The Road To AthensThe Road To Athens

Yasser HassanYasser Hassan

First Secretary,First Secretary,Ministry of Foreign Affairs,Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

Egypt Egypt

WSIS requested the UN Secretary General to WSIS requested the UN Secretary General to convene the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). convene the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

IGF's mandate was clearly defined in article 72 IGF's mandate was clearly defined in article 72 of the Tunis Agenda on the Information Society.of the Tunis Agenda on the Information Society.

Two rounds of informal consultations:Two rounds of informal consultations:– Feb. 06Feb. 06– May. 06May. 06

Post -TunisPost -Tunis

Post Tunis phase witnessed: Post Tunis phase witnessed:

– New initiatives were launched.New initiatives were launched.– New understandings and preferences emerging.New understandings and preferences emerging.– Concrete results of Tunis are left to different Concrete results of Tunis are left to different

mechanisms.mechanisms.

Still the debate is going on over the WSIS Still the debate is going on over the WSIS documents in a process of “ soft negotiation” documents in a process of “ soft negotiation” dealing with the best rules, characteristics and goals dealing with the best rules, characteristics and goals of the Information Society, and probably has not of the Information Society, and probably has not reached yet to an end.reached yet to an end.

Ended with the establishment of an Advisory Group to Ended with the establishment of an Advisory Group to work as a preparatory committee for the first meeting of work as a preparatory committee for the first meeting of the IGF in Athens.the IGF in Athens.

Four themes for deliberations, namely:Four themes for deliberations, namely:– Access,Access,– Openness,Openness,– Diversity’Diversity’– Security,Security,

while at the same time addressing Capacity Building as a while at the same time addressing Capacity Building as a cross cutting issue.cross cutting issue.

Informal ConsultationsInformal Consultations

The Executive Secretary of IGF:The Executive Secretary of IGF:

– No membership to IGF, and no rules of procedureNo membership to IGF, and no rules of procedure

– No negotiations to reach a consensus (as was the No negotiations to reach a consensus (as was the case in WSIS)case in WSIS)

– No recommendations, but an “outcome” in the form No recommendations, but an “outcome” in the form of:of:

A Chair's Summary, which is expected to deal with the A Chair's Summary, which is expected to deal with the general proceedings of the event.general proceedings of the event.

A more detailed report by the Secretariat.A more detailed report by the Secretariat.

A report to the UN Secretary General.A report to the UN Secretary General.

The IGFThe IGF

Will face difficulties to end with Will face difficulties to end with conclusions.conclusions.

Could end with a “dynamic Coalition” Could end with a “dynamic Coalition” among stakeholders.among stakeholders.

Could place itself as a modest corner of Could place itself as a modest corner of international corporation.international corporation.

Concerns AheadConcerns Ahead

How the IGF would be able to play the role of a How the IGF would be able to play the role of a catalyst, among different and diverse stakeholders, or catalyst, among different and diverse stakeholders, or advancing the efforts of the international community advancing the efforts of the international community dealing with Internet Governance issues. dealing with Internet Governance issues.

What could be the linkage, if there should be any, What could be the linkage, if there should be any, between the so called "outcome" of Athens meeting between the so called "outcome" of Athens meeting and the management of the Internet? and the management of the Internet?

– Some prefer the IGF as a platform for exchanging views and Some prefer the IGF as a platform for exchanging views and sharing knowledge & experience.sharing knowledge & experience.

– Others would like to see it as a progressive process Others would like to see it as a progressive process influencing other processes somewhere else.influencing other processes somewhere else.

Concerns Ahead: Concerns Ahead: Cont’dCont’d

What could be the roles of some stakeholders, namely What could be the roles of some stakeholders, namely international organizations, in Internet Governance international organizations, in Internet Governance issues based on any "outcome" of the IGF? issues based on any "outcome" of the IGF?

In this respect it is needed to remember that:In this respect it is needed to remember that:

– Interface with international organizations is part of the Interface with international organizations is part of the mandate of IGF (para 72-c).mandate of IGF (para 72-c).

– International organizations work according to pre-defined International organizations work according to pre-defined mandates & responsibilities, and guided by their governing mandates & responsibilities, and guided by their governing bodies.bodies.

– They are tasked by the Summit, based on their They are tasked by the Summit, based on their competences and mandates, with specific roles in the competences and mandates, with specific roles in the process of building the Information Society.process of building the Information Society.

– Modalities of coordination among themselves and Modalities of coordination among themselves and when involving other stakeholders were precisely when involving other stakeholders were precisely defined in a meeting held on 24.2.2006 (according to defined in a meeting held on 24.2.2006 (according to a request by the Summit).a request by the Summit).

Concerns Ahead: Concerns Ahead: Cont’dCont’d

Concerns Ahead: Concerns Ahead: Cont’dCont’d

How the IGF can contribute to address the How the IGF can contribute to address the need to maximize the participation of need to maximize the participation of developing countries in decisions regarding developing countries in decisions regarding Internet governance? Internet governance?

Can the IGF provide a suitable platform for the Can the IGF provide a suitable platform for the engagement of African civil society and private engagement of African civil society and private sector in the process?sector in the process?

How can the Athens outcome reflect on the How can the Athens outcome reflect on the next IGF meeting agenda?next IGF meeting agenda?

IGF…A Unique Milestone… but it IGF…A Unique Milestone… but it Shouldn’t Be…Shouldn’t Be…

Limited to the "exchange of views". Limited to the "exchange of views".

Forum of contradictions.Forum of contradictions.

Ignoring the needs of different stakeholders.Ignoring the needs of different stakeholders.

Exclusive in its scope of work.Exclusive in its scope of work.

African CooperationAfrican Cooperation

Africa’s participation to the IGF is Africa’s participation to the IGF is significant.significant.

No high expectations. Only discussions. No high expectations. Only discussions.

Africa’s focus on regional cooperation Africa’s focus on regional cooperation within the Continent should be a priority.within the Continent should be a priority.

Areas of cooperation:Areas of cooperation:

– Capacity building.Capacity building.

– Public awareness / legal issues.Public awareness / legal issues.

– Inclusiveness of the process and of the Inclusiveness of the process and of the African information society (multi-stakeholder African information society (multi-stakeholder partnerships). partnerships).

Areas of cooperation Areas of cooperation (cont’d)(cont’d)::

– Solutions for problems on community level Solutions for problems on community level (cultural/linguistic diversity, access solutions)(cultural/linguistic diversity, access solutions)

– to mainstream Internet Governance public to mainstream Internet Governance public policy issues in their national ICT4D policy issues in their national ICT4D processes, policies and action plansprocesses, policies and action plans

The African engagement in IGFThe African engagement in IGF– Athens meeting will determine the way Athens meeting will determine the way

forward of the IGF.forward of the IGF.

– Stress on the need for keeping with the Stress on the need for keeping with the principles of holding the meetings of IGF in a principles of holding the meetings of IGF in a transparent, democratic and inclusive transparent, democratic and inclusive manner.manner.

– Review the mechanism of the Advisory Review the mechanism of the Advisory Group. Group.

– Many things to avoid (definitions- principles).Many things to avoid (definitions- principles).– Any Any ForumForum should be complimented by a should be complimented by a

FunctionFunction..

– Have better coordination on the African level.Have better coordination on the African level.

– Address developmental aspects in a wider Address developmental aspects in a wider scope.scope.

– Monitoring the international priorities and Monitoring the international priorities and concerns when setting the agenda (themes) concerns when setting the agenda (themes)

The Future of IGF The Future of IGF (cont’d)(cont’d)

Thank youThank you