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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Hi All<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>As a caucus co-coordinator, I consider it important to inform
the caucus that the IGF secretariat had asked me to be a special advisor to the
MAG chair, which I role I have accepted. I did so after some amount of thinking
and clarifying with the secretariat that my IGC co-coordinator and advocacy
role should and will in no way be affected by this responsibility. For
the sake of transparency, I am sharing as below the email that I wrote to the
IGF secretariat in this regard. I have been told that my understanding of the
role as per my email is quite fine. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I have convinced myself that the role of a special advisor
does not conflict with my role of IGC co-coordinator. In any case, I still see
the later as primary, and will act accordingly, if any circumstances of
conflict, however unlikely, were to arise. In this regard, I am given to
understand that almost the only really strict principle of MAG working is that
of following Chatham house rules. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Parminder <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>(PS: Due to some internal reasons, I was asked by the
secretariat to not share this information till the MAG meeting started today.)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div style='border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>(Below is the email I wrote a few days back in response to
the invitation to be a special advisor to the MAG chair) <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Dear Markus<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>As you would have judged, my taking some time to think about
accepting the gracious invitation to be a Special Advisor to the Chair of MAG
had to do with the civil society advocacy work I do. I had to consider if this
work will in any way get affected by my working in this capacity. I also needed
to consult my organization. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I will of course in no way be able to change anything in
terms of my advocacy work – as IGC co-coordinator, where I have a little
more time to go, or, even more so, the work I do on the behalf of my
organization and the network of South-based civil society groups that I work
with. As in engagement with any institution, advocacy positions may carry
differing perspectives on various aspects of the institution’s work, in
this case IGF’s. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>However, I have no doubt that I see the IGF as an
extra-ordinarily important forum – even more so from a futuristic
perspective – in providing new possibilities in the area of democratic
global governance, apart from its cardinal role in global IG. It is
exciting as well as eminently useful, in terms of my keen interest in these
areas, for me to be a part of such an evolving institution. I am also
completely in agreement with the mandate that WSIS has given to the IGF, and
will like to see it steadily evolve in fulfilling this role, even as we figure
out how best it can be done. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I understand that as a special advisor my services are
available to the chair to help him carry out his responsibilities. I will be
able to provide assistance especially in terms of civil society perspectives,
and reaching out to civil society groups and persons. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>As I understand it, I will not be seen as necessarily
representing the ‘official’ MAG position if there is one, as I
understand even MAG members can keep their individual distances from, as they
deem fit. However I do understand the responsibilities of constructive
engagement with basic purposes and activities of the IGF; and, also the need to
observe the agreed rules of the MAG’s internal activities, and other
tasks, if any, especially those undertaken in confidence. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I did not meant to make it sound like a formal acceptance
speech, but the specific circumstances of involvement with civil society
advocacy activities makes the issue of formal involvement with concerned
institutions as something that requires some amount of careful thought. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I gladly accept to be a special advisor to the MAG Chair,
with the above understanding of the role. And I very much look forward to
working with the Chair, the IGF secretariat, and the MAG. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Best Regards<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Parminder <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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