Message of the ITU Secretary-General
for the
Intergovernmental Conference on
Emergency Telecommunications
(ICET 98)

The number and magnitude of emergencies and natural disasters that periodically strike various parts of the world are today stretching the organizational resources of those who provide humanitarian assistance to the limit. The optimum utilization of telecommunications technologies in disaster prevention, preparedness and response is therefore crucial. However, the transborder use of telecommunications equipment is frequently impeded by regulatory barriers that make it extremely difficult for humanitarian organizations to import and rapidly deploy telecommunications equipment without the prior consent and approval of the relevant local authorities.

It is in response to this problem that a number of international organizations have worked to develop a Convention on the Provision of Telecommunications Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations. This Convention is expected to be adopted at the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference on Emergency Telecommunications (ICET 98), due to take place from 16 - 18 June in Tampere, Finland, at the kind invitation of the Finnish government. Tampere can already boast a commendable record in the field of telecommunications in emergency situations, being the site of the adoption of the first Declaration on disaster communications back in 1991.

If adopted, the new Convention will undoubtedly go a long way towards facilitating the efforts of relief workers around the world, enabling them to make full use of the sophisticated telecommunications tools we have at our disposal today, as well as those that will be developed in years to come.

Dr. Pekka Tarjanne
Secretary-General
International Telecommunication Union