RESERVED COUNTRY NAMES AT THE SECOND LEVEL IN GTLD REGISTRIES

[Ksenia Golovina <ksenia.golovina@xxxxxxxxx>]

Dear All
We would like to request confirmation regarding the reservation of  
country names at the second level.
5. Country and Territory Names. The country and territory names  
contained in the following　internationally recognized lists shall be  
initially reserved at the second level and at all other levels within  
the TLD at which the Registry Operator provides for registrations:
5.1. the short form (in English) of all country and territory names  
contained on the ISO 3166-1 list, as updated from time to time;
What is meant by the expression "short form (in English)"? Does this  
refer exclusively to the English short country names used by the ISO  
3166 Maintenance Agency? There is some confusion because the ISO  
3166-1 list also contains two and three-letter country codes. Does the  
"short form" referred to here in the applicant guidebook also include  
the two and three-letter codes? We would very much appreciate  
clarification as to which forms from the ISO 3166-1 need to be  
reserved at the second level.
We would also like to clarify the procedure regarding the release of  
the country names. In Module 5 it is stated:
All new gTLD registry operators are required to provide certain  
minimum protections for country and territory names, including an  
initial reservation requirement and establishment of applicable rules  
and procedures for release of these names.
Are these rules and procedures entirely up to the discretion of the  
registry? Will it be necessary to apply for official approval from  
ICANN before releasing the names?
Clarification of these issues will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Ksenia Golovina
Operations Department
Brights Consulting Inc.