Dear all, I did not step up into this conversation before, because I am extremely concerned with safety issues of person involved. And I highly appreciate Yrjo's comment. Yes, new ICANN VP is from Russia. What does it mean? Russian influence on ICANN? If you are serious about it, I would be happy to discuss it later. For me it means huge pressure on new VP from Russian regime. Yes, I proposed Ukrainian citizenship to Mr. Yakushev, and I would be extremely happy if it would be enough to have only honorable one. There is a law in Russia regarding "foreign agents", and I highly appreciate Mr. Yakushev's courage to adopt this position in ICANN. I fully agree with Veronica, that Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia have to be part of integral ICANN's strategy for Europe and coordinated from Brussels (or Geneva or anywhere else). But not only these countries - Armenia and Russia (!!!!) also. I did my best to see Armenia within EURALO. I hope it becomes true soon. But now I am asking APRALO to adopt me as individual member. European standards and values are extremely important for me (and for Ukraine, as you can notice). But for me they are not limited by any geographical or institutional boundaries. Best regards, Oksana On Sunday, March 23, 2014, Yrjö Länsipuro <yrjo_lansipuro@hotmail.com> wrote:
Dear all, Let's keep apart two things that have nothing to do with each other. One is Russia's blatant breach of international law, including its own commitments in the Budapest Memorandum 1994, in invading and annexing part of an independent, sovereign country, and the sanctions rightfully imposed by the EU and US as response. Another is ICANN's globalization effort and its endeavor to find the best possible people to implement it in various regions of the world. Best, Yrjö
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 2014 03:27:54 +0100 From: wolf.ludwig@comunica-ch.net To: jjs@dyalog.net; veronicacretu@gmail.com CC: euro-discuss@atlarge-lists.icann.org Subject: Re: [EURO-Discuss] New hires @ ICANN responsible for Russia, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Eastern Europe.
Dear Veronica, Jean-Jacques and all,
this is just to confirm that I share your reservations and concerns about this appointment because it ignores certain highly touchy points and recent developments by sending a wrong - and even dangerous - message.
Kind regards, Wolf
Subrenat, Jean-Jacques wrote Fri, 21 Mar 2014 08:39:
Veronica +1.
Naturally, this is not at all a criticism of the new vice-president as a private person, nor as a professional. But as Veronica points out, in spite of itself ICANN may be sending the wrong message, at a time of heightened sensitivity.
In the same way, the brief tenure of a Chinese person as vice-president for Asia was perhaps not the best idea, whatever his talent and personal stature.
Nowadays, globalization requires ICANN to be attentive to more parameters than in the past.
Jean-Jacques.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Veronica Cretu" <veronicacretu@gmail.com> To: "Discussion for At-Large Europe" < euro-discuss@atlarge-lists.icann.org> Sent: Vendredi 21 Mars 2014 08:14:11 Subject: [EURO-Discuss] New hires @ ICANN responsible for Russia, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Eastern Europe.
Dear colleagues, greetings and hope this finds you well!
This is to share with you some concerns related to the recent hires at ICANN, particularly I am referring to the position of Vice President of Stakeholder Engagement for Russia, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Eastern Europe. http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-20mar14-en.htm & Veni Markovski interviews Michael Yakushev
While I welcome these new changes and hires within ICANN, I do also share serious concerns when it comes to my region!
I think ICANN should be politically correct and more careful when delegating supervision of certain regions. I have nothing against Michael Yakushev, I highly respect his professional background, however, given the developments of the past months, and you all know what has been going on in the region (military intervention in Ukraine, the case of Crimea; now - a lot started to move in Transnistria - part of Moldova, again, with Russia's intervention) - having someone from Russia be in charge of, especially of countries like Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia - is very sensitive!
The new position might be well responsible for Russia and its Customs Union countries; while countries like Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia should fall under the supervision of European based ICANN staff. We are all aiming at joining EU, and with this, adjusting all the legislation, embedding EU based principles and values into our work.
While, indeed, ICANN looks at bringing the key stakeholders, as well as deepen and broaden the engagement of everyone in the global IG debate, that process should be done politically correct!
Any thoughts, reflections, suggestions from your side would be really appreciated!
With very best and see you soon in Singapore! Veronica
-- *Veronica Cretu *
*President, Open Government Institute**Republic of Moldova - http://opengov.si.md/ <http://opengov.si.md/>*
*Member of the Steering Committee, * *Open Government Partnership (OGP);* * http://www.opengovpartnership.org/about/steering-committee/role-and-current-... <