World Wide Alliance of Top Level Domain-names

Communiqué from Montréal meeting

Communiqué of the African Top Level Domain Organisation ("AfTLD")

Montréal - 25 June 2003

The members of the African Top Level Domain organisation AfTLD present at the Montreal ICANN meeting met on June 23nd 2003 and expressed their full support to the ccNSO formation process proposed by the ICANN Board Evolution and Reform Committee. In addition, support was obtained from certain members who were not present by way of the AfTLD list.

The proposals followed the significant effort of the Country Code Names Support Organisation Assistance Group, in which two Africans, Pierre Ouedraogo and Michael Katundu participated. AFTLD members present in Montreal further expressed their in principle support for the proposed ccNSO Bylaws that have been circulated for comment. While recognising that certain issues are in the process of being resolved, the AfTLD members present appreciate the ERC's willingness to discuss the outstanding contentious issues in such Bylaws and to work towards consensus.

They made further comments on the following two points:

Geographic diversity

The AfTLD members greatly appreciate the geographic diversity in the proposed structure of the ccNSO Council. They emphasize the fact that this principle is incorporated as an ICANN guideline, so the objective of internationalization described in the ICANN 2.0 bylaws can become a reality and reinforce ICANN legitimacy. In order to fully achieve this objective, they suggest that:

• The 3 regional seats on the ccNSO council should be fulfilled by people coming from three different countries in each region, and a rotation should be implemented so every country of each region has an opportunity to participate;

• There is a concern with the 3 seats to be fulfilled by the Nom Com. This can open the floor to geographic unbalance and capture if the 3 seats are not occupied by people coming from 3 different regions. It is recommended that the Nom Com should likewise be required to consider geographic diversity.

ccTLDs are part of ICANN community

The AfTLD members express their full support for maintaining the ccNSO community inside the ICANN community. They look forward to playing a full role in the development of policy within the ccNSO, and look forward to working with other regional ccTLD organizations They are confident that trusting relationships and fruitful cooperation can be established with ICANN for the well being and stability of the Internet naming system.

The AfTLD members congratulate all concerned for the progress that has lead to a reaching of consensus in the ccTLD community.

AfTLD announces to the ccTLD community that they will hold an AfTLD general assembly prior to the ICANN meeting in Tunis in October 2003.