Abstracts

The Internet - Technology Today

The Internet: Trends and Standards
Mr Micheal Rosner, Head, Department of Computer Science & AI, University of Malta
This presentation examines the relationship between a trend, that is, an unacknowledged but observable pattern of development within a technology, and an established norm, that is, full exploitation of that pattern on a national or international scale involving many different sectors of society.

The main thesis is that for a trend to attain the status of "normhood", standards must not only be defined, but must also be taken up in the sense that a significant proportion of stakeholders must invest in them.

The process of defining and establishing such standards can be lengthy. We will examine the case of Internet, which took some 25 years to transform from a trend to a norm. The Internet is special because its most essential characteristic is its universality, a quality that has emerged precisely from the global takeup of standards pitched at just the right level.

Internet technology has now arrived at a crossroads. New sub-technologies are emerging at such a rate that the Internet risks fragmentation. Mere definition of standards is only part of the solution, being a necessary but not sufficient condition for takeup.

The discussion will conclude with a presentation of the Semantic Web, an emerging framework consisting of a collection of ideas, standards and underlying technologies that together constitute a unifying trend with far-reaching consequences.

Multimedia and International Relations on the Web
Dr. Goran Jovanovic, Scientific Administrator, 
The Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva
The revolution of electronic media, the continuous flow of images and sound which bathes modern society, has opened up new perspectives to generate and diffuse social and political ideas worldwide. The audiovisual media and Internet thus contain the irreplaceable testimonies of our time. How can multimedia be used in international affairs in order to present individual, collective or institutional actors ? 

The Mobile Internet - Wireless Services
Mr Michael Darmanin, Head of Sales, Vodafone - Malta
The introduction of new data services will change the way individuals will  interact on their mobile phone . This will provide users with added content and service provision which ulitmately will lead to the integration of voice and data whilst on the move .The impact besides being economical  also takes into consideration commercial , legal ,and cultural barriers .

CFU - Content, Functionality and Usability: a website's success factors 
Mr Eduardo E. Gelbstein, Director, United Nations International Computing Centre
This paper will discuss the three factors that make a website valuable to its end users: Content, Functionality and Usability. It will also present some of the criteria generally acknowledged to be good practices as well as those which are seen as offences against the end user.

Webmasters and content producers face the challenge of formatting this information in a web-friendly way, maintaining links to other information and recognising the new life-cycle of information in electronic form.

Functionality in terms relevant to the needs of the diplomatic community, such as secure access, selective document dissemination, encryption, discussion forae and other interactive functionality that can be introduced to websites. A site's usability is dependent on whether it meets its users' expectations in terms of organisation, presentation and navigation.

Web Management in Governmental and International Organisations

Building .org - A Guide to creating successful Web sites for International organisations
Mr Micheal Olejarnik, Web Editor, Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
The presentation, based on a forthcoming book, will focus on the management of Web projects in international organizations.  The success of an international organization's Web sites often hinges on key management issues such as correctly defining responsibilities between departments, good content and information flow, proper development strategy.

Specifically the presentation will focus on: creating the right setup for a successful Website, choosing between outsourcing and in-house development, defining responsibilities, creating a development strategy, getting the right skills on board, determining the right content and the day-to-day management of a large organizational Web site.

OECD Website - User centred approach to online services and information
Mr Ian Hunter, Head of Network  Information Services Division, OECD 
The OECD's new website (http://www.oecd.org) which was launched in November 2001 shows the organisation's move towards its objectives of transparency, timeliness of information and customised service. The move away from strictly organisationally based information, the new portal offers its users access to the OECD knowledge base from several approaches. Various new features makes the site customisable to individual needs, whilst also offering a more general browsing facility for their documents database.
This presentation highlights the shift in approach towards meeting the needs of the user providing online services and information.

America's First Homepage: A Case Study of Whitehouse.Gov
Mr Declan McCullagh – Wired
Whitehouse.gov is one of the most popular government websites in the world, receiving over three million hits a day. As a high-profile symbol of the U.S. government, it is also one of the most frequently targeted by online vandals. Other U.S. federal websites stay reasonably constant after elections. Not whitehouse.gov, which changed hands at the moment President Bush took the oath of office last year. Bush's initial whitehouse.gov design was so inferior that, after much criticism, he was forced to relaunch it eight months later.

A comparative analysis of the websites of the 
Ministries of Foreign Affairs in the Balkans 
Prof. Vatroslav Vekaric, Director of the Institute of International Politics and Economics in Belgrade.
This paper will be analysing features of the websites of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs in Balkan countries. 

In view of the aspirations for southeast European countries to join the European Union, it will focus on whether they meet the "Copenhagen Criteria" for candidate countries to invest in institution building. Whereby, the Internet is being used to improve and modernise the diplomatic function and processes in these states.


Internet, Security and Diplomacy

Security Issues on the Internet - A Technical Overview
Dr Matthew Montebello, Lecturer, Department of Computer Science & AI, University of Malta
Increasingly, organizations are connecting to the Internet to establish a business and electronic commerce presence and to access information rapidly. When an organization's network is connected to the Internet without adequate security measures in place, it becomes vulnerable to attacks from external adversaries, unable to prevent many forms of undesirable access to its network, systems, and information assets. The risks include 

• loss of confidentiality of business information
• loss of availability of mission-critical services
• exposure of critical data
• legal liability
• vandalism of public information services

Available technologies provide effective tools to manage the organizational networks’ risk by providing access control mechanisms that can implement complex security policies.  Some of the most popular and widely employed techniques are:

• firewalls
• virtual private networks
• intrusion detection managers

This paper and presentation will be looking at the technicalities involved in these techniques together with a critique of their performance and of potential pitfalls.

Security and Assurance of Information Resources for Diplomatic Activities
Mr Jason Bellone, Head of the Information Security and Assurance Program of the WHO
The World Health Organization is knowledge- and information-intensive, with much of our success dependent on a "healthy" and reliable world-wide information and communications infrastructure. Information resources are integrated into the critical processes of its mission -- facilitating world-wide collaboration, disseminating public health information, and administering an efficient organization, to name a few. WHO worldwide operations currently make extensive use of, and are critically dependent on information and communications technologies. 

The increasing reliance on information systems calls for a strategic and operational effort to ensure the security and assurance of our valued resources. Information security and assurance, which deals with the protection of information, is therefore of enormous significance to the World Health Organization.

Inadequate information security and assurance is a substantial business risk that threatens not only important organizational assets, but also business processes critical to the continued operations of the organization itself. Therefore, information security and assurance policies, standards, guidance, procedures, and practices should become a cornerstone of all strategic and operational directions taken in the delivery of information services.


Information Security for Diplomats 
Mr Eduardo E. Gelbstein, Director, United Nations International Computing Centre
Information Security has been an issue ever since the invention of writing. The needs to prevent fraud, keep information confidential, ensure that information is not modified without authorisation, making sure that information can be made available when needed, etc all have a long and interesting history.

In 2001 there are over 400 million people connected to the Internet and information security are now confronted with many new issues of which cyber-terrorism is perhaps the one giving greatest concern.
This paper will contain the following:

• A description of the key concepts of information security, ranging from risk assessment to digital signatures and focusing on the various categories of threat to be addressed,

• Managing information security, challenges, processes and tools with emphasis on measures that members of the diplomatic community should take to ensure that their information security needs are not compromised,

• A comprehensive list of websites specialising in information security matters.
  
  

Internet, International Relations and Diplomacy

Legal and Political Issues in the Use of the Internet in Diplomacy
Prof. Dietrich Kappeler, Consultant, DiploProjects
The Internet and the use of email offers a fast new mode for communication which far out-strips the traditional channels in terms of speed and efficiency. This paper examines the validity of these new modes of communication in the arena of diplomacy and International relations, without the support of an appropriate legal framework to regulate it. Some of the most pressing of these issues which will be focused upon in this paper, can be grouped around the themes of accreditation, representation, and texts.

Internet as a Network for International Co-Operation
Mr Ian Hunter, Head of Network  Information Services Division, OECD 
The Internet has laid out a new and irreversible model for cross-border communication/exchange among all peoples. 
Countries cooperate with each other through many channels: bilateral, multilateral and specialised links - resulting into a complex grid of networks. To effectively support the many delicate phases of the "cooperation business", some of these networks must be well protected For most countries, the cost of developing and managing their own multilateral/multipurpose networks would be prohibitive - indeed, very few can afford it.

Increasingly, countries have forged international organisations to deliver cooperation on their behalf - they place these organisations at the centre of their networks. In the last 50 years, many international organisations have mastered the complexity of intergovernmental cooperation and have developed effective networks.
By exploiting the Internet, these organisations are best placed today to evolve their secretariats into e-highways and e-cross-roads for peace and cooperation. Eventually, countries and international organisations together could benefit enormously from sharing a common-purpose "Intergovernmental Cooperation Network". 
This paper explores how far we are from this idea and what could be the model for such a global network, what could it offer, and how could it operate. 


The Web as a pedestal for International Negotiations and Diplomacy: criteria and critique.
Dr Earle Taylor, Professor of Strategic Management, Public Policy and Entrepreneurship, 
University of Namibia
Virtually, the World Wide Web presents the ideal platform to conduct international negotiations and to foster and service bilateral and multilateral relations. Though ideal, use of the Web is far from being idyllic as its latent promise is consistently fraught with unfolding idiosyncrasies, and overwhelming interceptions from competing and conflicting interests. Thus, the potency of this avant-garde technology is substantially undervalued and will remain so until the complex issues of ownership, governance and control are settled and pragmatic schemes devised to permanently deal with concerns of fraud, privacy, openness, flexibility, duplicity, deceit, plagiarism, terrorism, security, corruptibility, and by no means least, technology and the digital divide. These anxieties are real and call for a matrix management mechanism for the web that is not currently in place and is not projected in the near future. Given the dynamism and sensitivity that embody modern trade, investment flows and bilateral decisions, full cognisance of the Web and its tremendous speed has to be prudently balanced by other considerations as autonomy, cost, cost effectiveness, security and stability (ACCESS). In this paper, I will identify, analyse and relate some compelling influences on the Web and the implications for management, especially toward the of global trade, investment and bilateral and multilateral negotiations and diplomacy. 


'The Role and Impact of the Internet in Conflict Resolution' 
Dr. Joel Peters, Senior lecturer, Department of Politics and Government, Ben Gurion University 
Much has been written on the impact of the Internet on the role of diplomacy and the functioning of the institutions of traditional diplomacy, namely embassies and foreign ministries. Similarly, attention has been drawn to how non-governmental organizations and transnational movements have used the Internet to promote their agendas. There has been, however, less attention on the impact of the Internet on the field of conflict resolution. This paper aims to fill that gap. Its focus is twofold. First it will look at how and in ways the conflict resolution community has sought to use the Internet to promote its goals and how the Internet may be used to promote and foster reconciliation amongst societies and communities in conflict. Second, drawing primarily (though not exclusively) from examples from the Arab-Israeli conflict, the paper will evaluate specific instances when the Internet has enabled dialogue to take place and it how has contributed and complemented efforts to bring about peace.


Internet and Negotiations
Mr. Jovan Kurbalija, Director, DiploProjects
Negotiation is as old as humanity; an essentially human activity which has not been substantially affected by technology at any point in the history of mankind. Will the Internet change negotiation? Or more concretely, can we negotiate via the Internet? The answer is yes: the Internet can be used for negotiation in certain situations. While face-to-face interaction will remain the primary form of negotiation, especially at the highest levels, negotiation via the Internet may be a more convenient method in the following situations: 

• Problems with negotiation venue and traveling. In some situations physical meetings are not possible or practical. For example, the most recent World Bank meeting, scheduled to take place in Barcelona, was held via the Internet due to the threats of protesters. After the 11th September and recent air-crashes there is increasing uneasiness about air-traveling. 
• Need to reduce "emotional noise" of direct contact. Usually the lack of emotion associated with Internet-based communication is considered a negative aspect. Emotions are often an important element of negotiations, guaranteeing a certain solidarity to agreements reached. Sometimes, however, negotiations can be too emotionally charged, creating an obstacle to their successful outcome. For example, in Dayton and Rambouillet proximity talks were used to avoid the delegations coming in direct contact. In certain situations, what is usually considered a disadvantage of Internet-based communication (lack of direct contact) could, paradoxically, become an advantage. 
• Need for stronger focus on text. Through the use of group editing functions of hypertext tools, negotiating parties can concentrate specifically on the text of an agreement. 
  

Internet & Negotiations - Experience of a Practitioner in Diplomacy
Dr Ernst Sucharipa, Director of the Diplomatic Academy Vienna 
This paper will be assessing the effectiveness of the Internet as an information tool for Ministries of Foreign Affairs, foreign missions and central authorities, from a practitioner’s view point. It will be considering the practical advantages and the challenges presented by the technology. The areas of special note will be: How websites serve as political and practical tools for missions and Ministries and how structures such as the intranet change the flow of information and authority within a Foreign Ministry.
Two examples of the use of technology will include an evaluation of the EU's COREU system as an example of information-sharing and decision-making tool and the Austrian Restitution negotiations as an example of negotiations over the Internet.

Web Management & Diplomacy

Websites as Instruments of Diplomacy
Prof. Dietrich Kappeler, Consultant, DiploProjects
Most countries have nowadays a national website with links to more specific websites for the government, individual ministries and governmental and sometimes non-governmental entities. Foreign ministries have on their website links to diplomatic missions and consular posts abroad, which also have their own websites. As far as diplomacy is concerned, certain diplomatic and consular functions can be centralised or at least centrally assisted by a proper use of websites. Thus information of governments, international institutions and individuals about the country, its institutions, its legal and economic system etc. can be made available over relevant websites. These sites can also provide information to the nationals in the country regarding its foreign policy institutions, goals and activities. Many consular functions could be fully taken over by websites. This applies in particular to forms that have to be filled for a number of purposes. Such forms could be made available on a website for downloading, electronic filling and return by e-mail.

What people expect from the sites of diplomatic missions ?
Mr. Stefano Baldi, Head of the Statistical Office at the Policy Planning Unit, 
Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Websites offer diplomats an extraordinary tool for communicating with the public. Diplomatic missions are able to offer information that is unique to their mission, fairly cost effectively. Diplomats therefore are having to consider websites as an essential tool for public diplomacy, and have to re-assess how they are communicating to their public. Do they know what their public want? 

This paper aims to give some hints on what elements should be considered in order to improve the impact of diplomatic websites. It will also analyse the possible ways of introducing greater interactivity in websites.


DiploWeb Methodology for Diplomatic Websites
Mr. Jovan Kurbalija, Director, DiploProjects
The DiploWeb-Management methodology comprises a combination of activities and techniques surrounding the planning, development and maintenance of websites. 
Web-management being a multidisciplinary activity which brings together technology, graphic design and information management. It is very often that "make or break" element of web-project is related to the successful interaction among different professional cultures (diplomats and IT-specialists). Thus our main focus is on this overlap between technology and diplomacy. Whilst there is no single way 'correct' way to develop and maintain a good website cannot be prescribed, some guidelines for web-management based on experience can draw one's attention to potential problems and pitfalls.

Winner of DiploAward 2001
Webmaster
This year, DiploProjects organised a competition for the best website in the diplomatic community. The aim of this competition was to promote web-culture and awareness among diplomats and diplomatic services. The award will be presented at the Web Management Conference. 

The evaluation process for the Award comprised of votes by website users, and assessments by a panel of experts will examine websites of diplomatic services to find those which best fulfil their objectives in disseminating relevant and up-to-date information to both the diplomatic community and the general public, effectively.
In evaluating selected websites, we considered the use of technology, the use of multimedia and graphics and the provision of adequate and timely information. We also took into account the needs identified by our users and the technical expectations of experts in the field.

The webmaster of the winning website will be invited to present their web management strategy and share their experiences in developing their site.


Virtual Embassies : Different Perspectives - Workshop Session
Amb. Kishan Rana, Mr Aldo Matteuci, Mr Jovan Kurbalija, Prof. Dietrich Kappeler
A panel of distinguished diplomats and other experts in the field will be introducing the idea of Virtual Embassies. In this workshop session the panel and participants will be encouraged to explore some aspects of the idea:

• What IS a virtual embassy? What IS NOT a virtual embassy?

• Is it feasible to create a virtual embassy (technologically, legally)?

• What would be the main advantages of a virtual embassy compared to a real one?

• What are the limits of virtuality in diplomacy? (e.g. importance of direct human contact, etc.

• Is there any specific advantage of virtual embassies for developing countries? Could a virtual embassy help overcome the digital divide ?