Interview of Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency) and Novinite.bg with Rod Beckstrom, President and CEO of ICANN, author and high-tech entrepreneur.

Beckstrom previously served as Director of the US National Cyber Security Center. Prior to that Beckstrom was Chairman and Chief Catalyst of TWIKI.NET, a company which supports TWiki, an open source wiki. He is co-author of the best-selling book The Starfish And the Spider.

Beckstrom was in Bulgaria in November 2011, his first ever visit in the capacity of ICANN chief, for meetings with the Bulgarian government and Internet community.

Has this been your first visit in Bulgaria? What were your activities in Sofia?

This is my second time in Bulgaria actually. Last time I was in Sofia was 27 years ago – 1984. Incredible contrast!

It’s great to see the remarkable progress that Bulgaria has made! Sofia is a very different city now from what it was.

It’s really wonderful to be back, and an honor to meet President Georgi Parvanov and the Deputy Minister of Transport, IT and Communications Valeri Borisov, and other leaders.

We were in Bulgaria to communicate about the new generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) program – about the opening up of the right of dot on the Internet, and also to enhance our relations with the Bulgarian Internet community, government leadership, civil society, and companies.

We’ve been able to do all of that in 24 hours, which has been great thanks to the good contacts of our representative for the country Veni Markovski.

The Bulgarians are still trying to get approval for badly desired Bulgarian Cyrillic Internet domain – .?? , even though it was rejected for looking too similar to Brazil’s .br. From you point of view – how does this Bulgarian aspiration seem – that is, to get this particular domain name? Is it irrational? Would you advise the Bulgarians to go for something else?

I would advise the Bulgarians to go for something else. The initial application for .?? was unsuccessful.

The job of ICANN, the organization, is to implement the policies that are developed by the global communities. Those communities did not allow the initial application to go through because of potential visual confusion. So I think the Bulgarians can go back and they can choose what they want to apply for.

The Bulgarians can apply for a three-character name, they can apply for .???????? in Cyrillic, it’s really up to the local community.

It’s great to see how much the local community cares; the Bulgarian government has been involved in our policy-making and what we call the Government Advisory Committee but we are hoping that even more people from Bulgaria – users and companies – will get involved in ICANN to help shape the policies in the future that they want to see.

Deputy Minister Valeri Borisov said Bulgaria can go for the long procedure  – whatever that really means. What are Bulgaria’s chances of getting .???

There is going to be a round-table discussion in Sofia on January 4, 2012, where the community will get together, perhaps with the Deputy Minister, and they can explore all different options.

There are at least three different options. One is to wait for the policies to change and to participate in changing policies, and to apply again.

The second possibility is to come up with another string (i.e. domain name extensions – editor’s note) – whether it’s three characters, or .???????? in full or something – that’s the second choice.

The third choice is to abandon the concept and move on to other ideas – some new gTLD, for example. So it’s really up to the community in Bulgaria to make those decisions.

What we at ICANN will do is we will administer any process that’s been approved by the Board professionally and fairly. And, by the way, Bulgaria was not the only applicant who had their string turned down because of visual confusion. There were others as well.

Have the others been better at coping with this issue?

With many applicants there was no problem because there wasn’t any confusion. For example, with the United Arab Emirates – it’s a long name of Arabic characters, and there is no confusion with anything.

They passed that test successfully. So 30 different IDNs (i.e. internationalized domain names – editor’s note) are already in the Internet.

There’s been talk about domain names such as .?????, .??????? in Cyrillic. Would you say these would be of any use? What would be their benefits from your point of view?

It’s not for ICANN to judge the benefits, it’s our job to open up the Internet domain name system to innovation. So if there is a good and qualified application that can make it through all the rules, then, yes, it would be possible to create something like .?????. But it’s up to the applicant to the decide whether they think that makes sense for users here, and whether they have a business model that can work.

Since you mentioned the IDNs – how is the process for their adoption going? The past 20 years things were pretty straightforward – globalization – Internet – the English language – the Latin alphabet. How are the IDNs going to change the Internet in the wider context?

I think it’s just important to people of the world that they have the opportunity to create domain names totally in their local script. So it’s very popular – both in concept and in utilization – and we are really pleased now to see Chinese, Arabic, and so many other characters.

We just approved seven different scripts for India because they have so many languages there. It’s a very much appreciated program.

We understand people in Bulgaria are disappointed. We are disappointed, too. But we have to enforce the rules of the Internet for stability and security that are developed by the global community.

From your point of view – with the advent of Web 3.0, the so called semantic web – what is the Internet going to look like in 5 or 10 years?

Ten years ago I didn’t see Facebook coming, I didn’t see Twitter coming. I think what we’re going to have is more surprises and more innovations. I hope we see some exciting new products and services coming out of Bulgaria.

I have a new application on my phone that’s one of my favorite apps. It came from Lebanon. It’s a 360-degree panoramic photo tool. So there is innovation coming from all over the world. I think that will be one of the trends in the next 10 years.

You are one of the top experts on cyber security. There is this constant talks about how bid a deal cyber security is. But at the same time there haven’t been really apocalyptic events caused by breaches of cyber security – no wars have been started, for example.

There have been big losses in Europe when carbon credit was stolen. I think it was worth EUR 30 M. That’s a real crime.

But that’s not like starting a war, and the other day we didn’t see Facebook being taken down by the Anonymous hackers. So how much of an issue is that going to be?

Mankind invented credit cards in the 1950s, and then mankind invented credit card fraud in the 1950s, and we’ve been having a battle with it ever since. You know that here in Bulgaria, where it is an issue, as it is everywhere in the world, so it doesn’t go away.

My one prediction is that cyber security problems are not going to go away. And I do think it is a different level because there is more than just finances at stake. There are more industrial, power, and finances systems, and more dams and factories that get completely networked.

The vulnerabilities are increasing so I think it is an issue for all of us to work on, and the only answer is better international collaboration.

We were pleased to see yesterday at the Domain Forum that that some of the Bulgarian law enforcement came; for example, Yavor Kolev was there. They are very active and working with partners around the world, and are very respected.

What are some ways in which the Bulgarian Internet community and public can get involved with ICANN?

That is a great question. Please join our community. Any user who has Internet access can join the Internet Society chapter in Bulgaria that is active in the ICANN community. It’s part of what we call “at large.” They have a voice in policy making.

Also, we have three big public meetings every year. We just met in Senegal. Our next meeting is in Costa Rica but the one after that is near Bulgaria, it’s in Prague. In June 2012, we have our public meeting there. We will probably have 1 500 people from around the world. It’s free. Anyone from Bulgaria or elsewhere who wants to go and raise their voice, can go to Prague, and join us. We would love to have them.

The Bulgarian government and country code operators will already be there, some members of the Internet Society will be there.

There is a program – ICANN Fellow – and its very close. That’s the time for Bulgarians to apply for fellowships from ICANN.

And if you don’t want to go to Prague or Costa Rica, you can always participate in our programs online because we are open. People can post their questions and comments right online during the discussions.

ICANN is uniquely open. Any person on the planet can come to an ICANN meeting, walk up to a microphone, and share their opinions on Internet policies.

The injury that Manchester United‘s Bulgarian  forward Dimitar Berbatov picked up during his team’s unfortunate game against Crystal Palace on Wednesday is not as grave as initially believed, Sir Alex Ferguson has announced.

“Berbatov’s injury isn’t serious,” Ferguson  has said, as cited by the Red Devils’ official website.

“He got injured the week before. We’ve been getting a few injuries but it happens. At the moment, we’re going through a spell where we’re getting a few a week but we have to get on with it.”

Berbatov is to miss this weekend’s match at Aston Villa due to the ankle injury he sustained against the Eagles, but he is not expected to be away for a longer period.

The Bulgarian striker still struggles to find his way back into Manchester United‘s starting 11, as he faces tough competition from the likes of Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez.

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Bulgarian Christian Orthodox mark Monday the Day of Saint Sava or Sabbas.

St. Sabbas was born in 439. He is a Cappadocian-Greek monk, priest and saint, who lived mainly in Palestine. He was the founder of several monasteries, most notably the one known as Mar Saba.

In Bulgarian folklore Sava is the brother Saint Varvara, who is honored the day before and Saint Nikola, honored on December 6, called in Bulgaria “Nikulden.” Sava is presented as the best from the three siblings, always walking behind Varvara, asking her to not drop ice from her sleeve on the fields.

Varvara and Sava are also said to be the ones to prepare the “Nikulden” celebration. According to a Bulgarian proverb, Varvara is cooking, Sava is baking while Nikola is treating guests with food.

22 tons of yellow cheese (kashkaval) past its sell-by date have been delivered to an incineration plant by the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BABH).

Laboratory tests have confirmed that the dairy product is unfit for consumption due to the advanced stages of milk fat oxidation, according to BABH’s statement.

The yellow cheese is owned by the Bulgarian State Agency State Reserve and War-time Stocks which the government ordered closed in early November.

Finance Minister Simeon Djkankov explained the step with the fact that the state agency had a staff of 600 and its shutdown would save an estimated BGN 80-90 M.

Under the changes, peacetime reserves are to be transferred to the Interior Ministry and war-time stocks to the Defense Ministry and an Executive Agency for Oil and Oil Products with a total headcount of 39 is to be established at the Transport Ministry.

BABH did not disclose further details about the spoiled food.

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The Bulgarian Parliament will vote on second reading Wednesday and Thursday legislation relating to Bulgaria’s state budget for 2012.

Prior to that, the Bulgarian government had agreed with trade unions not to up the retirement age before 2021, and had signed an agreement with representatives of farmers regarding much larger subsidies than those stipulated in the draft budget 2012.

Key figures in Bulgaria’s draft budget for 2012, as defended by Minister of Finance Simeon Djankov, include a deficit of 1.35% of GDP, growth of 2.9%, and inflation of 2%.

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They insisted on a meeting with Borisov and his Deputy, Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, but did not get a positive response.

Meanwhile, the demonstrators, represented by the National Grain Producers Association, were invited to meet with Agriculture Minister, Miroslav Naydenov, but declined the invitation on the grounds he is not authorized to sign any decisions.

The Association’s Chair says – one the invitation came too late and two – people have trust only in Borisov’s words.

The grain producers demand adherence to the financial agreement signed by the cabinet in September, immediate lift on excise on fuel they use and Djankov’s and Naydenov’s resignations. They vowed to stage a new protest Wednesday. Their permit expires at 10 pm the same day, when they have to leave the city.

Meanwhile, Naydenov confirmed that the cabinet remains unwavering in not giving in to the grain producers in their demands for more funding, saying he favored their sector for a long time, and now is “enjoying the results of it.”

“They will receive what is slated in the budget – this is what we can do now; I wish it was more too. If we show weakness and yield to the pressure – we will have a domino effect,” the Minister stressed.

He appealed to the protesting farmers to act reasonably and stop the rallies, saying as a citizen and father, he wants Bulgarians to have on the table not only grain, but meat, fruits and vegetables.

Naydenov explained that the Association of Grain Producers first asked to meet at 9 am; then said it was too early and asked for 11 am, and then changed it to 2 pm, and finally were the only ones from the farming sector, who failed to show up.

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The Polish EU Presidency has stated Tuesday it backs the initiative of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy to forge new rules to secure the financial stability of the EU.

Poland, who is EU‘s rotational presiding member state until the end of 2012, will back all efforts to rescue the eurozone, said Polish PM Donald Tusk at a press conference in Warsaw.

“This can be done either by a new EU Treaty, which we favor, or by an intergovernmental agreement, which we view as less effective but quicker,” said Tusk.

According to the proposal, innovation may come either as amendments to the existing EU Treaties, or in a new agreement among the 17 member states of the eurozone.

The two key EU leaders agreed to propose automatic penalties for countries that exceed European deficit limits, as well as the creation of a monetary fund for Europe.

Merkel and Sarkozy also said they would prefer the treaty changes to be agreed upon by all 27 EU countries, but that they may consider a smaller number of countries to go ahead with the changes.

Amendments are expected to run along 4 main lines: stricter requirements for fiscal discipline to be embedded in amendments to EU Treaties; a boosting of the current bailout fund, the European Financial Stability Facility, to 2-3 times its current balance; a tranche of money from the IMF to augment the bailout fund; and a political mandate for the European Central Bank to keep buying debt from Italy and Spain.

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The EU member states showing a better fiscal discipline should be motivated with bonuses, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov proposed during a meeting with his Danish counterpart.

The block’s best performers in terms of fiscal stability could receive more EU funds during the next program period and could spend less on co-financing EU projects, the Bulgarian Prime Minister has proposed.

“What went wrong in the European cooperation is that not all countries abided by the rules,” Danish Prime Minister Helle Thoring-Schmidt stated during her meeting with Borisov on Monday, as cited by dnevnik.bg.

Thoring-Schmidt declared she was pleased with the fact that Bulgaria is keeping the rules and taking the right decisions despite not being among the richer EU countries.

Also on Monday, the Danish Prime Minister said that she firmly supported Bulgaria and Romania’s Schengen bids and hoped that the two countries would join the agreement during Denmark‘s EU presidency.

Denmark is working very actively in support of Bulgaria’s Schengen accession bid, according to Thoring-Schmidt.

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Denmark firmly supports Bulgaria and Romania‘s Schengen bids and hopes that the two countries would join the agreement during its EU presidency, Danish PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt has said.

“Bulgaria and Romania have met the requirements for joining the Schengen Agreement; we should stimulate them by accepting them in Schengen. If someone has abided by the rules, they should proceed to the next level,” Thorning-Schmidt has declared, as cited by the Bulgarian BGNES news agency.

Denmark is working very actively in support of Bulgaria‘s Schengen accession bid, according to the Danish Prime Minister.

On Monday, Thorning-Schmidt met with her Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borisov in the Balkan country’s capital Sofia.

The Netherlands remains the last Schengen state to strictly oppose Bulgaria‘s phased-in accession to the agreement after Finland softened its position in mid-November. Finland now says it would accept a phased-in solution for the Balkan country if it sees a positive Cooperation and Verification Mechanism interim report at the beginning of 2012.

Bulgaria and Romania were initially planned to join the Schengen Area in the spring of 2011, but their entry was opposed by France and Germany, which also voiced objections relating not to technical criteria, but rather to corruption and organized crime.

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The fact that some EU countries still impose restrictions on access to their labor market for Bulgarian citizens means only one thing: that these people will spend more time there working illegally.

The conclusion is part of the “Bulgarian Labor Migration: Do Restrictions Make Sense” report of the Open Society Institute – Sofia published by Capital daily on Monday.

The study conducted by OSI–Sofia indicates that Spain, Germany, Italy, Greece and the United Kingdom have been the main recipient countries for Bulgarian emigrants in the European Union over the past 10–15 years.

The list of the most popular destinations for migrant workers from Bulgaria includes countries which lifted labor restrictions in 2007, like Spain, as well as others, like Germany, which will keep the limitations in force for the maximum possible period, until 2014.

According to the survey, there has been no difference in the flow of Bulgarian migrants to Spain and Germany after Bulgaria’s accession to the EU on January 1, 2007.

The report of the Sofia-based think tank suggests that the appeal of emigration has been gradually declining for Bulgarians due to the fact that its unemployment rate is now comparable to Western European levels.

At the same time, OSI-Sofia notes that differences in income have decreased: in the 1990s per capita income in Western Europe was 4 times higher than that in Bulgaria, while one decade later this ratio is 2.5 measured by purchasing power parity.

The study identifies hotel and tourism, domestic work, care serv­ices, construction and trade as the main employment sectors for Bulgarian labor emi­grants.

The think-tank also notes that 2009 interviews with Bulgarian workers in the United Kingdom highlight agriculture as another important start-up sector.

OSI-Sofia also compares statistics on remit­tances received in Bulgaria,EUR 596.8 M, and FDI data, EUR 534.5 M, as recorded by the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) for the period January-September.

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