(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Dutch foreign minister Bert Koenders Thursday opened the Global Conference on CyberSpace in The Hague, stressing the importance of cyber systems for world peace and security.
In his welcome address to the gathering of 1,800 participants from over 100 countries, including Kuwait, he said "today, cyberspace is so closely bound up with the way our society works, with the welfare and security of our peoples." "Our dependency on cyber systems is outstripping our ability to safeguard and protect these systems from crime, espionage and infringements on our privacy," noted the minister.
"In the world we are creating, we cannot take peace and justice for granted. As the international community, we need to answer some fundamental questions: what are the terms of the social contract that governs the behaviour of citizens, corporations and governments in cyberspace? How do we find the right balance between freedom, security and economic growth in relation to cyberspace?," asked Koenders.
He expressed concern at the fact that many people in the world still do not have access to the internet.
"The gap between those who are connected, and those who are not, is growing by the day. And once you are a part of cyberspace, it's becoming an ever more complex task to maintain safe and secure connections. We need to tackle this digital divide and its consequences," he said.
"There is much we can learn from each other. That's why we are launching the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise this afternoon," stated the Dutch minister.
During the two-day conference at the World Forum in The Hague, participants will discuss various aspects of cyberspace. The goal of GCCS 2015 is to further enhance international cooperation in the digital arena.
The Hague meeting is a follow-up to earlier conferences in London (2011), Budapest (2012) and Seoul (2013).
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