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 & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeI9SDz7_S8&feature=youtu.be 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-... <http://www.opengovpartnership.org/about/steering-committee/role-and-current-membership>* *Member of the Multistakeholder Advisory Group* *To the Internet Governance Forum (IGF)* *http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/component/content/article/1549 <http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/>* *Member of the Nominating Committee of ICANN* *(Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbering)* *http://www.icann.org/en/groups/nomcom/2014/members <http://www.icann.org>* *Email: veronicacretu@gmail.com <veronicacretu@gmail.com> and/or veronica@cretu.md <veronica@cretu.md>Skype: veronicacretu Phone: 373 067435000*