<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Dear all,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">As we are preparing for the February IGF
consultations and the first (unfortunately closed) meeting of the WGIIGF (or WOGII : WOrking
Group on Improvements to the Igf), there is one element that deserves some
attention: the future selection of the future MAG Chair.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">In order to launch the discussion on this list,
I have listed below <b>some possible criteria</b> that could be taken into account and
used as input by CS participants in the WOGII. They are largely based on the
reasons why Nitin Desai has been exemplary in this role and they constitute a
useful benchmark for any successor, albeit a difficult one to match. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">This is only a seed and comments are of course
welcome.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:18.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:
Cambria;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">First and foremost, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">the new MAG Chair must elicit trust among
all stakeholder groups</b>, by his/her reputation in terms of neutrality, patience,
understanding of the notion and challenges of multi-stakeholder dialogue, and
capacity to moderate discussions on sensitive topics, foster consensus and
constructively summarize complex exchanges into actionable items. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:18.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:
Cambria;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Even if in principle it
should be possible to choose this person from any stakeholder group (and in a
long-term perspective this should be the case), the next five year period would
probably benefit from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">a MAG Chair with
governmental (or international organization) experience</b>, in order to
facilitate acceptance even by the critical governments. If this is the case, an
additional experience within civil society, the business sector or the technical
community would certainly be a plus. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:18.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:
Cambria;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">During his/her tenure, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">the MAG Chair should preferably not be in
an active position within an organization actively involved in the IGF process</b>,
in order to limit potential conflicts of interests, illustrate neutrality and
ensure time availability for the critical meetings. This points to people that are
retired, or willing to leave their current function (but the Chair position is
not full-time and is not paid) or active in different domains with schedule
flexibility. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:18.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:
Cambria;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">4)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:
EN-US">The MAG Chair should have attended at least one recent IGF</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:
EN-US"> (and hopefully more than one), to have a concrete experience of the
unique format of the event and its dynamics. This is necessary because the
working methods of the IGF have evolved through time and they are not
formalized and documented yet. Knowledge of the existing good practices is
therefore essential. Having sponsored, participated in or organized workshops
or moderated panels would be a plus. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:18.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:
Cambria;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">5)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Additionally, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">the MAG Chair should preferably have
himself/herself been a member of the MAG, at least for one year</b>: this is
where the role of the Chair is the most important and firsthand understanding
of the potential and limits of this particular structure could prove critical
in fulfilling this role. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:18.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;
text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:
Cambria;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">6)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Finally, and ideally, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">the MAG Chair should have participated in
the WSIS, at least its second phase</b>, to have a holistic understanding of
the history and the delicate balance that allowed consensus around the creation
of the IGF in the first place. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">These criteria are not absolute requirements
and are more or less listed in order of importance. However, the first one (eliciting
trust among all stakeholder groups) should be considered an absolute must. The other criteria are
contributing to this essential trust-building in the second mandate of the IGF.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">I hope this helps foster a useful discussion on
this list and - hopefully - in the Working Group. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Looking forward to more discussion.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Best</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Bertrand</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"><br></span></p>
<br>-- <br>____________________<br>Bertrand de La Chapelle<br>Tel : +33 (0)6 11 88 33 32<br><br>"Le plus beau métier des hommes, c'est d'unir les hommes" Antoine de Saint Exupéry<br>("there is no greater mission for humans than uniting humans")<br>