US embassy cable - 05DUBLIN1383

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 001383 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015 
TAGS: ECPS, ETRD, ECON, EINT, ETTC, EI 
SUBJECT: GOI EXPECTS NEW EU INTERNET GOVERNANCE PROPOSAL 
FOR WSIS 
 
REF: STATE 196384 
 
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Mary E. Daly; Reasons 1.4 ( 
B) and (D). 
 
(C) On November 9, Post discussed the EU internet governance 
proposal for WSIS with Aidan Ryan, Deputy Director for 
Business and Technology Communications in the Department of 
Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (DCMNR).  Ryan, 
who will attend WSIS with DCMNR Secretary General Brendan 
Tuohy, said that he expected a modified EU proposal to emerge 
from the November 9 COREPER discussions and from a planned 
evening meeting for Member State representatives in Tunis on 
November 13.  Ryan highlighted Part 64 of the original 
proposal, which aimed to establish "international government 
involvement at the level of principles" regarding internet 
functions overseen by ICANN.  He said that the United States 
and other parties had misinterpreted this language to imply 
"control," whereas Ireland viewed "involvement" as "input." 
He believed that the modified EU proposal would clarify the 
Commission's intent, and he stressed that the EU had not 
aimed to align with such countries as China that sought 
mechanisms of internet control.  Ryan elaborated that Ireland 
had, in fact, shaped the language in Part 63 emphasizing that 
the EU model for cooperation "should not replace existing 
mechanisms or institutions, but should build upon the 
existing structures of internet governance."  When Emboff 
asked why Ireland had seen the need for the EU's proposed 
"cooperation model," Ryan cited GOI concerns that Department 
of Commerce authorization for ICANN modifications to the root 
zone file functioned effectively as a veto.  Emboff cited ref 
A points that such authorization was a technical verification 
process, not a political approval. 
KENNY