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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>Friends and Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>As the work on the IANA Stewardship Transition is approaching the target dates that were set for it, I would like to share with you some updates on this important transition.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>To start with, you can find the latest updates on the IANA Stewardship discussions summarized in an easy-to-follow blog post at <a href="https://www.icann.org/news/blog/an-update-on-iana-stewardship-discussions-special-edition-of-the-names-function-proposal">https://www.icann.org/news/blog/an-update-on-iana-stewardship-discussions-special-edition-of-the-names-function-proposal</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>Following the posting of draft proposals for public comment by Cross Community Working Groups on the IANA Stewardship Transition (CWG-Stewardship) and on Enhancing ICANN Accountability (CCWG-Accountability), ICANN President and CEO <i>Fadi Chehadé</i> reflects on these accomplishments and gives his view of the road ahead in the following video at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMusmAcQpu0&feature=youtu.be">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMusmAcQpu0&feature=youtu.be</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>Finally, the chair of the ccNSO; <i>Byron Holland</i>, issued an open call to the ccTLD community on the IANA Stewardship Transition at <a href="https://www.icann.org/news/blog/a-call-to-the-global-cctld-community-on-the-iana-stewardship-transition-let-s-have-our-voice-heard-en">https://www.icann.org/news/blog/a-call-to-the-global-cctld-community-on-the-iana-stewardship-transition-let-s-have-our-voice-heard-en</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>We intend to share with you more of such updates as we move forward in hopes that you all get more involved in this process.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions related to the transition or any other ICANN related matter.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>Thank you,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>Baher Esmat and Fahd Batayneh<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>Global Stakeholder Engagement, Middle East<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>ICANN<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>