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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi Katim,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Interesting comments and here is a
remark.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regarding developing countries interest group it
may be that there already is quite good cooperation among developing
countries within ICANN which may be, one might argue needs be enhanced. I am
aware how the close cooperation among developing country
communities resulted in formation of ICANN itself and the development of
resource organizations that work within ICANN. These linkages still
exist.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>On the otherhand, one might consider deepenning
"Africann" among African Internet country communities and grow from within. Its
not evident that we have exhausted the new communities we can reach. In other
words we have a lot of work ahead to do with bring views of policy makers,
regulators, academics, researchers, ngo's and more private sector into
discussions. I am also not sure that, we are currently doing justice to debates
on ICANN issues through sub groups (focussed) of the Africann list. For example,
is a group discussing the documents for sydney and recommending positions
favorable to Africa? advising you on ICANN board on those issues? and
where are the parallel shadow ICANN constituencies working in Africann? and so
on, if you see what one is searching for. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Nii</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=kaamt@yahoo.com href="mailto:kaamt@yahoo.com">Katim S. Touray</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=africann@afrinic.net
href="mailto:africann@afrinic.net">africann@afrinic.net</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, June 11, 2009 6:33
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [AfrICANN-discuss]
Congratulations!!</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman,new york,times,serif">
<DIV>Dear all,<BR><BR>I've been meaning for the past few days to write this
one, but it's been a bit hectic. So please pardon me.<BR><BR>I am
writing to congratulate all of you for coming together to craft a response (<A
href="http://www.ntia.doc.gov/comments/2009/dnstransition/">http://www.ntia.doc.gov/comments/2009/dnstransition/</A>)
to the call for comments (<A
href="http://www.ntia.doc.gov/press/2009/OIA_ICANNJPA_090427.html">http://www.ntia.doc.gov/press/2009/OIA_ICANNJPA_090427.html</A>)
on the imminent end of the JPA between ICANN and the US Dept. of
Commerce. It's great that you were able to work together to send your
comment in, and on time. As a subscriber to the list, I have been
following the genesis of your response with interest, and satisfaction, and
I'm glad your opinions have been counted. As an ICANN Board member, I
felt that I should not contribute to the content of your response, in view of
the fact that ICANN is a party to the JPA. But all the same I am proud,
as an African, that we stood up to be counted. That is the spirit we
need to keep moving forward.<BR><BR>I am also glad that some individuals (Nii,
and Esam) sent their own replies. I would like more of us to do this,
wherever possible, because it will also go to illustrate the diversity of
opinions we have. I also like the fact that we voted (so to speak)
early, so that our comments are not lost in the flood of comments that came in
on the last day of the comment period. The old saying "vote early, vote
often" really does make sense here, even if not in politics.<BR><BR>Moving
forward, I have a few suggestions:<BR>
<OL>
<LI><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sydney 2009</SPAN> - Can we talk?
I think it would be great to have a chat (even if informal in Sydney).
In all likelihood, there will be a smaller number of participants from
Africa at the Sydney meeting compared to Mexico City, or even Cairo.
For this reason, it might be much easier to get us all together. I
suggest Anne-Rachel look into this possibility, and let us know.<BR>
<LI><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Developing Countries Interest
Group</SPAN> - I've been thinking (and talking with some people) about the
wisdom of having an ICANN interest group on issues that affect people from
developing countries. I know there are many support organizations and
committees we have representation in. However, I think over and
beyond the mandates of those entities (government affairs for the GAC, and
ccTLDs for the ccNSO), we have a lot in common with other developing
countries. For example, a Bhutani in the GAC probably has much more in
common with a Burkinabe in the ccNSO, that with the French in the GAC.
It thus makes sense, I think, for us to have some mechanism for people from
developing countries to be able to share ideas on how their interests in
ICANN, and the global Internet at large can best be taken care of.
Now, notice that I am not talking about a new "constituency." I think
we can, for now, concentrate on building a platform or forum (even if
informally) to discuss issues and ideas about ICANN and people from
developing countries. When the interest group is strong enough and we,
over time, build a case for a proper ICANN constituency, we can then talk
about formally structuring and pushing for the group to be formally
recognized as a constituency. This is just a thought, and I think it
can well be a discussion item at an informal Africa-group meeting in Sydney,
if ever we have one.</LI></OL>That's about it for now. For those of you
going to Sydney, I wish you <SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic">bon
voyage!</SPAN> Congratulations again for a job well done, and best
wishes!<BR><BR>Sincerely,<BR><BR>Katim<BR><BR></DIV></DIV><BR>
<P>
<HR>
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