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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=Default>Comments?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=Default><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=Default>M<o:p></o:p></p><p class=Default><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=Default><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=Default align=center style='text-align:center'> <b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>WSIS Forum 2013: Invitation to contribute to the Open Consultation Process on the </span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Thematic Aspects and innovations on the Format </span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Dear Sir/Madam, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Following the outcomes of the WSIS Action Line Facilitators meetings during the WSIS Forum 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 and the exchange of views amongst several WSIS stakeholders, the organizers of the WSIS Forum, ITU, UNESCO, UNCTAD and UNDP are pleased to announce the Open Consultation Process on the thematic aspects and innovations on the format of the WSIS Forum 2013. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>This consultation process aims at ensuring the participatory and inclusive spirit of the WSIS Forum 2013, scheduled to be held from 13 to 17 May at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, by actively engaging governments, civil society, the private sector and intergovernmental organizations in the preparatory process. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='border-collapse:collapse;border:none'><tr style='height:19.8pt'><td width=340 valign=top style='width:254.85pt;border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:19.8pt'><p class=Default style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The Open Consultation Process for the WSIS Forum 2013 is structured in five phases as follows: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default style='text-align:justify'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Phase I : </span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=340 valign=top style='width:254.85pt;border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:19.8pt'><p class=Default style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>8 October 2012 Opening of the Open Consultations: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=Default style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>• Online Dialogues on the WSIS Knowledge Communities <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=Default style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>• Official submissions at wsis-info@itu.int <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:6.3pt'><td width=340 valign=top style='width:254.85pt;border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:6.3pt'><p class=Default style='text-align:justify'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Phase II : </span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=340 valign=top style='width:254.85pt;border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:6.3pt'><p class=Default style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>16 November 2012 First Physical Meeting <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:13.0pt'><td width=340 valign=top style='width:254.85pt;border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:13.0pt'><p class=Default style='text-align:justify'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Phase III : </span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=340 valign=top style='width:254.85pt;border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:13.0pt'><p class=Default style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>21 January 2013 Deadline for Submission of the Official Contributions and binding requests for Workshops <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:6.3pt'><td width=340 valign=top style='width:254.85pt;border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:6.3pt'><p class=Default style='text-align:justify'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Phase IV : </span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=340 valign=top style='width:254.85pt;border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:6.3pt'><p class=Default><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>15 February 2013 Final Review Meeting (3 months prior to the meeting) <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:6.3pt'><td width=340 valign=top style='width:254.85pt;border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:6.3pt'><p class=Default style='text-align:justify'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Phase V : </span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=340 valign=top style='width:254.85pt;border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:6.3pt'><p class=Default style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>16 April 2013 Final Brief on the WSIS Forum 2013 <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>