The date for its holding may not yet be defined, however this does not stop the Greek government from preparing for the 1st World Forum for the Administration of the Internet, which will take place this year in Athens, as it was decided last November within the framework of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Tunis.

The most probable date will be between the end of October and the beginning of November, which will be decided at the beginning of March by officials of the WSIS and the UNO, after contacts with the parties involved are completed. However, in the consultation summit, that took place in mid February in Geneva (photo), the Greek delegation made an impressive appearance, describing the important preparations that have already taken place, both in terms of contacts, as well as with the creation of the organization’s website (http://www.igfgreece2006.gr/), through which information of the world public opinion on this important matter is attempted.

It is reminded that in Tunis, a compromise had been achieved with great difficulty in regards to the matter of the administration of the Internet, which would allow for now the current administrator (the non profitable organization ICANN, which is within jurisdiction of the American ministry of Commerce) to maintain its role, controlling domain names and address registers. However, the future of this practice will b examined by the participants to the 1st (which may also be the only, given the thorny nature of the matter...) World Forum of Athens.

So, its importance is great, particularly if the Presidency of the Forum is assigned to Greece, as is accustomed in such occasions...

However, the United States do not intend to relinquish their historical acquis on the Internet, which they have had for decades, while their view on the Forum of Athens is that it is just a multilateral process with no actual authority, within the framework of which much will be discussed, without binding anyone...