INDIA RE-ELECTED
TO INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION COUNCIL
India was once again
re-elected today to the 46 Member Council of the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) for a four year term with the highest
number of votes polled by any country. The election was held during
the Plenipotentiary (PP-02) Conference of the ITU now in progress
in Marrakesh, Morocco.
India obtained 134
votes out of possible 147 votes. India has been continuously on
the Council since 1952 and the re-election is a recognition of
India’s contribution and standing in this important and fast moving
field of telecommunication. The Council oversees the functioning
of the Union.
Shri R.N. Aggarwal,
till recently Wireless Adviser to the Government of India, was
also re-elected to the Radio Regulations Board of the ITU for
a second four year term and with the highest number of votes among
the candidates of the region. The Board, composed of 12 eminent
experts in the field from around the world, elected in their personal
capacity, frames the rules for implementation of International
Treaties as related to utilisation of radio frequency spectrum
and satellite orbit. The Board also decides on the conflicts between
various administrations in utilisation of these limited natural
resources.
Earlier, at the beginning
of the Conference, India had been elected as a Vice-Chairman of
the Special Group of the Plenary, which amongst other subjects,
is charged with preparing for the forthcoming World Summit for
Information Society (WSIS) to be held in Geneva/Tunis in 2003/2004.
Shri P.K. Garg, the present Wireless Adviser to the Government
of India, was nominated to the post.
The Plenipotentiary
Conference, the Supreme Body of the ITU, is held every four years
and decides on all policy matters relating to telecommunications.
