the Secretary-General * on the issue on the agenda were presented by Mr. Khalil Rahman, the Technology Division and the logistics of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and Ms. Suzanne Bilello, information and liaison to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Besides those already mentioned, the delegations of the following States took the floor this morning: Indonesia (on behalf of the Association of South-East), India, Senegal, Bahrain and Belarus.Representatives of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) were also cast.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Second Committee had concluded its consideration of item on the agenda for the elimination of poverty, and heard statements by representatives of Afghanistan and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta .

Tomorrow at 10 am, the Second Committee will hold a panel discussion on globalization and health.

Source: United Nations - DPI-News Service and Accreditation - New York