Lithuania (and Europe) the highest post in the UN telecommunications company Politico.
Lithuanian diplomat Tomas Lamanaskas won the competition for the position of Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Telecommunications Agency on Thursday, while the EU official was assigned the task of global telecommunications regulations.
Lamanauskas won the support of 105 countries. His opponents, Korean officer Sesub Lee and Samoan representative Kisa Purcell, received 59 and 12 votes respectively.
Lamanauskas, who has been working for four years with the newly elected Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Doreen Bogdan-Martin, to set standards for global telecommunications and technology infrastructure, 6G and artificial intelligence.
Lithuania’s victory marks the European Union’s attempt to increase its international influence in Internet governance in order to protect such values as democracy, privacy and freedom and rights on the Internet. Lithuania’s candidacy was supported by all 27 EU countries – the first demonstration of EU unity in such a referendum.
“This is a truly European campaign,” Lamanas told reporters after the election. “It definitely proved that when we work together, people notice and listen, and I hope it’s a good lesson for the future.”
Despite its strong track record in setting a key standard for early Internet and mobile communications, the group has taken a more relaxed approach to international technology diplomacy over the past decade. Meanwhile, countries like China Push Convince another country to embrace a government-led vision of technology, from facial recognition to a more centralized and controlled internet.
“This shows confidence in Lithuania and confidence in Europe, because now the European Union leads the leadership of the ITU, which is really a very important position and an increasingly important role in the current digital world of the union. “. Transport Minister Marius Skudis told Politico.
The European-American duo at the top of the ITU leadership is giving further impetus to renewed transatlantic efforts to regain the West’s position in the world of global standards. The US and the EU are committed to working together on open and trusted technologies by 2021. establishing the Trade and Technology Council.
Mark Scott contributed reporting.
This article has been updated to include comments from Lithuanian officials.