Dear All: So you know, AFRALO leadership has an interest in collaborating on a statement in response; Tijani and Fatimata think a joint statement/approach with LACRALO may be useful here. In my own view, if the original purpose[s] for rotating meetings still stands, then what is proposed is an expedient betrayal of principle. Addressing the visa issue directly, it seems to me so-called Third World countries bend over backwards to facilitate. And that facilitation is often initiated by ICANN with the able support of the local organizing group[s]. Dakar comes top of mind here. And for more than one reason. In contrast, it appears ICANN seems to think - or operates - on an assumption such [extraordinary] facilitation is not necessary for N. American and/or European venues. Maybe because [it thinks] the laws and/or rules are so plain and equitably enforced. Or, the process and/or processing efficiency for visa applications do not require any special intervention. Or, lord love us, some of us are just held to higher standards. FWIW, I have already received my official invitation letter from ICANN for Beijing. And I have requested one from the local organizing host as well. - Carlton ============================== Carlton A Samuels Mobile: 876-818-1799 *Strategy, Planning, Governance, Assessment & Turnaround* ============================= On Tue, Oct 30, 2012 at 1:22 PM, <vanda@uol.com.br> wrote:

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From: vanda@uol.com.br

ICANN's proposal is that the two are still Europe and Asia Pacific. The rotation will be between North America, Latin America and Africa. It is important that Europe is fixed because it is the most central region and less visa requirements, which this year was such a disaster in Canada. Latin America: So far there is an offer by the end of 2013 in Latin America, which means that it is becoming difficult as temos rotation now. It was Chile, Uruguay, Brazil twice, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica; North America is terrible on visa issues and there is only USA and CANADA, better do as little as possible. African countries were already possible, others not offer suitable conditions, even on flights. Asia Pacific - here is a huge number of countries with hotel and flight conditions rather comfortable for being so long this region there are many countries that make proposals and fail because there are few opportunities. I think the proposal is sensible ICANN Vanda -----------------------------------------------------------------