During the last quarter, a certain
number of changes occurred in the contacts and organisations
reports regarding the Information Society in the Mediterranean
area. These new contacts are very useful for public institutions,
private investors, journalists or any other individuals
interested in the Central and Eastern European Information
Technologies markets.
- In Algeria,
4 new companies received authorisation from the
government to provide Internet access on November 1st
99 : These companies were Eepad, Djazair Com, ACI
Net and Procom International.
- In Cyprus,
Dr. Antonis Kakas of the University of Cyprus (Computer
Science Department) was appointed as the National Contact
Point for the Information Society of Technologies (IST).
Dr. Andreas Pitsillides of the University of Cyprus was
appointed as one of the three Focal Points for the
EUMEDIS initiative in the country.
- In Israel,
M.P. Michael Eitan was elected as chairman of the
Internet Sub-Committee of the Science and Technology
Committee of the Parliament. The lawyer Yossi Abadi
resigned from his post as director of the Directorate for
Public Broadcasting at the Ministry of Communications and
is joining the Law Office of Ram Caspi where he is
establishing a department dedicated to the legal aspects
of the telecommunications market.
The lawyer Dorit Inbar was nominated as the
Chairman of the Council for Satellite and Cable.
David Moshevitz is the new chairman of the New
Fund for Cinema and Television.
Dr. Orna Bery, the Chief Scientist of the
Ministry of Industry and Trade will leave her position
next February and join the risk capital fund Gemini
as an independent associate. The fund invests in
Communications, Software, Internet, E-commerce,
Semi-Conductors, etc.
- In Jordan, a
ten-member committee was assigned the task of making
recommendations to the government about restructuring
public media institutions. It includes Mr. Majali,
Minister of Information, Mr. Abdul Salam Abaddi,
former Minister of Information Mr. Mahmoud Sherif
and other media institution officials. Another
five-member committee headed by Mr. Majali
discussed ways of setting-up a duty free and uncensored
media zone to attract international media investments
into the Kingdom, for instance satellite stations,
newspapers, magazines, television and movie production
companies.
In mid-November, Mr. Hussein Bani Hani was
appointed as the new Secretary General of the Ministry
of Information.
- In Morocco, the new
Director of Maroc Telecom (ex-Itissalat al
Maghrib), incumbent operator, is Mr. Karim BERNOUSSI.
- In Malta, the new
Chairman of Maltacom (Malta’s historical
operator) is Mr. Maurice Zarb Adami.
- In Tunisia, there were
major changes, as on October 24th a new president, Mr. Zine
El Abidine Ben Ali was elected. He nominated, among
others, Mr. Ahmed FRIAA as the Minister of
Communication, Mr.Moncef BEN ABDALLAH as the
Minister of Industry and Mr.Houcine CHOUK as the
Minister of Transport.
- In Turkey, Mr. Sefik
Yildiz has been appointed as the President of
State Statistics Institute.
