[IGFmaglist] FW: Change of dates for IGF 2014

Tue Jan 28 11:17:48 EST 2014

Dear Patrick,

Your comments are noted. As I said at the start I will 

>  I will try and further clarify the text.

Many thanks.

best regards 

Chengetai 

On 28 Jan, 2014, at 17:09, Patrick Ryan <patrickryan at google.com> wrote:

> Chengetai,
> 
> Thank you----the website clearly has the dates, but in spite of the use of the word "proposed" it is far from clear that this is tentative.  In addition to our own website, sources of confusion that I'm seeing on my side:
> The UN Press Release from 10 January is quite definitive. that the event "will be held in Istanbul, Turkey, from 2 to 5 September."
> Your email of 24 January, which similarly, is extremely definitive, stating that you "would be grateful if you could inform your various constituencies of the change in dates."
> I have not discovered that telling people that the website has the word "proposed" helps reconcile these two definitive statements. 
> 
> Patrick
> 
> 
> 
> ------
> patrick ryan 
> public policy & gov't relations senior counsel, free expression and int'l relations
> patrickryan at google.com | +1.512.751.5346
> 
> 
> On Tue, Jan 28, 2014 at 8:59 AM, Chengetai Masango <cmasango at unog.ch> wrote:
> Dear Patrick,
> 
> The website clearly states that the 2-5 September are proposed dates not definitive dates.
> 
> As it seems that this is not clear I will try and further clarify the text. 
> 
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Chengetai 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On 28 Jan, 2014, at 16:29, Patrick Ryan <patrickryan at google.com> wrote:
> 
>> Dear Markus and Chengetai,
>> 
>> The note to Thomas Gass is very well stated. However, where do we stand with the request that the Secretariat send a note (and website amendment) to let stakeholders know that this is all still under discussion?  As mentioned, the website still announces the IGF as definitively taking place from September 2-5, although there’s a note from Chengetai in the ether that definitively instructs people to inform constituents of a change to August, and there’s also been this interim inquiry to the host country to reset it back to September.  I am aware of some organizations that are already making changes to their plans based on Chengetai’s direction, and others that are on hold——but everyone is confused.
>> 
>> This is easy to fix by noting to everyone that the dates are under discussion.  The community can understand that.  It is not, however, acceptable to leave such a large community in this state of confusion with two definitive, competing statements in the ether.  I hope that this can be fixed immediately.
>> 
>> Patrick
>> 
>> ----
>> patrick ryan | public policy & gov't relations sr. counsel, free expression & Int'l relations | patrickryan at google.com | +1.512.751.5346
>> 
>> On Jan 28, 2014, at 7:22 AM, Olga Cavalli <olgacavalli at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> Many thanks Markus.
>>> I agree with Fionas about having more info from the host country agreement and general status.
>>> Best
>>> Olga
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 2014-01-28 Fiona Alexander <FAlexander at ntia.doc.gov>
>>> Thank you Marcus for the update and sharing.  I do think it would be useful for MAG members to get an update on the host country agreement (HCA) status as typically these issues are addressed in that.  Has one been signed?
>>> 
>>> Perhaps a discussion point on process for the upcoming face to face meeting but it seems a transparent and consistent process for securing HCAs would be a wise goal to pursue.  In fact, I'd suggest plans should be in place to pursue the HCA for the 2015 IGF this summer.
>>> 
>>> Fiona
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -------- Original message --------
>>> From: Markus Kummer
>>> Date:01/28/2014 5:17 AM (GMT-05:00)
>>> To: igfmaglist at intgovforum.org
>>> Subject: [IGFmaglist] FW: Change of dates for IGF 2014
>>> 
>>> Dear all,
>>> 
>>> Base on the feed-back received after my last email, I sent the email below to Assistant-Secretary-General Thomas Gass.
>>> 
>>> Best regards
>>> Markus
>>> 
>>> From: Markus Kummer <kummer at isoc.org>
>>> Date: Tuesday28, January, 2014 11:13 AM
>>> To: Thomas Gass <gass at un.org>
>>> Cc: Elia Armstrong <armstronge at un.org>, "cherkasov at un.org" <cherkasov at un.org>, Chengetai Masango <cmasango at unog.ch>
>>> Subject: Re: [IGFmaglist] Change of dates for IGF 2014
>>> 
>>> Dear Mr Gass,
>>> 
>>> Last Friday, the IGF Secretariat sent out a message announcing a change of dates for the IGF 2014 meeting. This message has caused some dismay among MAG members and I am writing to you to convey their concern that this might have a negative impact on the success of the Istanbul meeting.
>>> 
>>> In the discussion on the MAG list that followed the message, it was pointed out that there are various factors that need to be considered, first and foremost the fact that the August dates would fall into the middle of the European holiday season. Participants from Europe are traditionally well represented in any IGF meeting and of course they are expected to be even more so if the meeting takes place in the European region. In August, it would be practically impossible to get any high-level participants from Europe, as most Ministers and Parliamentarians will be on their summer break. Also, non-governmental participants would find it difficult to attend, as prices for tickets and hotels are expected to be high during the peak holiday season, with Turkey being a popular destination.
>>> 
>>> In addition, having the meeting earlier would reduce the time necessary for a careful preparation of the meeting. The preparatory period for finalizing workshops, presentations and speeches would be negatively impacted due to many stakeholders taking holidays in mid-July/August.  Lastly, the change of dates would also interfere with the calendar of some of the national/regional IGF initiatives.
>>> 
>>> All in all, the view was held that it would be best for the IGF to stick to the originally proposed dates, in a year with many important meetings in a rapidly evolving Internet governance landscape. 2014 will be crucial for the IGF's future, as we have to prepare the renewal of its mandate by the General Assembly. A successful Istanbul meeting is the ‘sine qua non’ for maintaining the IGF as an indispensable part of the Internet governance ecosystem. A badly attended meeting with limited high-level participation would be perceived as a failure -- and failure is not an option, if we are committed to the future of a strong IGF.
>>> 
>>> On behalf of the MAG members who expressed these concerns,  I kindly ask you to take up this issue with the Host Country and urge them to hold the meeting on the dates originally proposed, that is on 2-5 September 2014.
>>> 
>>> With many thanks in advance for your kind consideration of this request.
>>> 
>>> Best regards
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Markus Kummer 
>>> Vice President, Public Policy
>>> Internet Society
>>> Geneva
>>> 
>>> http://www.internetsociety.org
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
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>> 
> 
> 

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