[IGFmaglist] IGF 2014 change of dates

[Markus Kummer]

Dear Chengetai,

To follow-up on yesterday's email exchange and in response to your
statement that UNDESA "had agreed with the date change on the UN side, to
be consulted with  MAG", I suggest setting up a doodle poll to get the
general feeling among MAG members. In the exchanges on this list I heard
nobody speaking favour of the change, while many MAG members put forward
valid arguments against such a change!

Best regards
Markus

On 1/29/14 10:34 PM, "Markus Kummer" <kummer at isoc.org> wrote:

>Dear Chengetai, all,
>
>Many thanks for the additional information. We all understand that the
>difference in cost is not not insignificant and cannot be ignored.
>However, we also understand that the country offering to host the 2014 IGF
>was aware that there are costs involved. The dates for the meeting had
>been fixed after consultations with all stakeholders and, based on
>discussions held during  online MAG meetings, we understand that a  venue
>had already been chosen.
>
>We have full understanding that a host country needs to try to keep costs
>down. However, changing dates and venue at this stage could have a
>considerable negative impact on the success of the 2014 meeting. The dates
>originally proposed found the agreement of all stakeholders and to hold
>the meeting in the peak holiday season simply would change the basic
>parameters. As expressed in previous emails and in the name of MAG members
>who expressed similar concerns, I encourage UNDESa and the Host Country to
>listen to the arguments that speak against holding the meeting in mid
>August and reconsider this proposed change of dates.
>
>Lastly, I would like to welcome the members of the organizing committee
>from the ICTA to this list discussion and encourage them to listen to the
>arguments put forward against this proposed change of dates and re-assess
>their position.
>
>Best regards
>Markus
>
>
>
>
>
>On 1/29/14 8:53 PM, "Chengetai Masango" <cmasango at unog.ch> wrote:
>
>>Dear All, 
>>
>>In response to the questions on details surrounding the change of dates:
>>
>>The Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA) that is
>>tasked to host and fund the 2014 IGF Meeting by the Ministry of
>>Transport, Maritime and Communications of Turkey contacted the United
>>Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), asking for a
>>change of dates due to financial reasons. Moving the dates to 19-22
>>August will garner a significant reduction of 53% in the rental cost, a
>>saving of 353,000.00 Euro. (Please see the attached a letter from the
>>ICTA to the UNDESA).
>>
>>In parallel, UNDESA has been trying to support the host government to
>>come up with the best possible solution for all involved parties, while
>>containing costs, and had agreed with the date change on the UN side, to
>>be consulted with  MAG.  The financial reason put forth by the host
>>government is rather compelling and cannot be ignored.
>>
>>Additionally, three members of the organizing committee from the ICTA
>>(Ms. Aysel Kandemir, Ms. Meral Oztarhan and Mr. Gokhan Tok) have joined
>>the mailing list this week to better understand the IGF process. Ms.
>>Kandemir and Ms. Oztarhan will most likely join the MAG Meeting in
>>February in Geneva. We welcome and invite them to participate directly in
>>the discussions. 
>>
>>We hope that we have your understanding and support in this matter given
>>the facts at hand.
>>
>>Best regards, 
>>Chengetai
>
>
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