[governance] Summary Report of IGF MAG available
Robin Gross
robin at ipjustice.org
Sat Mar 1 11:03:13 EST 2008
The four Russians advisors were listed on the MAG mtg attendance list
that was sent to MAG via email. I have no idea what role they
really play in the mix, however. Glad to hear that some flags of
concern were raised in the room at the time.
Robin
On Mar 1, 2008, at 2:05 AM, Adam Peake wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> On MAG composition, Parminder¹s ³Not that things would have
>> changed if we had said so² seems like an understatement.
>> Obviously there are pressures being brought to bear offline that
>> significantly trump anything we might say, so stomping our feet
>> rather than Œpussyfooting¹ by specifying exactly how many bodies
>> from which groups we think there should be probably would have
>> just been picking losing fights. Saying CS is underrepresented
>> was adequate for our main concern and obviously, rectifying it
>> would mean taking from overrepresented groups. That said, ³While
>> not perfect, the balance of the current MAG was felt to be
>> reasonable.² So voila.
>>
>> Robin says there are four Russian govt advisors.
>
>
> They weren't really "advisers", just people in the room. They had
> no special status, they did not speak (as chairs advisers are
> allowed to do.)
>
> And it was challenged. But it is very difficult to tell govt to
> get out, particularly difficult when the country is a permanent
> member of the security council.
>
> From now on MAG meetings will take a rollcall of people in the
> room, I hope the rollcall will be made public. This situation
> probably won't happen again.
>
> Thinks it's now under control...
>
> Adam
>
>
>
>> Not being on MAG, I don¹t know where she¹s seeing this, would
>> appreciate clarification. The list on the website still shows the
>> Brazilian contingent.
>>
>> Let me raise a different issue: the program. I thought it a bit
>> odd at the consultation when Nitin switched agenda items 3 and 4
>> around, so that we spent a big chunk of time after lunch hearing
>> ³reports from related activities² before finally getting around,
>> with just one hour left, to what I¹d have thought should be the
>> main focus of a consultation, ³The 2008 Meeting.² After the
>> Indian presentation of the conference site there was not much time
>> left, people were tired, and many had gone when it was finally the
>> moment to talk about what stakeholders might like to see in the
>> main sessions. In this environment, we introduced the caucus¹
>> four proposals, APC, Switzerland, Brazil offered theirs, there
>> were a few shorter comments, and then we were out of time. There
>> was no possibility for serious follow on discussion concerning any
>> of the proposals (although Brazil, Switzerland, and APC did
>> indicate support for the Development Agenda concept).
>>
>> Now looking at the MAG summary, I see no connection between our
>> proposals and the two schedules under consideration. Certainly
>> the words enhanced cooperation, net neutrality, development
>> agenda, and transparency/inclusion do not appear. In contrast,
>> ³the next billion² and ³managing² (not governing, per ISOC circa
>> 2003) the net are on both. So voila. Interesting process.
>>
>> Hopefully the packed schedules of main sessions will also
>> accommodate a fairly unrestricted number of workshops, as these
>> would seem the only option to pursue any of our proposals.
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Bill
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 3/1/08 8:25 AM, "Parminder" <parminder at itforchange.net> wrote:
>>
>> Our original draft statement did say clearly that governments are
>> over-represented, and that this should be corrected. But there was
>> advice on the list against saying soŠ which later extended to that
>> we should not say anything about any other group¹s representation
>> and just say CS is under-represented.
>>
>> Not that things would have changed if we had said so, but it is
>> important for CS to be upfront and say these things when the
>> occasion arises and not pussyfoot as we often tend to do.
>>
>> We can still write to them that gov representation is steadily
>> climbing though many different means, and this is a cause of
>> concern etcŠLet them not do anything about this, but let them know
>> that¹s what we thinkŠ..
>>
>> Can MAG members tell us if the issue of co-chair was discussed in
>> the MAG.
>>
>> The worst part is that where the summary talks about 50 percent
>> gov representation it says
>> ³However, the group was informed that the current balance in the
>> MAG, of 50% of its members proposed by governments and 50% by
>> other stakeholder groups, would be maintained.²
>> Note the part Œthe group was informed¹Š what does that mean!! Who
>> informed the group. Rest of the summary is written in form of what
>> the group itself seem to have deliberated and decidedŠ but this is
>> about something the group having been told Š BY WHOM
>>
>> Can the MAG members who were present in Geneva shed some light on it?
>>
>> Also those among us who have been of the opinion that MAG should
>> stay as purely an advisory body to UN SG, and have no substantive
>> identity / authority of its own, would note that we can keep
>> expecting more and more of these diktats from unknown quarters,
>> which none of us can ever even reach out to, much less influenceŠ
>> Putting too much faith in one person, Nitin Desai, who as SG¹s
>> Special Advisor, we may think has the greater influence on SG¹s
>> decisions has limits, and may backfire when there is a change in
>> guard. In any case there are many others who have great influence
>> with SG¹s office and that is showingŠ.
>>
>> In not calling for a more independent MAG, CS has lost a major
>> opportunity. Now it may be too late to even call for it.
>>
>> An unnecessary semantics of what would a bureau mean took away all
>> the energy though those who called for a self-empowered MAG said a
>> few times that there is no insistence on the name Œbureau¹ and
>> whatever goes with itŠ So now you have your MAG which is
>> government loaded because we ourselves colluded in handing over
>> all powers to the UN SG officeŠ No point ruing it.
>>
>> Parminder
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> From: Robin Gross [<mailto:robin at ipjustice.org]
>> >mailto:robin at ipjustice.org]
>> Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2008 6:38 AM
>> To: governance at lists.cpsr.org; Ian Peter
>> Subject: Re: [governance] Summary Report of IGF MAG available
>>
>>
>> This point concerns me also. And especially when the "special
>> advisors" are added into the mix, there is an even higher
>> percentage of govt representation. For example there are 4
>> representatives from the Russian govt listed as special advisors.
>> I'm not sure why a non-host country would need such
>> disproportionate influence in the process. But I wasn't able to go
>> to Geneva to participate in the meetings, so I don't have a good
>> sense as to whether such a high percentage of govt representation
>> of the MAG is a fait de complis or can be challenged. I'd be
>> curious to hear what the MAG members who were in Geneva think
>> about this.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Robin
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Feb 29, 2008, at 12:39 PM, Ian Peter wrote:
>>
>>
>> The most telling point here appears to be
>>> However, the group was informed that the current balance in the
>>> MAG, of 50% of its members
>>> proposed by governments and 50% by other stakeholder groups,
>>> would be maintained.
>> Is there any way to challenge whether 50% government is really
>> multistakeholder?
>>
>> Ian Peter
>>
>> Ian Peter and Associates Pty Ltd
>>
>> PO Box 10670 Adelaide St Brisbane 4000
>>
>> Australia
>>
>> Tel (+614) 1966 7772 or (+612) 6687 0773
>>
>> www.ianpeter.com
>>
>> www.internetmark2.org
>>
>> www.nethistory.info
>>
>>
>> From: Robin Gross [<mailto:robin at ipjustice.org]
>> >mailto:robin at ipjustice.org]
>> Sent: 01 March 2008 04:36
>> To: governance at lists.cpsr.org; a2k-igf at ipjustice.org;
>> Openstds at ipjustice.org; bill-of-rights at ipjustice.org; privacy-
>> coalition at lists.apc.org
>> Subject: [governance] Summary Report of IGF MAG available
>>
>> Summary report of the Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Group meeting in
>> Geneva this week is on the IGF website:
>>
>> <http://www.intgovforum.org/Feb_igf_meeting/MAG.Summary.
>> 28.02.2008.v1.pdf>http://www.intgovforum.org/Feb_igf_meeting/
>> MAG.Summary.28.02.2008.v1.pdf
>>
>> Info on rotation of MAG members and plans for Hyderabad in the
>> report.
>>
>>
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>
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IP JUSTICE
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