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UN and EBU leaders meet on next month's Information Summit

UN and EBU leaders meet on next month's Information Summit

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and two senior officials from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), President Arne Wessberg and Secretary-General Jean Stock, today discussed the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, next month.

"They discussed the important role of the media as key stakeholders in the summit," Mr. Annan's spokesman, Fred Eckhard, told the daily briefing.

"They also discussed the World Electronic Media Forum, a parallel event to the summit being organized by the UN, in cooperation with the Broadcasting Union and Switzerland, from 9 to 12 December."

The WEMF is an event organized by the UN Department of Public Information, the Swiss authorities and the EBU. Mr. Stock is also chairman of the WEMF Association.

At the WEMF, panels, workshops and keynote speeches will explore the enhanced role of media in the information society, and examine such key topics as universal access to information, freedom of expression, cultural diversity, economic development, social cohesion and education.