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WCIT…In Conclusion

14 December 2012
By Fadi Chehadé

Friends and colleagues,

Today marks the end of the lengthy WCIT conference in Dubai. I am sure you along with most of our community have been watching events carefully.

As you know, Steve Crocker and I were invited to attend the opening ceremony two weeks ago, and I was invited to speak. I used this opportunity to engage with the many delegations in Dubai in support of our remarkable multistakeholder model. I was pleased that we received public assurances from ITU Secretary General Dr. Hamadoun Touré that neither Internet resources nor ICANN would be the subject of the WCIT treaty. During the past fortnight there has been much debate on many issues – much discussion, argument and many long nights. In the end, however, we are pleased the final text of the International Telecommunications Regulations does NOT include reference to ICANN’s work.

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the ICANN team on the ground in Dubai and in LA for their tremendous dedication. I also would like to thank those Community members present in Dubai for their support and collaboration and, of course, our colleagues from the Internet Society, the Regional Internet Registries and various ICANN stakeholder groups.

I would echo the sentiments of many who would have wished that countries had been able to reach a consensus around supporting the multistakeholder model. However, the debate has been strong and we have seen some real progress which I hope will stand us in good stead as we move forward.

During today’s closing ceremony, Dr Toure recognized ICANN saying, “I look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead and all that can be achieved by ITU and ICANN together in a positive spirit of collaboration. So let me repeat once more, the ITU has no wish or desire to play a role in physical Internet resources such as domain names. And the work of ICANN and ITU can be and should be fully complementary.”

We remain grateful to Secretary General Touré and to the Chairman of the WCIT-12, Mohamed Al Ghanim, for the opportunity for us to engage as we did in Dubai.

We also remain committed to work with all stakeholders, each in their respective, distinct roles, including governments, IGOs and the ITU, with the private sector and civil society as well, all for a better future for the world.

Sincerely,

Fadi

Authors

Fadi Chehadé

Former President & CEO