ETHIOPIA: GOE INVITATION TO AUGUST 22-24 WORLD

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 002379 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/E AND EB/CIP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EINT ET OPDC TINT SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: GOE INVITATION TO AUGUST 22-24 WORLD INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FORUM ¶1. SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST: Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has invited the USG to attend the 3rd World Information Technology Forum (WITFOR) to be hosted by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in Addis Ababa August 22-24. The conference's theme is "ICT for Development and Prosperity" and will feature speakers on topics including the One Laptop Per Child Program. Post will forward the WITFOR program to AF/E and EB/CIP via email. Post requests Department's guidance in identifying appropriate Department principal to represent the USG at this event. END SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. ¶2. Text of the invitation to the USG follows. BEGIN TEXT: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and has the honour to kindly communicate the following: Ethiopia is hosting the 3rd World Information Technology Forum (WITFOR 2007) in Addis Ababa on 22-24 August 2007. This year's Forum with a theme entitled "ICT for Development and Prosperity" focusing mainly on Less Developed Countries, is organized by International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) and hosted by the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The Embassy is therefore kindly requested to transmit the invitation of the Government of Ethiopia to the Minister or Head of the Institution responsible for Information Communication and Technology to participate at this Conference. The Ministry also wishes to get the name and contact address of the said Institution and its Head so that formal Invitation from H.E. Ato Seyoum Mesfin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia can be sent immediately. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. END TEXT. ¶3. COMMENT: Post recommends that an appropriate Department principal, perhaps Ambassador David A. Gross, U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy represent the U.S. Government at this forum. END COMMENT. YAMAMOTO