[governance] Action on Enhanced Cooperation, please

Adam Peake ajp at glocom.ac.jp
Wed Jan 10 02:32:52 EST 2007


At 12:36 PM +0530 1/10/07, Parminder wrote:
>  > We are writing to you because we understand you were asked by the UN
>>  Secretary General to begin informal consultations on how to start a
>>  process aimed at enhancing cooperation on international public policy
>>  issues related to the Internet.
>
>Is it generally known that Secy Gen did ask Nitin Desai to begin
>consultation? ( I, for instance, did not know) Should we proceed from
>this...


Yes.

UN press release announcing set up of the IGF secretariat and enhance 
cooperation 
<http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sgsm10366.doc.htm>.  Relevant 
part:

"On a separate issue, the Secretary-General has also decided to ask 
Mr. Desai to consult informally on how to start a process aimed at 
enhancing cooperation on international public policy issues related 
to the Internet.  The Summit had requested the Secretary-General to 
start such a process. "

The words suggested for the question in the letter reflected this. 
(and also one reason I think just asking the simple question is 
best... but as said, more is OK if that's what all want.)

Adam



>Parminder
>
>________________________________________________
>Parminder Jeet Singh
>IT for Change, Bangalore
>Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities
>Tel: (+91-80) 2665 4134, 2653 6890
>Fax: (+91-80) 4146 1055
>www.ITforChange.net
>
>>  -----Original Message-----
>>  From: Milton Mueller [mailto:Mueller at syr.edu]
>>  Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2007 7:53 PM
>>  To: ajp at glocom.ac.jp; parminder at itforchange.net; governance at lists.cpsr.org
>>  Subject: Re: [governance] Action on Enhanced Cooperation, please
>>
>>  Parminder:
>>  Thank you for an extensive effort  on this draft. Perhaps some of the
>>  delay in getting there stemmed from what I think is your overestimate of
>>  the amount of work required.
>>
>>  I really think in this case we need to be very concise and to the
>>  point. Something like,
>>
>>  " Dear Nitin:
>>  <insert a line or two of pleasantries if you wish>
>>
>>  We are writing to you because we understand you were asked by the UN
>>  Secretary General to begin informal consultations on how to start a
>>  process aimed at enhancing cooperation on international public policy
>>  issues related to the Internet.
>>
>>  The IGC would very much appreciated an update on progress and news of
>>  the current state of play with respect to "enhanced cooperation." What
>>  concrete measures have been taken and what role is contemplated for
>>  civil society in them?
>>
>>
>>
>>  >>> parminder at itforchange.net 1/9/2007 1:21 AM >>>
>>  > Where are our coordinators? Wouldn't it be appropriate for them to
>>
>>  > initiate action on this, e.g. develop a draft?
>>
>>
>>
>>  I apologize for being amiss on this issue after promising on 30th last
>>  to do
>>  a draft in 3-4 days.
>>
>>
>>
>>  A draft is enclosed for your consideration, and also pasted in the body
>>  of
>>  this email below.
>>
>>
>>
>>  A couple of points about the draft.
>>
>>
>>
>>  Firstly, I have made it elaborate rather than concise - arguing the
>>  case and
>>  making a formal claim to know the present position against clear
>>  commitments, as  a stakeholder of the WSIS and post WSIS process.
>>
>>
>>
>>  Secondly, between the options of considering 'enhanced cooperation'
>>  (EC) as
>>  THE required public policy process(es) spoken of in paras 60 and 61 of
>>  Tunis
>>  agenda, or considering it as one of the processes which gets discussed
>>  in
>>  more details  in the subsequent parts, I have taken the latter option.
>>  Tunis
>>  agenda can be read either way, and there can be multitude of opinions
>>  on
>>  this issue. However, I preferred to avoid putting all our 'public
>>  policy'
>>  eggs in the EC basket. Also there is the problem that the opening para
>>  69
>>  that mentions EC for the first time seem to capture it in a somewhat
>>  exclusive governmental framework. The overall paras 61 however is more
>>  multistakeholder inclusive. In any case, other paras talk about
>  > different
>>  public policy mechanisms/ processes etc for ccTLDs (63) and gTLDs
>>  (64)..
>>  Keeping EC as just one of the envisaged/possible mechanisms of public
>>  policy
>>  also helps us to keep a way out of a situation where a slightly
>>  improved
>>  GAC, is attempted to be passed off both as the EC as well as all that
>>  was
>>  ever meant in Tunis agenda as any kind global public policy space or
>>  process
>>  ..
>>
>>
>>
>>  Parminder
>>
>>
>>
>>  (draft below, and also enclosed as attachment)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  From the Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus
>  >
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  Nitin Desai
>>
>>  Special Advisor to the Secretary-General, United Nations.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  Dear Mr Desai,
>>
>>
>>
>>  Wishing you a happy and fulfilling 2007!
>>
>>
>>
>>  The Internet Governance Caucus (IGC) would like to congratulate you for
>>  the
>>  very successful first meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). A
>>  good
>>  amount of the credit for this goes to your personal leadership, and
>>  that of
>>  your advisory team. The first meeting of the IGF was a crucial
>>  mould-setting
>>  exercise, and we appreciate the fact that all parties approached it
>>  positively, and with due care. We have been able to set the stage for a
>>  new
>>  multistakeholder exercise in global governance which is indeed
>>  path-breaking, not only in the area of governance of the Internet, but
>>  in
>>  general as an outstanding example for future reforms in global
>>  governance.
>>
>>
>>
>>  IGF has got firmly established as an open platform, inclusive to all,
>>  which
>>  gives an opportunity to discuss and debate public policy issues related
>>  to
>>  the Internet, and explore possibilities as well as constituencies for
>>  needed
>>  change and reform. Some of these issues can even reach high enough
>>  degree of
>>  consensus among the involved parties that can drive change on its own -
>>  for
>>  instance agreements on new technology or legal standards,
>>  incorporating
>>  agreed issues of public interest, that are acceptable to all
>>  stakeholders,
>>  civil society groups, business and the governments. However, the fact
>>  remains that most public policy processes at the IGF, at least after
>>  they
>>  reach a level of maturity of debate and deliberation in the IGF,
>>  require
>>  inputting into an appropriate political arena of global public policy
>>  making. It is the lack of progress in this area in the post WSIS period
>>  that
>>  continues to cause concern to us.
>>
>>
>>
>>  The Tunis agenda clearly recognizes 'that there are many cross-cutting
>>  international public policy issues that require attention and are not
>>  adequately addressed by the current mechanisms' (paragraph 60 of Tunis
>>  agenda). It further affirms, for this purpose, the 'need to initiate,
>>  and
>>  reinforce, as appropriate, a transparent, democratic, and multilateral
>>  process, with the participation of governments, private sector, civil
>>  society and international organizations . (p 61). The Tunis agenda
>>  also
>>  expressly calls for 'creating an environment that facilitates this
>>  development of public policy principles' (p 70). The intent and mandate
>>  of
>>  the Tunis agenda in terms of the importance and urgency to proceed with
>>  the
>>  task of developing public policy principles for the Internet, and
>>  processes/mechanisms for their development and application, is quite
>>  evident.
>>
>>
>>
>>  As one form or possibility for this exercise, paragraph 71 lays out
>>  such a
>>  clear mandate that it is worth quoting in full.
>>
>>
>>
>>  The process towards enhanced cooperation, to be started by the UN
>>  Secretary-General, involving all relevant organisations by the end of
>>  the
>>  first quarter of 2006, will involve all stakeholders in their
>>  respective
>>  roles, will proceed as quickly as possible consistent with legal
>>  process,
>>  and will be responsive to innovation. Relevant organisations should
>>  commence
>>  a process towards enhanced cooperation involving all stakeholders,
>>  proceeding as quickly as possible and responsive to innovation. The
>>  same
>>  relevant organisations shall be requested to provide annual
>>  performance
>>  reports.
>>
>>
>>
>>  However, as we enter the year 2007, there has been no word, much less
>  > action, on the broader issue of developing public policy principles
>>  and
>>  processes for the Internet, and specifically, the more clearly
>>  mandated
>>  issue, with timelines, of initiating the 'process towards enhanced
>>  cooperation'. As a matter of paramount global public interest, as well
>>  as a
>>  stated commitment of the WSIS, we, the IGC, as stakeholders of the WSIS
>>  and
>>  post-WSIS process, request to be informed on the status of these
>>  issues, in
>>  terms of the action that has been taken, and is intended to be taken.
>  >
>>
>>
>>  We also wish to claim the full participation of civil society in the
>>  envisaged process of 'enhanced cooperation' and other public policy
>>  processes, which is implied and mandated in the concerned parts of the
>>  Tunis
>>  agenda, and we request you to ensure such participation. We note with
>>  concern that some parties have tried to claim 'enhanced cooperation' as
>>  a
>>  government-only process. This is completely at variance with the
>>  overall
>>  envisaged approach to public policy issues for the Internet (p 60 and
>>  61) as
>>  well as in terms of the specific process of 'enhanced cooperation' (p
>>  71).
>>  We also offer our complete cooperation, and assistance as may be
>>  required by
>>  you, for initiating these processes, in order to ensure incorporation
>>  of
>>  public interest in the development of the most powerful technologies of
>>  our
>>  times, that holds much promise for just and equitable social change.
>>
>>
>>
>>  Thanking you.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  Sincerely
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  > -----Original Message-----
>>
>>  > From: Milton Mueller [mailto:mueller at syr.edu]
>>
>>  > Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2007 6:49 AM
>>
>>  > To: ajp at glocom.ac.jp; governance at lists.cpsr.org
>>
>>  > Subject: [governance] Action on Enhanced Cooperation, please
>>
>>  >
>>
>>  > >>> ajp at glocom.ac.jp 12/28/2006 4:17 AM >>>
>>
>>  > >Any thoughts on writing to Nitin Desai asking for an update on
>>
>>  > >enhanced cooperation?  And working on statements/contributions to
>>  the
>>
>>  >
>>
>>  > >February consultation? (about 6 weeks away.)
>>
>>  >
>>
>>  > I strongly agree with Adam that this is a desirable thing. Enhanced
>>
>>  > cooperation, no matter how bullshit a formulation it is, was supposed
>>  to
>>
>>  > be one of the key outcomes of WSIS, and represents a critical point
>>  of
>>
>>  > contention between EU and USA.
>>
>>  >
>>
>>  > There are (legitimate) worries about governments being passive
>>  watchers
>>
>>  > of IGF "shows", expressed by Jeanette earlier. Enhanced coop is one
>>  of
>>
>>  > the few areas where state politics can intersect with post-WSIS
>>  Forum
>>
>>  > politics. At worst, making this inquiry may also bring us face to
>>  face
>>
>>  > with the possible truth that the govts have no intention of doing
>>
>>  > anything and are playing games with WSIS/IGF. If so, we need to call
>>
>>  > their bluff
>>
>>  >
>>
>>  > Where are our coordinators? Wouldn't it be appropriate for them to
>>
>>  > initiate action on this, e.g. develop a draft?
>>
>>  >
>>
>>  > Adam has already laid out the basic outlines of what needs to be
>>  said:
>>
>>  >
>>
>>  > >a letter asking for
>>
>>  > >progress/update, why aren't we being told, and we would like to be
>>
>>  > >involved. And cc'ing govt and others we know interested to see if
>>
>>  > >they will also then ask the same questions might be helpful.
>>
>>  > >
>>
>>  >
>>
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