Western Asia Preparatory Conference for WSIS in Beirut

The Western Asia Preparatory Conference for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was held, as scheduled, in Beirut, Lebanon, from 4 to 6 February 2003, under the high patronage of the President of the Republic of Lebanon and was organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in close cooperation with the Lebanese Ministry of Telecommunications, with support from UNESCO Cairo Office, the World Bank infoDev Programme and the United Nations Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Task Force.

The Conference was attended by official delegations from the thirteen ESCWA member States, as well as international and regional organizations, civil society institutions and the private sector. The main concerns related to developing the information society in the region were discussed in thematic working sessions. 

These sessions produced recommendations that were taken into account in drafting the Declaration of Principles as well as other documents resulting from the working sessions and deliberations throughout the Conference.

The Beirut Declaration was adopted by ESCWA member States at the closing session chaired by the Lebanese Minister of Telecommunications. 

This declaration is submitted to the second meeting of the WSIS Preparatory Committee in Geneva from 17 to 18 February 2003, hoping that it will be reflected in the draft Declaration and Plan of Action for the Summit in December 2003.

ESCWA, Beirut, Lebanon