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<div>Vika and All,</div><div><br></div><div>Generally, we have to treat such pontification of ignorance and lack of understanding with outmost contempt. Time has a way of dealing with such matters.</div><div><br></div><div>Whats important is the ability of the AfriNIC team to turn around quickly and establish a venue for the next meeting and ensure uptake. We all need to join the effort to ensure a successful meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>Good job, guys.</div><div><br></div><div>Eric here</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><br><div><div>On 24 Oct 2008, at 00:04, Vika Mpisane wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"> <o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place" downloadurl="http://www.5iantlavalamp.com/"> <o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City" downloadurl="http://www.5iamas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"> <o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"> <!--[if !mso]> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" /> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout v:ext="edit"> <o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" /> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> <div class="Section1"><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> </div> </div> <div> <div class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <hr size="2" width="100%" align="center" tabindex="-1"> </span></font></div><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 [<a href="mailto:africann-bounces@afrinic.net">mailto:africann-bounces@afrinic.net</a>] <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"><a href="mailto:africann@afrinic.net">africann@afrinic.net</a></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></st1:place></st1:country-region></span><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></st1:place></st1:city></span><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></st1:place></st1:country-region></span><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></st1:place></span><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> <div><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </div><p><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">No virus found in this incoming message.<br> Checked by AVG - <a href="http://www.avg.com">http://www.avg.com</a><br> Version: 8.0.175 / Virus Database: 270.8.2/1739 - Release Date: 10/22/2008 7:23 AM</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> </o:smarttagtype></o:smarttagtype></o:smarttagtype></o:smarttagtype><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">_______________________________________________</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">AfrICANN mailing list</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="mailto:AfrICANN@afrinic.net">AfrICANN@afrinic.net</a></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann">https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann</a></div> </blockquote></div><br><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><div>Eric M.K Osiakwan</div><div>Director </div><div>Internet Research</div><div>www.internetresearch.com.gh</div><div><a href="mailto:emko@internetresearch.com.gh">emko@internetresearch.com.gh</a></div><div>42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North</div><div>Tel: +233.21.258800 ext 7031</div><div>Fax: +233.21.258811</div><div>Cell: +233.24.4386792</div><div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></span></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></span> </div><br></body></html>