ICANN|ARCHIVES

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers

(APPLAUSE.)
>>PAUL TWOMEY: ELVIS IS IN THE BUILDING.
CAN I JUST SAY TO PEOPLE THAT THE --
(LAUGHTER.)
>>PAUL TWOMEY: -- PROCEEDINGS ARE GOING TO START VERY SHORTLY.
SO IF THERE ARE PEOPLE OUTSIDE IN THE AUDITORIUM, THE WAITING AREA OUTSIDE, COULD YOU PLEASE ASK THEM TO MOVE IN.
(PAUSE.)

(APPLAUSE.)
>>VINT CERF: GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
MY NAME IS VINT CERF.
I AM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF ICANN.
AND IT'S MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU FORMALLY TO THIS MEETING OF THE ICANN BOARD AND ITS SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS.
THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THAT THE ICANN BOARD HAS MET IN AFRICA.
WE HAVE MET IN CAIRO, IN GHANA, IN ACCRA, IN TUNIS, AND NOW IN CAPE TOWN.
THIS MORNING, WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE WITH US THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS OF SOUTH AFRICA, DR. IVY MATSEPE-CASABURRI.
I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT THIS WOMAN IS EXTRAORDINARY.
I KNOW YOU DIDN'T COME HERE TO LISTEN TO HER BIOGRAPHY, AND I PROMISE I WILL NOT TAKE TOO MUCH TIME WITH THIS.
BUT YOU MUST LISTEN TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SHE'S DONE, THE SCOPE AND EXPERIENCE THAT SHE BRINGS TO HER JOB.
SHE IS THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND HAS BEEN SINCE JUNE OF 1999.
SHE'S A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH CENTER IN CANADA.
SHE'S A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF THE WOMEN'S DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION.
SHE HAS SOME CAREER MILESTONES WHICH ARE EXTRAORDINARY.
SHE'S THE FIRST WOMAN PREMIER IN SOUTH AFRICA.
SHE WAS THE PREMIER OF THE FREE STATE PROVINCE.
SHE'S THE FIRST WOMAN AND THE FIRST BLACK PERSON TO CHAIR THE SOUTH AFRICAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION.
SHE'S THE FIRST WOMAN AND THE FIRST BLACK CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD OF SENTECH, LIMITED.
SHE'S THE FIRST WOMAN TO BE APPOINTED TO THE BOARD OF THE COUNCIL FOR SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH.
SHE'S THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN WOMEN FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT WHICH WAS HEADQUARTERED IN DAKAR, SENEGAL.
SHE'S A FORMER MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF DURBAN WESTVILLE.
SHE'S A FORMER MEMBER OF THE RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY FORESIGHT BOARD AND FORMER MEMBER OF THE WORKING GROUP OF THE NATIONAL FORUM ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT SHE BRINGS AN EXTRAORDINARY PERSPECTIVE TO THE TASK BEFORE HER TODAY AS MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, ADDRESSING THE ICANN COMMUNITY.
SO MINISTER, I WELCOME YOU, ALONG WITH THE REST OF OUR PARTICIPANTS TODAY.
PLEASE JOIN US.

(APPLAUSE.)
>>DR. IVY MATSEPA-CASABURRI: GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I WARNED OUR COLLEAGUE HERE INTRODUCING ME THAT YOU MUST NEVER BELIEVE ANYTHING ABOUT ME THAT YOU READ ON THE INTERNET.
(LAUGHTER.)
>>DR. IVY MATSEPA-CASABURRI: AND I TOLD HIM I NEVER LOOK AT THE INTERNET REGARDING ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH MYSELF, BECAUSE I KEEP WONDERING WHAT I WILL FIND THERE.
A FEW CORRECTIONS IS THAT I AM NO LONGER A MEMBER OF THE IDRC BOARD OF CANADA.
I USED TO BE ONE.
I WAS NOT THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN WOMEN FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT; I WAS THE SECOND ONE.
(LAUGHTER.)
>>DR. IVY MATSEPA-CASABURRI: AND I NO LONGER SIT ON MANY OF THE COUNCILS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED.
SO IN CASE YOU HEARD THAT PART OF WHAT CAME OFF THE INTERNET, PLEASE, I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR IT, BECAUSE I HAVE TRIED TO CORRECT THIS FOR TWO YEARS IN SUCCESSION.
BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COLLEAGUE, MINISTERS THAT ARE HERE WITH US TODAY, CHAIRPERSON OF THE OF THE EMCEE FOR TODAY, AND THE PRESIDENT OF ICANN, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND I SEE MANY COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS, I THANK YOU FOR OFFERING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU AT THIS ICANN MEETING.
MAY I NOT ONLY EXPRESS MY THANKS TO YOU, BUT ALSO WELCOME YOU TO THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY.
I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT'S THE THIRD OR THE FIFTH MOST BEAUTIFUL CITY IN THE WORLD, DEPENDING ON WHOM OR WHAT YOU READ.
BUT I'M SURE YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT IT IS QUITE A BEAUTIFUL CITY.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TO THIS COUNTRY, WHERE, AS IS POPULARLY KNOWN OR BELIEVED BY THE PEOPLE, WHERE ORDINARY PEOPLE DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS, ONE OF WHICH IS REVIEWING ON A CONSTANT BASIS HOW WE DO THINGS, AND SOMETIMES CHANGING THE PARADIGMS OF OUR ANALYSIS.
HAVING EMERGED FROM CENTURIES OF COLONIALISM AND FROM APARTHEID, THE NEED FOR US TO DISCOVER OURSELVES AND THE CONTINENT WE LIVE IN HAVE GIVEN US SOUTH AFRICANS A SENSE OF HOPE, THE AFFIRMATION AND EXCITEMENT THAT OUR COUNTRY IS, INDEED, ALIVE WITH POSSIBILITY.
THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT AND THE LOCAL INTERNET COMMUNITY WELCOME YOU HERE.
WE TRUST YOU WILL ENJOY, YOU HAVE ENJOYED, OUR COUNTRY'S HOSPITALITY WHILE YOU ARE ENGAGED IN THE IMPORTANT DELIBERATIONS OF THIS MEETING.
THIS IS THE THIRD MEETING TO BE HELD ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT.
IT IS REFLECTIVE OF THE GROWING IMPORTANCE THAT INTERNET AND ITS GOVERNANCE PLAY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONTINENT.
AND THEREFORE, YOUR MEETING HERE COMES AT AN OPPORTUNE TIME WHEN THE AFRICAN UNION IS NOW CRYSTALLIZING TO EVERYONE AND AFRICAN LEADERS ARE ASSERTING THE IMPORTANT POSITION THAT THIS CONTINENT SHOULD HAVE IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, GIVEN ITS RICHNESS AND NATURAL RESOURCES THAT FEW OF THE ECONOMIES OF WESTERN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES.
HONORED DELEGATES WHO ARE HERE, WE ARE AWARE OF THE NEW EFFORTS IN WHICH THIS CONTINENT IS TRYING TO RENEW ITSELF AND RID ITSELF OF ALL OF THE NEGATIVE IMAGES ABOUT ITSELF, AND IT DOES SO AGAINST GREAT ODDS.
IT IS ALSO OPPORTUNE THAT YOUR MEETING TAKES PLACE HERE, IN SOUTH AFRICA, WHEN WE ARE PREPARING FOR THE WORLD SUMMIT FOR INFORMATION SOCIETY ON THIS CONTINENT IN TUNISIA, A SUMMIT FOR WHICH YOUR MEETING WILL BE PREPARING INPUTS ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF INTERNET GOVERNANCE.
YOUR MEETING IS ALSO OPPORTUNE FOR US BECAUSE IT COMES AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR TENTH YEAR OF DEMOCRACY.
WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT WHERE WE COME FROM, THE ROLE THAT INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS HAVE PLAYED BEFORE AND ARE PLAYING DURING THAT -- HAVE PLAYED DURING THAT DECADE AND WHEN WE ALSO LOOK AHEAD AT THE NEXT TEN YEARS TO ASSESS WHAT ROLE WE SHOULD BE PLAYING IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA AS PART OF OUR OBLIGATIONS, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF OUR -- OF THE INTERNATIONAL IMPERATIVES IMPOSED.
WE FOUGHT FOR DEMOCRACY AND CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR IT, BECAUSE IT IS INTRINSICALLY RIGHT TO DO SO.
WE BELIEVE THAT DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS NEED TO BE LEGITIMATE AND WE MUST ENSURE THEY REMAIN SO SO AS NOT TO LOSE LEGITIMACY.
WE HAVE A JOINT RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THIS FOR THE SAKE OF A BETTER WORLD.
WE IN SOUTH AFRICA HAVE A DIFFICULT TASK OF BALANCING THE NEEDS AND THE ASPIRATIONS OF THOSE PREVIOUSLY REPRESSED AND DENIED ACCESS TO BASIC RIGHTS.
THOSE WITH THE NEEDS -- THOSE ARE THE NEEDS OF THE HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED.
AND WE HAVE TO BALANCE THOSE NEEDS WITH THE NEEDS OF THOSE THAT WERE HISTORICALLY ADVANTAGED.
WE ARE WORKING TO PROVIDE FOOD, SHELTER, HEALTH CARE, EMPLOYMENT, AND HUMAN DIGNITY TO PEOPLE, AND WE HAVE ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT SUCCESS IN THESE ENDEAVORS.
THERE IS STILL, HOWEVER, MUCH, MUCH MORE WORK TO BE DONE.
AN EXAMPLE CAN BE MADE OF THE LOCAL INTERNET COMMUNITY, WHICH IS STILL SIGNIFICANTLY SKEWED WITH VERY FEW ORDINARY SOUTH AFRICANS HAVING ACCESS TO THE BENEFITS OF INTERNET ACCESS, AS WELL AS OTHER INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES.
IT IS TRUE THAT SIGNIFICANT STRIDES HAVE BEEN MADE IN THIS REGARD.
AN APPROPRIATE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK HAS BEEN INSTITUTED, IN PASSING INTO LAW THE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSACTIONS ACT IN 2002.
NEW PLAYERS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED INTO THE MARKET, AND EARLIER THIS YEAR, I ANNOUNCED A SET OF MEASURES WHICH WILL EXPAND ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES AND LIBERALIZE THE INDUSTRY.
YOU MAY ASK WHY AM I RAISING THESE POLITICAL ISSUES AT A MEETING DEVOTED TO TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF INTERNET NAMING AND NUMBERING.
THE REASON IS, I BELIEVE ICANN FACES SIMILAR ISSUES AROUND CHANGE AND TRANSFORMATION.
AT THE OUTSET, I ACKNOWLEDGED THAT NAMING AND NUMBERING ARE VITAL TO THE GOVERNANCE OF THE INTERNET BUT ARE NOT THE ONLY CONCERNS.
INDEED, AFFORDABLE AND RELIABLE ACCESS WITHIN A CONSISTENT LEGAL ENVIRONMENT IS SIMILARLY FUNDAMENTAL AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
THERE HAS BEEN A PERCEPTION THAT SOUTH AFRICA IS ANTI-ICANN.
NOTHING IS FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
IT IS NO SECRET THAT SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN CRITICAL OF THE EXISTING INTERNET GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES, BECAUSE THEY WERE ESTABLISHED BY AND SKEWED IN FAVOR OF THOSE WHO FIRST IMPLEMENTED THESE TECHNOLOGIES, AS THIS HAD THE CONSEQUENCE OF POTENTIALLY DISADVANTAGING THOSE WHO ARE ONLY NOW ACCESSING THESE TECHNOLOGIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO DO NOT YET HAVE THAT ACCESS.
WE ARE OF THE FIRM VIEW THAT WE CANNOT CONTINUE -- WE COULD NOT CONTINUE ON THAT PATH, PERPETUATING OLD RELATIONSHIPS ACCORDING TO WHICH DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, MANY OF WHICH WERE COLONIES OF DEVELOPED ONES, WERE NOT ALLOWED TO BUILD THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THEIR OWN DEVELOPMENT.
WE BELIEVE THAT ALL SHOULD HAVE A VOICE IN GOVERNANCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL NETWORK.
WE BELIEVE THAT LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENTS, AS THE TRUE REPRESENTATIVES OF THEIR COUNTRIES, SHOULD HAVE AN INCREASED VOICE IN GOVERNANCE OF THE INTERNET.
BUT THIS DOES NOT MINIMIZE THE VITAL ROLE THAT ALL OTHER SECTORS HAVE HAD IN CREATING THE GOVERNING IN INTERNET TODAY.
WE HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE GOVERNANCE OF THE INTERNET SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ICANN AS A FIRST STEP IN THAT PROCESS OF INTERNET GOVERNANCE.
THERE IS A WIDELY SHARED VIEW THAT HUMANITY SEEKS TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE GLOBALIZATION BY LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE GLOBALLY.
AND I AM ADVISED THAT ICANN ITSELF HAS BEEN THROUGH SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AND CONTINUES TO TRANSFORM ITSELF FROM A CLUB OF THE DIGITAL HAVES TO INCLUDE THE HAVE-NOTS AND OTHER MARGINALIZED GROUPS.
THIS CAN BE SEEN IN THE INCREASING ROLE OF GOVERNMENT ADVISORY -- OF THE GOVERNMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE COUNTRY CODE TOP-LEVEL DOMAIN COMMUNITY IN ICANN, THE GEOGRAPHICAL DIVERSITY OF ITS OFFICE, AND THE OPENING OF AN OFFICE IN EUROPE, AND THE PLANNED ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AFRICAN OFFICE, HOPEFULLY, IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
THERE ARE TWO RECENT ICANN INITIATIVES THAT ARE PARTICULARLY CLOSE TO MY HEART AND WHICH INDICATE THAT ICANN IS TRANSFORMING, NAMELY, THE PROVISIONAL RECOGNITION OF THE AFRICAN INFORMATION CENTER, AFRINIC, AS AN OFFICIAL REGIONAL INTERNET NUMBER REGISTRY, THE LAST STAGE BEFORE FULL RECOGNITION.
SECONDLY, THE REDELEGATION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN COUNTRY CODE TOP-LEVEL DOMAIN NAME DOT ZA.
THIS WILL TAKE US A STEP FURTHER TO REALIZE OUR OBJECTIVE OF MAKING THIS CENTURY A CENTURY OF REVIVAL AND REGENERATION OF AFRICA.
AFTER LENGTHY AND AT TIMES, SOMETIMES ACRIMONIOUS DEBATE, THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT, THE EXISTING LOCAL INTERNET COMMUNITY, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FUTURE AND POTENTIAL INTERNET COMMUNITY AND COMMERCIAL, ACADEMIC, AND OTHER INTERESTED GROUPS, AGREED ON A WAY FORWARD INVOLVING A PARTNERSHIP FOR THE BENEFIT OF SOUTH AFRICA AS A WHOLE.
THIS IS VERY MUCH A WORK IN PROGRESS, WITH LESSONS BEING LEARNED AS WE PROCEED.
THIS IS BASED ON THE FOUNDER, THE LATE JON POSTEL'S PRINCIPLE THAT GOVERNANCE OF THE INTERNET IS NOT SIMPLY A RIGHT FOR COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION.
IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY, A POSITION OF TRUST THAT MUST NOT BE ABUSED.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ALLOW ME TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ICANN FOR REDELEGATING THE DOT ZA DOMAIN NAME TO -- TO THE DOMAIN NAME AUTHORITY, AND TO THANK ESPECIALLY MIKE LAURIE FOR HIS SUPPORT OF THE PROCESS AND FOR THE YEARS OF SELFLESS COMMITMENT TO THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATING OF THE DOT ZA DOMAIN NAME.

(APPLAUSE.)
>>DR. IVY MATSEPA-CASABURRI: I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE SOUTH AFRICAN DOMAIN NAME AUTHORITY BOARD FOR A JOB WELL DONE TO DATE.
QUITE A FEW OF THEM MIGHT BE AMONG YOU.
AND WE THANK THEM VERY MUCH FOR THAT WORK.
THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING AFRINIC AS A TRANSCONTINENTAL PARTNERSHIP IS A SUCCESS THAT AFRICA CAN RIGHTFULLY FEEL PROUD OF.
THE AFRINIC CEO, EXPRESSED HIS EXTREME PLEASURE AT THE PROVISIONAL RECOGNITION WHEN HE SAID AFRINIC IS BUILDING A REGIONAL REGISTRY TO MEETS AFRICA'S REGIONAL NEEDS.
WE ARE BRINGING REGIONAL MANAGEMENT TO OUR IP ADDRESS DISTRIBUTION, AND THAT PUTS THE AFRICAN REGION ON PAR WITH THE ONLY GLOBAL REGIONS OF EUROPE, ASIA-PACIFIC, NORTH AMERICA AND LATIN AMERICA, CLOSE QUOTE.
WE HOPE THAT AFRINIC WILL ALSO LOOK INTO THE ISSUES OF INTRODUCTION OF IP VERSION 6.
PAUL TWOMEY, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ICANN, HAD THIS TO SAY, AND I QUOTE, "THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AFRINIC CONFIRMS THE ENORMOUS GROWTH OF INTERNET ACTIVITIES IN THE AFRICA REGION.
WE WELCOME AFRINIC'S PROGRESSION INTO THE GLOBAL ICANN COMMUNITY AND COUNT ON ITS MEMBERS TO ADD THEIR UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE TO ICANN'S POLICY PROCESS," CLOSE QUOTE.
THIS HISTORIC EVENT IS PROOF BEYOND DOUBT THAT AFRICA REGION IS MOVING TO PARTICIPATE ON AN EQUAL FOOTING WITH ALL OTHER REGIONS.
WE, THE GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH AFRICA AND THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA, SALUTE THIS MODEL OF COOPERATION AND INTEGRATION WITHIN THE REGION.
IN CONCLUSION, I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO KEEP IN MIND THE CHALLENGES THAT ICANN FACES.
IT IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE GREATER INCLUSIVITY FOR ALL, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO LIVE IN UNDERDEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
THE STABILITY AND SECURITY OF THE INTERNET ARE QUITE PARAMOUNT, OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE, SINCE THE INTERNET IS NO LONGER A PRIVATE RESOURCE, BUT A GLOBAL RESOURCE.
IT MUST BE SHARED BASED ON NEED.
WE MUST ALLOW NEWCOMERS TO ENTER IN THE SAME WAY AS THE MORE ESTABLISHED USERS.
BUT WHILE INTERNET HAS A LIBERATING AND DEMOCRATIZING ASPECTS, AND IT IS INDEED QUITE LIBERATING AND DEMOCRATIZING, ON THE OTHER HAND, IT HAS ALSO BEEN VERY THREATENING IN OTHER RESPECTS OF SOCIETY.
YOU JUST HAD TO READ SOME OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN PAPERS LAST WEEK TO SEE HOW THIS ISSUE SUDDENLY IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE THREATENING TO SOCIETY, BECAUSE THIS IS ALSO WHAT WE CALL IN WORLD TERMS THE 16 DAYS OF CAMPAIGNING AGAINST THE ABUSE OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN, AND WE HAVE BEEN PAINFULLY AWARE OR MADE AWARE OF THE ROLE THAT INTERNET ABUSE CAN PLAY IN THE ABUSE OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
AND THEREFORE, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE CONFRONT AS WE DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES, WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT, HOW WE CAN USE THE INTERNET TO BETTER THE LIVES AND NOT MAKE THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN A GREATER NIGHTMARE FOR THEM.
WE MUST, THEREFORE, BE VIGILANT IN THE COMBATING OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ON THE INTERNET.
THE RESPONSE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THIS REGARD IS TO BE QUITE WELCOMED, BECAUSE IT IS PARTICULARLY IN RESPONSE TO SOME OF THE RECENT INCIDENTS OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND IT IS QUITE COMMENDABLE THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE. BUT IT POINTS TO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THE INTERNET THEN ALSO FACES.
THEY ARE INCREASINGLY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO THE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE GLOBE. WE NEED TO VIEW WHATEVER WE DO IN THIS LIGHT AND ENSURE THAT THE DECISIONS AND ACTIONS TAKEN AT MEETINGS SUCH AS THIS ICANN MEETING DO NOT GROW THE DIVIDE BETWEEN THE HAVES AND THE HAVE-NOTS. WE MUST REMEMBER TO USE THESE TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS TO ACCESS THE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE INTERNET AND ITS ASSOCIATED TECHNOLOGIES BRING TO US.
I AM QUITE CONFIDENT THAT AS WE WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR COUNTRIES, ESPECIALLY THE DISADVANTAGED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES, WE SHALL ENSURE NOT ONLY THAT AFRICA SHALL NOT FAIL IN ITS ASPIRATIONS, BUT THAT WE ALL CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEMOCRATIC LEGITIMACY OF ALL OUR INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
THEREFORE, ICANN CANNOT AND ICANN SHALL NOT FAIL.
I THANK YOU.
(APPLAUSE.)
>>PAUL TWOMEY: MINISTER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR A VERY THOUGHTFUL AND INSIGHTFUL SPEECH AND FOR A PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU ESPECIALLY BRING IN YOUR COMRADES AND CADRES, YOUR FELLOWS BRING TO THE INCLUSIVENESS IN THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY AND THE INTERNET. I APPRECIATE THAT SPEECH VERY MUCH.
THERE ARE SEVERAL POINTS IN YOUR SPEECH THAT I THINK MIGHT BE WORTH SORT OF ENGAGING AND COMMENTING ON AND ALSO SOME THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT DINNER LAST NIGHT THAT SORT OF REMINDED ME OF SOME OF THE THINGS YOU SPOKE ABOUT TODAY.
ICANN, AS AN INTERNATIONAL MULTISTAKEHOLDER ORGANIZATION, IS ACTUALLY BASED ON FOUR CORE PRINCIPLES, AND I THINK THESE ARE PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE SOME SIMILARITIES WITH THE SORTS OF CONCERNS THAT YOU'RE EXPRESSING.
FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S SOME CORE ONES WHICH ARE ABOUT ENSURING IT BEING A STEWARD OF SECURE AND STABLE DNS AND ADDRESSING SYSTEM FOR THE INTERNET AS A WHOLE.
FURTHER, TO ENSURE CHOICE AND COMPETITION FOR CONSUMERS, PARTICULARLY IN GENERIC TOP-LEVEL DOMAINS, NOT SO MUCH IN THE COUNTRY CODES. AND I THINK COMING TO YOUR THINGS, WE'RE COMMITTED TO HAVING A BOTTOM-UP, FULL PROCESS, AND THAT ANYONE CAN ATTEND, WE VIDEO STREAM AS MUCH AS WE CAN, THAT WE DON'T PUT ANY BOUNDARIES ON WHO CAN PARTICIPATE. TRY TO FIND A HOME TO ALL CONSTITUENCIES WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE DISCUSSIONS.
AND FINALLY, WE HAVE A COMMITMENT TO ENSURE FULLY GLOBAL, FULLY OPEN PARTICIPATORY PROCESS. THIS PROCESS CLEARLY IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS, BUT IT IS A CORE OF ONE OF OUR PRINCIPLES.
AND AS YOU POINT OUT, IN THAT SENSE ICANN IS AN EXPRESSION OF A MOVING FROM ONE FORM OF INTERNET GOVERNANCE IN THE PAST, THAT WHICH BY HISTORICAL NATURE CAME FROM THE PURVIEW OF ONE PARTICULAR COUNTRY, TO THE TRANSITION, AT LEAST FOR THIS PART OF INTERNET GOVERNANCE, THIS NARROW PART WHICH DEALS WITH SOME OF THE CORE ADDRESSING SYSTEMS AND THE DOMAIN NAME SYSTEM, TO INTERNATIONAL, MULTISTAKEHOLDER ORGANIZATION. AND AGAIN, AS A FORMER CHAIR OF THE GOVERNMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT, I THINK THERE'S NOW NEARLY 100 GOVERNMENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROCESS, AND IT ALSO REMAINS OPEN. AND I'D LIKE TO PARTICULARLY WELCOME THE EXCELLENCIES AND MINISTERIES WHO ATTENDED FROM OTHER PARTS OF AFRICA AND ARE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.
WE ALSO WANT TO SHARE A CHALLENGE YOU EXPRESSED LAST NIGHT AT DINNER AND THE CHALLENGE YOU SHARED WITH ME IS HOW DO YOU DO EVERYTHING IN A TEN-YEAR PERIOD? HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THE RAPID CHANGE OF TRANSITION, THE RAPID CHANGE IN THE COMMUNITY, THE RAPID CHANGE EXTERNALLY IN A TIME FRAME THAT OTHER COUNTRIES MAY HAVE HAD MUCH LONGER TO ACHIEVE IT IN.
IN SOME RESPECTS THE INTERNET PRESENTS US WITH SIMILAR SORTS OF CHALLENGES AS A COMMUNITY AND AS AN ORGANIZATION BECAUSE OF ITS VERY RAPID GROWTH.
AND AS WE LOOK AT THE INTERNET, WHICH TOOK OFF IN A SPECIAL SENSE, TOOK OFF IN A SIZE SENSE IN THE MID-'90S AND EARLY '90S IN NORTH AMERICA, EUROPE, AND PARTS OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC, WE SEE NOW THE RAPID GROWTH TAKING PLACE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND WE'RE FACED SOMEWHAT SIMILARLY TO THE CONCERN WE WERE SHARING LAST NIGHT OF HAVING TO MOVE IN A VERY RAPIDLY GROWING, RAPIDLY CHANGING ENVIRONMENT AND MOVE TO RESPOND TO THAT. AND WE HAVE ACTUALLY PUT FORWARD SEVERAL PROPOSALS AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH CHANGES AS YOU POINTED OUT TO INCREASE BOTH OUR INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE, OUR SERVICE, AND OUR COMMITMENT TO THAT BRINGING ON BOARD THOSE IN THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES COMMUNITIES.
PERHAPS I CAN LEAVE YOU WITH A LAST THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT THIS COMMUNITY, WHAT THIS GROUPING HERE IN FRONT OF YOU REPRESENT IN A KEY SENSE FOR THE ISSUE OF ACCESS.
THERE IS A GREAT PRESSURE AT THE MOMENT, I THINK, THROUGHOUT THE CONTINENT FOR AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, FOR AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO INFRASTRUCTURE. AND ICANN AND ITS ROLE IN THE INTERNET IS NOT ABOUT CORE INFRASTRUCTURE. IT'S NOT ABOUT BUILDING PIPES, PUTTING IN RADIO, GIVING THAT SORT OF ACCESS.
BUT IT IS ABOUT ENSURING THAT THERE IS A SINGLE GLOBAL INTEROPERABLE INTERNET SO THAT WHEN EACH AND EVERY AFRICAN WHO COMES ONTO THE INTERNET GETS ACCESS, IT CAN ASSURE AND THIS COMMUNITY HERE ENSURES THAT EVERY NEW VOICE CAN BE HEARD BY EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD THAT'S ON THE INTERNET. AND EVERY PERSON WHO COMES ON CAN ACTUALLY ACCESS ALL OF THE INFORMATION, ALL OF THE RICHNESS, ALL OF THE WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE THAT'S AVAILABLE TO ALL.
SO AS STEWARDS OF A SINGLE INTEROPERABLE GLOBAL INTERNET, OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESS IS TO ENSURE THAT EACH NEW VOICE HAS ACCESS TO THE WORLD, AND THAT THE WORLD HAS ACCESS TO EACH NEW VOICE.
AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT COMMITMENT. IT'S NOT BIG IN DOLLAR TERMS, IT'S NOT BIG IN TERMS OF INVESTMENTS, BUT IN TERMS OF GIVING PEOPLE A VOICE, AND GIVING A PROFILE AND AN ACCESS, I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE AGENDA THAT YOU ARE SETTING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR AND YOUR GOVERNMENT'S HOSPITALITY IN CAPE TOWN. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS MEETING. IT'S BEEN A SPLENDID FACILITY, SPLENDID ASSISTANCE BY THE HOST COMMITTEE WHO HAVE DONE A MARVELOUS JOB AND WE WISH YOU EVERY BEST WISH AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR INTENTIONS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
(APPLAUSE.)
>>VINT CERF: WELL, INCREDIBLY, I THINK WE'VE COMPLETED ALL OF THE MORNING'S FESTIVITIES WITH A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA TIME. SO THOSE OF YOU WHO DIDN'T GET ENOUGH COFFEE THIS MORNING AND WERE KIND ENOUGH TO COME AND JOIN US AT THIS HOUR ARE FREE TO RESUME YOUR DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATES.
OTHER MEETINGS WILL START PROBABLY WITHIN ABOUT 15 MINUTES, AND SO I'LL DRAW THIS SESSION TO A CLOSE, AND THANK BOTH PAUL TWOMEY AND THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR HER HELP THIS MORNING IN RELAYING TO YOU THE ISSUES THAT SOUTH AFRICA FACES AND THE ISSUES THAT ICANN FACES ALONG WITH IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOOD MORNING TO YOU.
(APPLAUSE.)