ICANN|ARCHIVES

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>>ANNOUNCER: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOOD MORNING.
WELCOME TO THE MARRAKECH ICANN MEETING.
PLEASE WELCOME MR. DRISS JETTOU PRIME MINISTER OF THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO.
[ APPLAUSE ]

>>HIS EXCELLENCY DRISS JETTOU: IN THE NAME OF GOD, MR. PRESIDENT, MR.
MINISTER, DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ICANN, YOUR EXCELLENCIES,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO ATTEND THIS ICANN MEETING WHICH
YOU DECIDED TO ORGANIZE FOR THE FIRST TIME HERE IN MOROCCO, AND WE THANK YOU
FOR THAT. TO ALL OF YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN PARTICIPATING AT THIS MEETING,
I WELCOME YOU TO MARRAKECH. HERE IN THE CITY OF A LONG HISTORY WHICH IS
OPENED ON THE FUTURE AND WHICH TODAY IS PROUD TO HOST YOUR MEETING. THIS
MEETING OF THE INTERNET COMMUNITY WHICH IS BEING HELD FOLLOWING THE WORLD
SUMMIT ON INFORMATION SOCIETY, WHICH WAS HELD IN TUNIS NOVEMBER 2005, TODAY
IS THE OCCASION TO HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OF INTERNET
WORLDWIDE, AND MORE SPEC IFICALLY, IN CONNECTION WITH THE DOMAIN NAMES AND
GOVERNANCE. GOVERNANCE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WHICH WILL BE AT THE HEART OF
YOUR DISCUSSIONS, JUST BEFORE THE FORTHCOMING MEETING TO BE H ELD IN ATHENS
IN OCTOBER.

MR. CHAIRMAN, THE INTERNET TODAY, AND WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THAT, HAS BECOME AN
ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR COMPETITIVENESS NOT ONLY FOR PRIVATE, BUT ALSO FOR PUBLIC
ENTERPRISES. THIS IS AN EFFICIENT LEVERAGE FOR TRANSFORMATION AND
MODERNIZATION OF CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS TERRITORIAL
ADMINISTRATION. IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY VECTOR FOR JOB OPPORTUNITY CREATION,
AND IT IS AN ESSENTIAL FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. IN
FACT, WITH SUCH CHALLENGES AT STAKE, THE GOVERNMENT OF MOROCCO HAS MADE A
PRIORITY AREA OF THIS SCOPE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MOROCCO AMBITIONS TO AVAIL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND SOCIAL AMBITION FOR A MOR E DYNAMIC AND COMPETITIVE
MOROCCO. ALONG THESE LINES, ONE OF OUR KEY OBJECTIVES IS TO ENDEAVOR TO HAVE
MOROCCO WELL-ANCHORED IN THE SOCIETY OF KNOWLEDGE THROUGH REDUCING THIS
DIGITAL GAP AND STRENGTHENING THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR COUNTRY. AND THIS
WILL BE DONE THROUGH DEVELOPING IT INDUSTRY AND OFFSHORING. THIS ANCHORING
PROCESS WILL CERTAINLY GO THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTERNET, AND ITS KEY
COMPONENTS, WHICH ARE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, CONTENT DEVELOPMENT, AND
TRAINING. IT IS WITH THESE GOALS IN VIEW THAT AN INTERNET DEVELOPMENT
NATIONAL PROGRAM HAS BEEN FINALIZED AND WRAPPED UP ON THE OCCASION OF A
NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON THE INTERNET WHICH WAS HELD IN NOVEMBER 2005. THIS
NATIONAL PLAN WILL BE ENHANCED TOGETHER WITH THE CONTRIBUTION OF ALL
STAKEHOLDERS AND BASED ON THE BEST PRACTICES UNDERWAY, AS WELL AS ON THE
INCREASE OF THE NUMBER OF INTERNET USERS. AND I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT TO YOU VERY BRIEFLY THE MAIN PROJECTS LAUNCHED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF
HIS MAJESTY, WITH A VIEW TO HAVE INTERNET ACCESS FOR ALL. THE FIRST
OBJECTIVE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IS TO CREATE THE APPROPRIATE AND ENABLING
ENVIRONMENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE, AND ALSO
TO DIVERSIFY OFFERINGS. AND FOR THAT, WE HAVE AN ACCELERATED LIBERALIZATION
PROGRAM AND WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF PLAYERS ACCESSING THE TELECOM SCOPE.

AND WE ALSO TEND TO OPTIMIZE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REGULATION LEVERS. A
REGULATION HAD ALREADY BROUGHT A THIRD GSM LICENSE FOR TELEPHONY. AND THIS
HAS ALSO BROUGHT ABOUT SUBSTANTIVE GROWTH SINCE TODAY WE ARE 13 MILLION CELL
PHONE USERS IN OUR COUNTRY. THE USE OF THE THIRD-GENERATION TECHNOLOGY
SHOULD CREATE AN ADDITIONAL GROWTH ELEMENT IN THIS SEGMENT. MORE RECENTLY,
THE FIXED TELEPHONY SECOND AND THIRD LICENSE IS, I'M SURE, GOING TO BRING
ABOUT A MORE CONSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTERNET. THE NUMBER OF INTERNET
WORKERS HAS ALREADY REACHED MORE THAN 4 MILLION PEOPLE THIS YEAR COMPARED TO
A 1 MILLION FIGURE IN 2004.

MR. CHAIRMAN, THE LAUNCH OF THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROGRAM IS THE SECOND
PROJECT WHICH IS BEING LAUNCHED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF MOROCCO, THROUGH THREE
PROJECTS. WHICH ARE: THE CREATION OF COMMUNITY-BASED INFORMATION AND
TECHNOLOGY CENTERS, THE EXPANSION OF BROADBAND AND FINALLY, THE GENERALISATIO
N OF ITC USAGE IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR (GENIE). THIS WILL BE A THREE-YEAR
PROGRAM. WITH A $100 MILLION BUDGET, WITH A VIEW TO EQUIP BY THE YEAR 2008
ALL SCHOOLS, THAT IS TO SAY, FOR MORE THAN 6 MILLION STUDEN TS IN MORE THAN
6,800 UNITS, THEY WILL ALL HAVE A MULTIMEDIA ROOM WHILE DEVELOPING DIGITAL
CONTENT THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE SE SCHOOL ENDEAVORS. SO THE DIGITAL
CONFIDENCE IS THE THIRD PROGRAM WHICH THE GOVERNMENT IS FOCUSING ON. AND TO
THAT END, A PROPOSED LAW FOR THE EXCHANGE OF ELECTRONIC DATA IS GOING TO BE A
FIRST STAGE IN ORDER TO GENERALIZE THE DIGITAL CONFIDENCE. THIS WAS ALREADY
ADOPTED IN A MINISTER CONCIL MEETING LAST APRIL. THE MOROCCAN REGULATOR,
ANRT, HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO BE CHOSEN AS A REGULATION AGENCY FOR THIS -- FOR
THE ELECTRONIC CERTIFICATION WITH THE SPECIFIC MISSION TO PROPOSE THE
STANDARDS FOR ACCEPTING ELECTRONIC CERTIFICATION FOR ACCREDITING PROVIDERS IN
THE AREA AND FOR CONTROLLING THEIR ACTIVITY. AND, FINALLY, THE GOVERNMENT IS
WORKING HARD TO PUT IN PLACE A E-GOVERNMENT STRATEGY. E-GOV MOROCCO AIMS AT
ENABLING DIGITAL CONTENT AND DIGITAL SERVICES FOR THE USERS, WITH A VIEW TO
ENLARGE AND EXTEND THE SERVICES MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE CITIZENS AND FOR THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY. THIS PROGRAM ALREADY COUNTS MORE THAN 150 TELESERVICES
THAT ARE AVAILABLE, COVERING SECTORS SUCH AS FINANCE, TAXES, JUSTICE,
NATIONAL SECURITY, CUSTOMS, AMONGST OTHERS. THESE SERVICES ALLOW ACCESS TO
SPECIFIC INFORMATION THROUGH MORE THAN 700 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES IN TWO
LANGUAGES, FRENCH AND ARABIC. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I WOULD NOT CONCLUDE
THIS ADDRESS WITHOUT REITERATING TO YOU THIS FEELING OF PRIDE WE HAVE IN
HOSTING YOU. AND I WISH TO WELCOME YOU ONCE AGAIN AND WISH YOU A PLEASANT
STAY AND A SUCCESSFUL MEETING IN MARRAKECH.

THANK YOU.

>>ANNOUNCER: THANK YOU, MR. PRIME MINISTER.
[ APPLAUSE ]

>>ANNOUNCER: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME MR. VINT CERF.
[ APPLAUSE ]

>>ANNOUNCER: HE'S THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ICANN BOARD AND ALSO ONE OF THE FATHERS
OF INTERNET, AND CODESIGNER OF THE TCP/IP PROTOCOLS AND THE ARCHITECTURE OF
INTERNET, MR. VINT CERF. [ APPLAUSE ]

>>VINT CERF: BONJOUR, MADAMES AND MESSIEURS. THAT'S ABOUT AS MUCH FRENCH AS
I'M ABLE TO OFFER THIS MORNING. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. MR. PRIME MINISTER,
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, MEMBERS OF THE ICANN COMMUNITY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
MR. PRIME MINISTER, YOU HONOR AND GRACE OUR MEETING WITH YOUR PRESENCE AND
WITH YOUR STIRRING WORDS OF THE PROGRESS HERE IN MOROCCO WITH THE DEVELOPMENT
OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION FOR YOUR CHILDREN.

I CAN'T THINK OF A MORE IMPORTANT INVESTMENT FOR YOU TO MAKE THAN TO ASSURE
THAT THIS COUNTRY STAYS AT THE FOREFRONT OF INFOR MATION TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT AND USE. IT'S AN IMPORTANT NEW AREA FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
YOUR CONCENTRATION ON ENCOURAGING ENTREPRENEURS TO USE THIS TECHNOLOGY TO
DEVELOP NEW BUSINESSES, TO EXPORT THEIR LABOR WITHOUT EXPORTING THE PEOPLE,
AND BRINGING REVENUE INTO THE COUNTRY BY THIS MEANS, COULD NOT BE A MORE
IMPORTANT STEP. AND I AM -- PERSONALLY APPLAUD THE DECISION OF THE
GOVERNMENT AND YOUR PERSONAL INITIATIVES TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY. WE ARE
HERE IN MOROCCO, IN A PLACE WHERE FRENCH AND ARABIC ARE TWO OF THE MORE
IMPORTANT LANGUAGES SPOKEN. AND IT ILLUSTRATES THE IMPORTANT NEED IN THE
INTERNET TO SUPPORT LANGUAGES OTHER THAN THOSE THAT CAN BE WRITTEN WITH ROMAN
CHARACTERS. INTERNATIONALIZED DOMAIN NAMES ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR
AGENDA THIS WEEK. THERE ARE TWO SESSIONS THAT WILL BE -- ONE OF WHICH HAS
ALREADY BEEN HELD, AND ANOTHER ONE THIS WEEK TO DISCUSS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
INTERNATIONALIZED DOMAIN NAMES IN THE INTERNET, AND TO DISCUSS TEST PLANS TO
VERIFY OUR ABILITY TO SUPPORT THAT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE ANOTHER PART OF THE PROGRAM FOCUSED ON THE
PRESENCE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH REGISTRATIONS IN THE DOMAIN
NAME SYSTEM. THIS IS THE SO-CALLED WHOIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE A DATABASE WHICH
IS USED TO KEEP TRACK OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE REGISTRATIONS IN THE DOMAIN
NAME SYSTEM, BUT THERE'S A TENSION BETWEEN PUBLIC INFORMATION, PUBLIC
KNOWLEDGE OF WHO HAS MADE THESE REGISTRATIONS, AND THE DESIRE FOR PRIVACY.
WE HAVE WITH US, AND WE'LL HAVE A BRIEFING FROM, THREE REPRESENTATIVES FROM
THE UNITED STATES, FROM THE NETHERLANDS AND JAPAN TO TELL US ABOUT THEIR USE
OF THAT WHOIS DATABASE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PURPOSES. IT GIVES AN IMPORTANT
FLAVOR TO OUR DISCUSSIONS TO UNDERSTAND THE TENSIONS BETWEEN THE DESIRE FOR
PRIVACY AND THE NEED FOR IN FORMATION TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC.

WE HAVE MANY CROSS-CONSTITUENCY MEETINGS SCHEDULED THIS WEEK. AND I CAN TELL
YOU THAT THERE IS STRONG INDICATION THAT ICANN, AS AN ORGANIZATION, AS OPENED
UP SUBSTANTIAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN ITS VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS. IN THE COURSE OF
THE LAST EIGHT OR NINE YEARS, THIS ORGANIZATION I THINK HAS DEMONSTRATED A
GREAT DEAL OF FLEXIBILITY AND ADAPTABILITY, BUT MOST IMPORTANT, A COMMITMENT
BY ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS WHO MAKE UP THE ICANN COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE
IN A CONSTRUCTIVE FORM. AND I'M VERY, VERY PLEASED TO HAVE THIS WONDERFUL
ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO CONDUCT THE WORK OF OUR ORGANIZATION. WE WILL ALSO
BE CONCLUDING A PLAN FOR OUR BUDGET. AND I'M SURE MR. PRIME MINISTER, YOU
APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING BUDGETS AND ALSO HAVING THE MONEY TO MAKE
THE BUDGET REAL. WE WILL BE CONCLUDING PLANS FOR THE COMING FISCAL YEAR AT
THIS MEETING. WE ALSO HAVE SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THE COUNTRY CODE NAME
SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS BYLAWS IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE MORE OF THE COUNTRY CODE
TLD OPERATORS TO PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN THAT GROUP. THIS WEEK, WE SIGNED AN
ACCOUNTABILITY FRAMEWORK WITH OUR COMPATRIOTS IN CHILE, AND I AM DELIGHTED TO
SEE THAT HAPPEN. I HAVE A SAD THING THAT I ALSO HAVE TO REPORT. I'M SURE
MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE, BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT A POINT ON RECORD, THAT OUR
COLLEAGUE PETER DENGATE THRUSH HAS HAD TO RETURN TO NEW ZEALAND TO HIS HOME.
A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY HAPPENED EARLIER THIS WEEKEND. HIS WIFE, HIS FATHER, HIS
BROTHER AND HIS FATHER'S PARTNER WERE ALL KILLED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT.

NORMALLY ONE ASKS FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE. I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT TODAY.
I WOULD PREFER TO DO SOMETHING MORE CONSTRUCTIVE. WE WILL HAVE SHEETS
AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO SIGN NAMES AND TO LEAVE MESSAGES FOR PETER WHICH WE
WILL SEND TO HIM. HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BACK TO NEW ZEALAND BY HIS GOOD FRIEND
KEITH DAVIDSON, AND SO WE KNOW THAT HE IS IN GOOD HANDS WHEN HE ARRIVES IN
WELLINGTON.

ON A HAPPIER NOTE, I'D LIKE TO REPORT TO YOU THAT THE BOARD HAS RE-ENLISTED
OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO PAUL TWOMEY FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS, PLUS ONE ADDITIONAL,
IF THAT'S AGREEABLE TO HIM AND THE BOARD. SO PAUL, FOR REASONS KNOWN ONLY TO
HIMSELF AND GOD, HAS AGREED TO SERVE THIS ORGANIZATION FOR ANOTHER THREE
YEARS.

THERE'S A CLAUSE IN THE CONTRACT. I THINK IT'S CLAUSE 6.1-D WHICH SAYS THAT
IN THE EVENT THAT THE CEO IS MENTALLY UNABLE TO CONDUCT HIS BUSINESS, THAT WE
CAN DISMISS HIM. I WOULD SUGGEST TO YOU THAT BY AGREEING TO SERVE FOR
ANOTHER THREE YEARS, HE HAS ALREADY FULFILLED THE PROVISIONS OF --
[ LAUGHTER ]

>>VINT CERF: -- ITEM 6.1-D. SO PAUL, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD ESPECIALLY, I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THREE YEARS OF VERY HARD WORK AND FOR WHAT WE ARE SURE
WILL BE ANOTHER THREE YEARS OF HARD BUT VERY PRODUCTIVE WORK. SO WE THANK
YOU PAUL. WE WELCOME YOU TO ANOTHER THREE-YEAR TERM. AND I THANK YOU ALL
FOR COMING HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS WORK IN A MOST CONDUCIVE ATMOSPHERE.
AND AGAIN, MR. PRIME MINISTER, WE THANK YOU AND ALL OF YOU COLLEAGUES FOR
YOUR HOSPITALITY AND THE FACILITIES MADE AVAILABLE TO US. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
[ APPLAUSE ]

>>ANNOUNCER: THANK YOU, MR. CERF. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE NOW WELCOME
DR. PAUL TWOMEY, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ICANN.
[ APPLAUSE ]

>>PAUL TWOMEY: YOUR EXCELLENCY, PRIME MINISTER, YOUR EXCELLENCY, THE
MINISTER, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. APPARENTLY YOU ARE NOW
BEING ADDRESSED BY A LUNATIC. THERE ARE MANY THAT WOULD AGREE WITH THIS, I
THINK.

YOUR EXCELLENCY, IN YOUR SPEECH YOU OUTLINED YOUR OBJECTIVES FOR YOUR
INITIATIVES TO CONNECT THE PEOPLE OF MOROCCO TO EACH OT HER AND TO THE PEOPLE
OF THE WORLD FOR SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT. MR.
PRIME MINISTER, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU REPRESENTATIVES OF A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE
WHO HAVE FOR THE LAST 35 YEARS HAVE BUILT AND ENSURED THE VERY NETWORK THAT
LETS YOU ACHIEVE YOUR OBJECTIVES. AND THIS COMMUNITY BEFORE YOU THAT WORKS
TOGETHER IN A GLOBAL WAY, IN A VERY PARTICIPATORY WAY, IN A MULTI-STAKEHOLDER
WAY WITH MANY PARTIES PARTICIPATING, ENSURES THAT EVERY DAY THE DEVICES ON
THE INTERNET CAN UNIQUELY FIND EACH OTHER.

AND THAT MAY JUST SOUND LIKE PLUMBING. INDEED, THE PLUMBING WORKS SO WELL,
MOST PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW IT HAPPENS. OUR CURSE AND OUR JOY IS BECAUSE
THESE PEOPLE DO THEIR JOB SO WELL, NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THEY DO. IN MANY
RESPECTS, FOR THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE, THIS COMMUNITY
BEFORE YOU IS ESSENTIAL BECAUSE THEY ENSURE THAT THIS SYSTEM RESOLVES AND
SENDS MESSAGES WORLDWIDE. TO GIVE YOU SOME SENSE, THIS COMMUNITY HERE
SUPPORTS ABOUT A BILLION USERS OF THE INTERNET, AND UP TO 27 BILLION
RESOLUTIONS, IF YOU LIKE USER SESSIONS, A DAY. I THINK I'M RIGHT THE CALLS
IN NORTH AMERICA A DAY ARE ABOUT 3 BILLION, SO IF YOU THINK OF THIS AS NINE
TIMES THE CALLS IN NORTH AMERICA A DAY ARE SUPPORTED BY THESE PEOPLE WORKING
TOGETHER TO ENSURE THE SYSTEM WORKS.

AND THIS TASK, IF YOU STAND WELL , AS I SAID, MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IT
EXIST. BUT IT DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN. THERE IS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF WORK IN
MAKING IT HAPPEN AND IT IS A GROWING AND ENORMOUS TASK. AND ICANN, AS A
MULTI-STAKEHOLDER ORGANIZATION, HAS TO CONTINUE TO GROW AND TO EVOLVE. AND A
KEY PART OF OUR MEETING HERE IN MOROCCO IS TAKING SOME PARTICULAR INITIATIVES
TO KEEP THAT PROCESS UNDERWAY. SOME OF THOSE INITIATIVES ARE SPECIFICALLY
DIRECTED TO SOME OF THE INTERNET GOVERNANCE ISSUES THAT YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR
SPEECH.

ICANN'S ONE OF ITS KEY CONSTITUENCIES ARE THE GOVERNMENTS, AND THE
GOVERNMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF ICANN AND THE BOARD OF ICANN ARE
UNDERTAKING DISCUSSIONS THIS WEEK AS PART OF A SERIES OF DISCUSSIONS TO
ENSURE THAT HOW THEY PARTICIPATE, HOW THE PUBLIC POLICY VOICE IS HEARD, AND
HOW THAT COMMUNICATION TAKES PLACE BETWEEN BOTH THE BOARD AND THE
GOVERNMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, BUT ALSO THE GOVERNMENTS AND OTHER
CONSTITUENCIES, WORKS EFFECTIVELY, IS DONE IN A WAY WHICH MEETS BOTH INTERNET
SPEED AND GOVERNMENT SPEED. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY
THE SAME THING. BUT HOW DO WE DO THIS WHICH REALLY WORKS FOR BOTH PARTIES.

AND THERE'S A PARTICULAR COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY OUR VICE-CHAIRMAN, ALEJANDRO
PISANTY, AND ALSO BY AMBASSADOR KARKLINS FROM LATVIA WHO ARE REALLY WORKING
THROUGH THIS WITH US HERE. SIMILARLY, ANOTHER SENSE AROUND INTERNET
GOVERNANCE, ICANN IS FACING THIS YEAR COMING TO THE CONCLUSION OF A SERIES --
OR A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING IT HAS WITH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE. IT CONTINUES TO EVOLVE AS AN ORGANIZATION, AND ICANN HAS A
RESPONSIBILITY TO HOLD IN PUBLIC TRUST, IF YOU LIKE, THE DOMAIN NAME SYSTEM,
WHICH HAS PLAYED A BIG PART IN MAKING SURE THAT THE INTERNET IS ACCESSIBLE TO
PEOPLE ACROSS THE WORLD. ICANN HAS ACHIEVED THIS THROUGH PARTICIPATION AND
COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND THIS IS WHAT THE ICANN MODEL IS BASED
ON.

AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER, WITH THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING DUE TO COME TO
CONCLUSION, THERE WILL BE DISCUSSIONS BEFORE THAT ABOUT THE WAY TO HEAD FOR
THE FUTURE OF ICANN AND FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE DOMAIN NAME SYSTEM AND ITS
ROLE. AND THEN THIS WEEK, COMMITTEES ASSOCIATED WITH ICANN WILL PUT IN PLACE
A PROCESS WHICH WOULD ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION AND RESPONSE FROM THE COMMUNITY
ON THEIR VIEWS ABOUT WHAT IS THE PATH FORWARD PRIOR TO THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

AND WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS FURTHER THIS WEEK. AND WE VERY MUCH
ENCOURAGE THE INTERNET COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION'S FUTURE. THIS IS ALSO OUR FOURTH MEETING
IN AFRICA. OUR OTHERS HAVE BEEN IN EGYPT, GHANA, TUNISIA AND SOUTH AFRICA.
WE ARE VERY MUCH COMMITTED TO A STRONG ENGAGEMENT WITH AFRICA, AND ALSO WITH
THE ARAB WORLD, WITH THE MIDDLE EAST. AND WE HAVE SEVERAL STAFF MEMBERS
ACTUALLY FULLY DEDICATED TO THIS. AND WE ARE PROMOTING REGIONAL MEETINGS AND
COORDINATION OF KEY PARTS OF THE CONSTITUENCIES AROUND AFRICA.

FOR INSTANCE, THE COUNTRY CODE OPERATORS FOR AFRICA WHOSE ORGANIZATION IS THE
AFTLD, THE AFRICAN TLD ORGANIZATION, HOLDING THEIR ANNUAL MEETING HERE AT
THIS MEETING HERE. I WILL FINISH ALSO ON THAT WE ARE NOT ONLY LOOKING
FORWARD IN TERMS OF THE MOU BUT WE HAVE AN ONGOING PROCESS OF STRATEGIC
PLANNING, AND I POINT TO THE MEMBERS IN THE AUDIENCE OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WE
ARE HAVING SESSIONS THIS WEEK ON THE NEXT ROUND OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN. THOSE
SESSIONS WILL BE HELD IN ENGLISH, FRENCH, ARABIC AND SPANISH.

AND I WOULD STRONGLY EXHORT PEOPLE WHO FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE IN EACH OF THOSE
LANGUAGES TO PLEASE ATTEND THOSE SESSIONS AND ENSURE THAT YOUR VOICES ARE
HEARD ABOUT WHAT ARE THE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR THE ORGANIZATION GOING
FORWARD. YOUR EXCELLENCY, I WON'T GO THROUGH MORE DETAIL ABOUT OUR MEETING.
IT'S A RARE BEAST. IT'S LESS LIKE A MEETING AND MORE LIKE A ZOO SOMETIMES IN
TERMS OF JUST HOW MANY THINGS ARE GOING ON IN WHICH PLACE AND HOW.

BUT WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE HOSPITALITY AND THE COMMITMENT AND THE
SUPPORT OF HIS MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING YOU IN THE
SORT OF INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE WORKING TO ENSURE THAT THEY WORK FOR YOUR
INITIATIVES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>ANNOUNCER: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
[ APPLAUSE ]

>>ANNOUNCER: OKAY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BEFORE COMING TO THE COFFEE BREAK I
WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYBODY, I TELL EVERYBODY THAT THE HOST DINNER IS
SCHEDULED TOMORROW AT 8:00 P.M. AT CHEZ ALI, THE FANTASIA. I WILL INVITE
YOU TO THIS MEMORABLE NIGHT TO EXPERIENCE THE MAIN FLAVORS OF THE MOROCCAN
CULTURE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
[ APPLAUSE ]