Ki-moon commends ITU contributions

The Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), Mr Ban Ki-moon has commended the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) over its role in broadening communications globally.

He gave the commendation during a visit to ITU headquarters in Geneva at the end of the recent high-level meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations and the Global Compact Summit.

Speaking during the visit, Mr. Ki-moon described ITU, as “one of the most powerful organizations in the UN system.”

He also emphasized the need for ITU to continue its crusade on connectivity, stressing that without it “the whole world would be in darkness” and that would mean continuous living in a medieval age without the means of communication.

Mr. Ki-moon added that the work of ITU has continued to act as a catalyst in reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by 2015.

He pointed out that ITU’s work in bridging the digital divide, enhancing cybersecurity and strengthening emergency communications for disaster prevention and relief, cannot be over-emphasised.

He further called for stronger ties, ownership and commitment that would encompass a broader vision of the entire UN agencies.

ITU, he said, is providing the basic groundwork for the international community and should contribute to global agendas such as climate change, which would have long-term implications for the future of humankind.

“ITU is one of the very important stakeholders in the area of climate change,” said Mr Ban Ki-moon.
Welcoming the UN scribe, the Secretary-General of ITU, Dr Hamadoun Touré, applauded the historic visit, the first to ITU by a UN Secretary-General.

He recognised the importance of the visit and parts played by Mr. Ki-moon to the role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the world development.

Dr Touré equally said that the first priority for ITU is to close the digital divide by 2015, in line with the UN’s Millennium Development Goals.

“If ITU does not meet the MDG, then no one else will, because ICT is a tool for everyone,” said Dr Touré, adding “Together we can help the world to communicate. If we do this, the world will be a better place.”


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