Welcome
The Bilbao Summit is an opportunity to reinforce awareness of the key role to be played by cities and local authorities in building an information society which is just, creative and respectful with cultural diversity.
Information and communication technologies are obviously tools and not an end in themselves. They are an asset with which to renew local government and improve the participation of populations in the development of their community.
UNITAR has created an international network of associated training centres placed at the service of local collectivities and of their representives. Their purpose is to reinforce skills and favour the exchange of experiences between cities and local governments in order to consolidate decentralisation, modernise administration and offer better services to citizens, while at the same time decreasing their vulnerability to risks.
UNITAR encourages the creation of local research and innovation capabilities with the aim of guaranteeing the perpetuity of projects and of supporting local leaders in implementing e-society programmes conceived from a point of view of lasting development.
Partnership is the key word of the Bilbao Summit, which UNITAR is pleased to prepare jointly with the Summit hosts. I invite all international, national and local players to take part in it with a spirit of cooperation and of sharing responsibilities with the aim of jointly committing ourselves to large scale undertakings in order to achieve the Millenary objectives of the United Nations.
Marcel Boisard
Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations
Executive Director of UNITAR