RE: [soac-mapo] Another proposal for discussion...

["Frank March" <Frank.March@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I think it might be useful to make a comment on GAC processes because
they are frequently misunderstood.  This is a personal perspective.

GAC members speak on behalf of their governments.  In a sense it is
irrelevant what individual members of the GAC think or want.. They have
to consult with colleagues in their respective governments, sometimes in
other parts of their government who do not see GAC processes, let alone
ICANN processes, as necessarily being more important or urgent than
other (domestic) policy issues they may be working on.  Therefore GAC
processes take time, sometimes a long time.

Further, the GAC strives for consensus.  This can be time consuming and
frustrating and may result in the GAC appearing to take contradictory
positions at times.  Welcome to the world of intergovernmental
processes.

I think it a considerable success that the TOR have not held matters up
within the Rec6WG.  It may well be that trying to find a Rec6WG
consensus on a report by the end of next week that includes full GAC
support is mission impossible. That does not mean that it should not be
attempted, nor does it mean that the report would be less significant.
What it does mean is that GAC members taking part in the discussions
cannot guarantee that the GAC will not come back later with criticisms
of either a Rec6WFG or Board position on MAPO.  Nevertheless, speaking
for myself, I am broadly in agreement with the direction things are
going and will say so in the GAC itself.  There is nothing so far that
New Zealand would have a problem with.

Best wishes, Frank

----
Frank March
Senior Specialist Advisor
Digital Development
Energy and Communications Branch, Ministry of Economic Development
33 Bowen Street, PO Box 1473, WELLINGTON
Mobile: (+64) 021 494165
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-soac-mapo@xxxxxxxxx 
> [mailto:owner-soac-mapo@xxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Antony Van Couvering
> Sent: Sunday, 5 September 2010 5:09 a.m.
> To: Stuart Lawley
> Cc: Mueller Milton; Konstantinos Komaitis; Robin Gross; soac-mapo
> Subject: Re: [soac-mapo] Another proposal for discussion...
> 
> 
> [replying to parts of the discussion that were off-list, 
> redacted here]
> 
> It's not hard to criticize the GAC, but let's give them some 
> credit when it's due.  It is a very good sign that some GAC 
> members are participating here;  I am probably not the only 
> one who would consider this a largely meaningless exercise 
> without their involvement.  My quibble would be that there's 
> not enough of it. 
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