L2/03-011 ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC22 Programming languages, their environments and system software interfaces Secretariat: U.S.A. (ANSI) ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC22 N3540 TITLE: Canadian National Body Comments Received following the Issuance of SC 22 N3533 DATE ASSIGNED: 2003-01-14 SOURCE: Canadian National Body BACKWARD POINTER: N/A DOCUMENT TYPE: National Body Contribution PROJECT NUMBER: N/A STATUS: Per the request of the Canadian NB, these subsequent comments are circulated for information. ACTION IDENTIFIER: FYI DUE DATE: DISTRIBUTION: Text CROSS REFERENCE: SC 22 N3533 DISTRIBUTION FORM: Def Address reply to: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC22 Secretariat Matt Deane ANSI 25 West 43rd Street New York, NY 10036 Telephone: (212) 642-4992 Fax: (212) 840-2298 Email: mdeane@ansi.org ___end cover page, beginning of document_____- The following comment was intended to be included with Canada's affirmative vote to ISO/IEC/JTC1/SC22 N3499. We submit it now in the hope that it influences the work of ISO/IEC/JTC1/SC22/WG20. We are deeply troubled by the divide which has occurred in setting a direction and agenda for WG20. Work on this WG has been hampered by distinctly different attitudes toward the approaches needed to meet WG20's objectives, and even on the objectives itself, exacerbated by extreme difficulty in compromising. Unfortunately, the proposed convenor has been caught in some of these difficulties. Since the SC22 plenary when the proposed convenor's appointment was first proposed by the US delegation, the proposed convenor has given us undertakings that he will work diligently to find harmony within WG20 and to promote and progress its work as mandated by SC22. We are content with these undertakings and unreservedly approve the nomination of Mr. Whistler. We would like to add a note of caution, however, to all participants in WG20. The work of WG20 is vitally important to ISO/IEC's strategic directions of cultural and linguistic adaptability. ISO/IEC through SC22 and WG20 must play an active and proactive role in working with ISO/IEC SC's and WG's to support CLAUI, and must also work well with outside organizations to make sure that they are sensitized to the very real needs of the world communities as seen by ISO/IEC. We urge all participants in WG20 to work together toward common goals.