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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Friends and Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>I invite you to read the below blog posts in Arabic and in English on next steps for the new ICANN Regional Engagement Strategy in the Middle East. Of note are the following two key points:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><ol style='margin-top:0cm' start=1 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>We are inviting regional stakeholders and those with interest in the region to apply for membership to the new Strategy Working Group (SWG). You need to fill out an EoI (attached in the blog) and send to <a href="mailto:meac.swg@icann.org">meac.swg@icann.org</a>. The deadline for applying is <b><span style='color:#C00000'>Thursday 27 September at 23.59 UTC</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>We will be holding two identical webinars on ICANN org's <a href="https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/strategic-plan-2021-2025-23jun19-en.pdf">Strategic Plan for FY21-25</a>;<o:p></o:p></span></li><ol style='margin-top:0cm' start=1 type=a><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Tuesday 17 September 2019 at 16.00 – 17.00 UTC [Webinar link - <a href="https://icann.zoom.us/j/143419486">https://icann.zoom.us/j/143419486</a>]; and<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Monday 23 September 2019 at 13.00 – 14.00 UTC [Webinar link - <a href="https://icann.zoom.us/j/825934701">https://icann.zoom.us/j/825934701</a>].<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol></ol><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Arabic Blog >> <a href="https://go.icann.org/2lFL7ra">https://go.icann.org/2lFL7ra</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>English Blog >> <a href="https://go.icann.org/2lFLstW">https://go.icann.org/2lFLstW</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>We look forward to receiving your applications, and to seeing you at one or both identical webinars.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Thank you,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Baher Esmat</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> and <b>Fahd Batayneh</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Global Stakeholder Engagement, Middle East<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>ICANN<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>