The 17th plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) completed in Antalia. During the event held on November 6-24, ITU defined their future activities, Trend reports with reference to the Organization. The role of the ITU was properly mentioned in the Digital Divide, ensuring the sustainable development of the global IT networks.
The conference elected the management group that will manage the 141-year organization. Malian Hamadoun I. Toure was elected as the Secretary General of the ITU. The conference was opened by the Turkish Prime Minister Rajab Tayyub Erdogan. Speech was made by ITU Secretary General Yoshio Utsumi.
The Conference brought together 2,000 participants, including 80 ministers, the representatives of the private sector and international organizations. A strategic plan of the Union, its priorities, goals for 2008-2011, as well as financial plan for this period were adopted.
According to the information provided by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies, the closing ceremony of the conference was attended by the Azerbaijani delegation headed by the Minister of Communications and Information Technologies Ali Abbasov.
Elections were held to the ITU Council, and Azerbaijan forwarded its candidature. As a result Azerbaijan could not enter the Council by not receiving only 57 votes.
According to the decision of the participants, the next conference will take place in 2010.
Plenipotentiary Conference is a higher body of the ITU. The conference which is being held every four years defines the common policy, adopt the four-year strategic and financial plan and elect the Head of the Organization, member of the Council and members of the Radio Regulation Committee. With other words, it is a key event, during which the 191 ITU member-countries make a decision on the role of the Organization in the future.
The members of the sectors (recognized exploitation organizations, scientific and industrial organizations, as well as financial institutions or institutions for development) will also attend the conference as observers.