From the Opening session of the PrepCom 1 for WSIS Tunis phase

2004 June 24

At the Opening Ceremony, the Host Country Representative stated that The Tunisian Government will support civil society participation, in particular for persons with disabilities, women and youth in developing countries, with 400,000 (200,000?)dinar grant.

It is an excellent and encouraging initiative of the Tunisian Government.

This decision of the Tunisian Government is extremely encouraging since we those who attended the Global Forum on Disability in the Information Society at Geneva Summit and/or joined to give input to the decisions of the WSIS in Geneva through various channels in order to guarantee full participation of persons with disabilities in the Information Society and all process of summit itself.

At Tunis phase Summit, Tunisian grant for participants with disabilities from developing courtiers will be at least US$50,000. It is a good start even though we need to raise more fund to achieve a gathering to launch a new global initiative of Information Society for All.

PrepCom 1 elected PrepCom President, Ambassador Janis Karklins of Latvia.

There will be 3 PrepComs until Tunis.

Hiroshi at PrepCom 1