Cutting away to what I think was a fundamental point of Rafik's original email - I'm hopeful that the announcement and additional information ICANN plans to publish about the venue change will address concerns and likely dismay amongst ICANN participants (especially newer ones) from the Middle East about the decision to switch. I agree that announcing the decision earlier rather than later is a good thing, but I think we'll all agree that making known the reasons for and considerations behind such a decision is also important in view of ICANN's commitment to a global and diverse community. I suggest we hold our questions until we get the formal announcement and additional information. Cheers Mary Mary W S Wong Professor of Law Chair, Graduate IP Programs UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SCHOOL OF LAWTwo White StreetConcord, NH 03301USAEmail: mary.wong@law.unh.eduPhone: 1-603-513-5143Webpage: http://www.law.unh.edu/marywong/index.phpSelected writings available on the Social Science Research Network (SSRN) at: http://ssrn.com/author=437584>>> From: Stéphane Van Gelder<stephane.vangelder@indom.com> To:Rafik Dammak <rafik.dammak@gmail.com> CC:David Olive <david.olive@icann.org>, Adrian Kinderis <adrian@ausregistry.com.au>, "council@gnso.icann.org" <council@gnso.icann.org> Date: 2/17/2011 12:23 PM Subject: Re: [council] Swap out Jordon for Singapore Hi Rafik, I would like clarification from you that your assertion that this is a dangerous precedent for A&T is a personal comment. It seems to me that if the meeting team detect a reason for not going ahead with a meeting, we should support their initiatives to take action in that regard. Failing that, I'm sure ICANN would fall under criticism for NOT taking action. It also seems ICANN is being fully transparent and giving ample warning of the change. I am certain we can expect an explanation as to why the change is being made in the near future. I think we have to give staff a chance to provide this explanation before starting to make assertions, as a Council, that there is a "dangerous precedent" for anything here... Stéphane Envoyé de mon iPhone4 Le 17 févr. 2011 à 16:47, Rafik Dammak <rafik.dammak@gmail.com> a écrit : Hi David, how the decision was made and in which information it was based. it is dangerous precedent and for matter of accountability and transparency I would like to see memo and other material that led ICANN board to make such decision if they will be published or not. and I don't see any element of confidentiality that prevent it. Regards Rafik Dammak Twitter: @rafik Linkedin: http://tn.linkedin.com/in/rafikdammak 2011/2/18 David Olive <david.olive@icann.org> Adrian and Council Members: The ICANN June meeting will not take place in Jordan. A decision was made and the Jordanian host has already been contacted about this change. In a day or so, there will be a formal ICANN announcement concerning this matter as well information on the location for the next meeting . Regards, David David A. Olive Vice President, Policy Development Support Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) 1101 New York Avenue, NW - Suite 930 - Washington, D.C. 20005 Office: 202.570.7126 Mobile: 202.341.3611 From: Adrian Kinderis <adrian@ausregistry.com.au> Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2011 06:55:43 -0800 To: "council@gnso.icann.org" <council@gnso.icann.org> Subject: [council] Swap out Jordon for Singapore The latest rumours are that we’ll be heading to Singapore next folks given the “unrest” in the Middle East. Adrian Kinderis As of August 30, 2010, Franklin Pierce Law Center has affiliated with the University of New Hampshire and is now known as the University of New Hampshire School of Law. Please note that all e-mail addresses have changed and now follow the convention: firstname.lastname@law.unh.edu. For more information on the University of New Hampshire School of Law, please visit law.unh.edu