"I am a bit disappointed by the lack of progress we've had this week," admitted Pierre Gagne, executive director of the secretariat of the summit, referring to five-days of discussions that started on Monday.

"There is a lack of will from governments to negotiate certain issues," notably freedom of expression over the Internet, he told a news conference.

At least 56 heads of state from countries including Algeria, Cuba, Egypt, France, Germany, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan and Spain are scheduled to travel to Geneva for the first stage of the summit from December 10 to 12. A second meeting will take place in Tunisia in 2005.

The plan is to discuss the digital divide between rich and poor countries.

"Unless there is a miracle, no draft declaration will be adopted" during the preparatory talks this week, said Gagne, indicating that discussions could run into the weekend.

Delegates had agreed on only 65 to 70 percent of the discussion points on the table. Areas of contention included the question of control over the Internet, the role of the media, freedom of expression and how to finance the global development of the information society.

"Big, industrialised countries believe governments do not need to be involved in regulating the Internet," explained the spokesman.

But according to several non-governmental organisation, certain countries such as China, Pakistan and Tunisia want to use the summit to give governments the power to censure the dissemination of information.

Between 5,000 and 6,000 people are expected to attend the two-day World Summit on the Information Society, which is being overseen by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

SPACE.WIRE