Ministerial Policy Statement
Minister of Communications, Reuven Rivlin
The State of Israel

Thank you Mister Chairman.

Ministers, Esteemed Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, First of all, I would like to thank the Government of Morocco and the people of Marrakech for their gracious hosting and warm welcome. It's a real privilege to be here in this beautiful place on earth.

The means of human communication have changed radically in a very short time. Millions of people, across the world, communicate daily, regardless of borders, or physical distances between them. To many of us, the Internet, or the mobile phone, have become obvious. We can not imagine life without them. We can not imagine, not being connected, at all times, wherever we are. This, of course, has changed our entire way of life. And yet, millions are not yet connected. Millions have been left behind, thus causing yet another social gap the digital gap - between rich and poor, between well developed and still developing societies.

In Israel, we feel, that closing, and even preventing, the digital gap, should be one of the fundamental guidelines, of our regulatory system.

As the minister of communications, I feel, it is my responsibility, to ensure, that commercial competition in the Israeli Telecom market, will result, in providing a richer variety of telecom services, available everywhere, for everyone, including access to broadband internet. We, in Israel, feel very strongly about not leaving anyone behind on this. We also believe, that facing the challenge of the digital gap, should be an important issue in the peace process, and that Israel, being a developed country, can offer a lot, to it's neighbors.

I believe, and I'm sure you all agree, that the ITU can and should play a major role in helping nations and regions bridge the digital gap. This is, after all, the most important work that the ITU does promoting human communication.

A child with no access to the Web is a child, with less chances of being part of the world community, when he grows up. A society without free access to the web, is less likely to develop.

Israel hereby states its dedication both domestically, and as a Member State of the ITU, to assisting, in closing the digital gap, through regional, and international cooperation. As part of this policy, the State of Israel has initiated a technological seminar for developing countries.

We have all witnessed the dangers of whole societies living in isolation, apart from the free world, and away from modern life. And we have also witnessed the power of free communications, of the Internet, to change the world.

We all respect the differences between cultures. We understand, that no culture is superior to others. But there is nothing politically correct, in leaving whole parts of the world behind. It is therefore our responsibility, your responsibility, ladies and gentlemen, to make it your concern, and your governments concern, to fight ignorance, to fight the digital gap, and not to let whole countries, whole regions fall behind.

I believe, that this should be the ITU's main concern, in the years to come. I am sure, that under the leadership of the ITU, and especially that of the Secretary General Mr. Yashio Utsumi, the ITU will succeed in facing this challenge.

Finally, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to take this opportunity, to invite all of you, to TELECOM ISRAEL 2002, in Tel-Aviv, on November 4th through 7th. It is the biggest telecom show in the Middle East, with an exhibition, and a massive display of Israel's telecom and hi-tech industries, and a three-day telecom conference. Thousands of guests, from all over the world, will be there, including some of the ministers here today. So come and be my personal guest.

Thank you and God bless you all.