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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Hi Adiel,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>It’s really saddening to see that
some in the Ethiopian media have seen it fit to write a long, baseless, and
frankly ignorant article. I guess it’s safe to assume that political paparazzi
is alive & strong in Addis!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I don’t know what AfriNIC has done
to deserve this (I haven’t attended an AfriNIC meeting since <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mauritius</st1:place></st1:country-region> in
2006), but I’m certain the journalist will need to explain some of the
allegations. Has this journalist ever heard of some entities called AfNOG,
AfrISPA, Afren & AfTLD? The answer is obviously not!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I’m also offended in particular by
the allegation to the effect that AfriNIC is pushing for dot Africa to operate
from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">South Africa</st1:country-region></st1:place>.
While I can’t deny or admit this allegation (me being not an AfriNIC
member), I’m concerned that it involves South Africa & may end up
becoming an accusation against South Africa trying to muscle its way to have
dot Africa operated in SA. I’m not at SA government to speak from a
position of authority in this regard, but as a South African, I’m greatly
displeased with the article it tends to make negative allegations about us.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I feel sorry for ETC for I don’t
think they’ve done anything wrong (I’m subject to correction). And I
do hope that when calmness & sanity finally prevails in this journalist’s
mind (& possibly in the Ethiopian Ministry of Transport – depending on
how blameworthy they are in this). I hope they’ll realize they’ve
greatly missed a simple point big time & they went on a crusade of
innuendos not only against a particular organisation, but also against another
country (this being SA).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Hope you & the rest of AfriNIC keep well
inspite of the baseless accusations. Forward to AfriNIC <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Mauritius</st1:country-region> – I’m convinced <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Mauritius</st1:country-region> will provide a suitable environment
where informed participants will be able to discuss the dot <st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place>
project without undue journalistic & government interference.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><strong><b><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Vika Mpisane</span></font></b></strong><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>General Manager<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>.za Domain Name Authority<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>&<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Treasurer</span></font><font color=navy><span
style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>African Top Level Domains (AfTLD)</span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Tel: +27 11 275 0082<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> africann-bounces@afrinic.net
[mailto:africann-bounces@afrinic.net] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On
Behalf Of </span></b>Anne-Rachel Inné<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Thursday, October 23, 2008
9:28 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">africann@afrinic.net</st1:PersonName><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [AfrICANN-discuss] About
the change of AfriNIC-9 venue!</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Dear Colleagues,</span></font></span><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><br>
<br>
<span class=apple-style-span>As you know, the AfriNIC-9 will now be held in <span
style='cursor:pointer;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial;
background-attachment:initial;-webkit-background-clip: initial;-webkit-background-origin: initial;
border-bottom-width:initial;border-bottom-color:initial;background-position:
initial initial' id="lw_1224789889_0"></span><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on"><span class=yshortcuts>Mauritius</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span
class=apple-style-span> instead of Addis</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>Ababa (<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Ethiopia</st1:place></st1:country-region>) as originally planned.
This is a unique situation which</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>has affected us all. Many of you have written to
us to inquire about what</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>happened and to propose your help. Thanks to you
all and your continued</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>support to what we are trying to do at AfriNIC for
our Region.</span><br>
<br>
<span class=apple-style-span>We sincerely apologize for the short notice in
change of venue. The previous</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>host, ETC (Ethiopia Telecommunication Corporation)
notified us that "for some</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>serious reason that needs time to clear and
settle", they have been obliged</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>to pend and postpone hosting the AfriNIC-9
meeting. After some </span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>investigations to</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>try to understand what is happening, it comes to
our attention that </span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>the decision</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>comes from the Government who has requested them
to suspend the hosting of</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>AfriNIC-9 meeting because they are suspecting
AfriNIC to have some </span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>hidden agenda</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>with the meeting in <span style='cursor:pointer'
id="lw_1224789889_1"></span><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span
class=yshortcuts>Addis Ababa</span></span></st1:place></st1:City><span
class=apple-style-span> and which has to do with </span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>"dotAfrica". According</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>to the article reproduced bellow, the bid for
dotAfrica presented by a Company</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>(leaded by and Ethiopian) has been sabotaged by
AfriNIC which prevent her to</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>settle the Headquarters in <span
style='cursor:pointer' id="lw_1224789889_2"></span><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on"><span class=yshortcuts>Ethiopia</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span
class=apple-style-span>. According to information we have been</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>able to collect, she claimed that AfriNIC want to
host "dotAfrica" in <span id="lw_1224789889_3"></span><span
class=yshortcuts>South</span><br>
<span class=yshortcuts>Africa</span></span><span class=apple-style-span> or
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Mauritius</st1:country-region> so is against <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ethiopia</st1:place></st1:country-region>
interests by doing so.</span><br>
<br>
<span class=apple-style-span>Let's me precise here that dotAfrica and domain
names businesses are not part</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>of AfriNIC's activities. This serious misunderstanding
of what AfriNIC is</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>exactly and its role in the community injected by
a person claiming to be the</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>defender of Africa, has unfortunately denied <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ethiopia</st1:place></st1:country-region> a
chance to host this</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>important African technical community meeting.
Indeed, AfriNIC which mission</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>is, amongst other to "to support Internet
technology usage and development,</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>and promoting <span id="lw_1224789889_4"></span><span
class=yshortcuts>Internet governance</span></span><span class=apple-style-span>"
in <span style='cursor:pointer' id="lw_1224789889_5"></span><st1:place
w:st="on"><span class=yshortcuts>Africa</span></span></st1:place><span
class=apple-style-span> welcomes the opportunity to have</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>a domain (dotAfrica) that will identify the
African landscape on the Internet.</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>AfriNIC will probably support any Open,
transparent and bottom up initiative</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>to have a dotAfrica domain for the region but will
never run or participate</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>in doing any business related to that domain names
or any other.</span><br>
<br>
<span class=apple-style-span>AfriNIC remains a service to the community and
strongly disagree with personal</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>interests and political pressures on its bottom up
processes. AfriNIC developed</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>its legitimacy from the community and will remain
a community driven </span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>organisation</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>as are the four other Regional Numbers Registries.
We have already run our</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>Public Policy meeting in eight other
countries without any issues. Our main</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>objective has always been to raise awareness among
the local community of the</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>country we are visiting and involve them more into
the process.</span><br>
<br>
<span class=apple-style-span>AfriNIC remains open to all of us.</span><br>
<br>
<span class=apple-style-span>Let's keep focused on our numerous objectives and
challenges in an open</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>transparent with a systematic multi-stakeholder
approach.</span><br>
<br>
<span class=apple-style-span>The whole story is now released by the local press
and available at:</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span><a
href="http://www.ethiopianreporter.com/content/view/3048/54/" target="_blank"><span
class=yshortcuts><span id="lw_1224789889_6">http://www.ethiopianreporter.com/content/view/3048/54/</span></span></a>.
A very quick English</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>translation is also attached.</span><br>
<br>
<span class=apple-style-span>Kind Regards.</span><br>
<br>
<br>
<span class=apple-style-span>______________________________________________________________________</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>Adiel A. Akplogan
Tel. +230
466 66 16</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>Chief Executive Officer, AfriNIC
Fax: +230 466 67 58</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span><a href="mailto:adiel@afrinic.net"><span
class=yshortcuts><span id="lw_1224789889_7">adiel@afrinic.net</span></span></a> - <a
href="http://www.afrinic.net/" target="_blank"><span class=yshortcuts><span
id="lw_1224789889_8">www.afrinic.net</span></span></a>
sip: <a href="mailto:adiel@voip.afrinic.net"><span
class=yshortcuts><span id="lw_1224789889_9">adiel@voip.afrinic.net</span></span></a></span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>-------</span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span>Register to attend AfriNIC-9 Meeting in <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mauritius</st1:place></st1:country-region>: <span
style='cursor:pointer' id="lw_1224789889_10"></span><span class=yshortcuts>22-28
November 2008</span></span><br>
<span class=apple-style-span><a
href="http://meeting.afrinic.net/afrinic9/index.htm" target="_blank"><span
class=yshortcuts><span id="lw_1224789889_11">http://meeting.afrinic.net/afrinic9/index.htm</span></span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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