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<div><span style="font-size:10pt">Back to the issue at hand, civil society and multistakeholder organizations would do well to press for guarantees of admittance and a real chance to speak in WCIT, if that is ever going to happen, before buying airplane tickets to Dubai. </span></div>
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<div>One way to do it would be for the CSIGC to write officially to the IGF Secretariat and request for an Invitation for two designated representatives to the WCIT. I know that there are some who are on this list who will attend in various other capacities. Just as every organisation or board differs on the issues of meeting and speaking rights, and especially in instances like this it is expected that only countries represented through government representatives will have speaking rights. I have never seen a United Nations General Assembly meeting being opened to enable just about anyone to participate as there are structures in place. The CSTD on the other hand make allowances for the involvement and inclusion of civil society. On something like the review of Treaties, it is not unusual to have only governments come to the table and if this is opened, then it becomes a privilege and not a right. My personal view is that even as an observer where we do not speak, one can at least taste the air. The better strategy would be to communicate directly with representatives within countries [to each man or woman his own country] as they consolidate their national positions to take to the table. We can see using the US for example, that the USG have invited US citizens to join their mailing list and make contributions as they prepare to take their positions to Dubai. I am sure civil society around the world are already engaging with their representatives. Many roads lead to Rome.</div>
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