IYCC Conference Call(3)
2000/1/1 21:00
Conference Call Between
Y2K National Coordinators
Time: 20:00 1 January 2000
Venue: Operation Room, B1F
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Participants from Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Mexico, Morocco, the Gambia, the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Commission, Chile, the energy sector, World Bank, and the United Nations were present.
Bruce McConnell asked participants if there were any serious incidents to report resulting from Y2K, to which all participants responded negatively. Countries that had recently rolled over were asked to provide reports on their Y2K status.
The Y2K coordinator from Chile responded that there were no serious problems to report and that monitoring would continue until 4 January. The Y2K coordinator from Mexico reported that a smooth transition had been achieved and that all services were operating as normal. The United States Y2K coordinator stated that a smooth transition had been achieved. A minor problem was being experienced by a weather station in Washington State, but no other problems had been reported.
Mr. McConnell then asked for reports from the rest of the world and if any countries had any new information to report. National Y2K coordinator Kaoru Ishikawa responded that there was nothing further to report and that non- Y2K related incidents have now also been dealt with. Korea, Bulgaria and the Netherlands had nothing further to report, but monitoring will continue until the return to work.
The Y2K coordinator from the Gambia apologized for missing the first conference call, but affirmed that no disruptions have occurred in the Gambia. When questioned by Mr. McConnell regarding Gambia's Global Status Watch Report that some difficulty may be experienced in government services later in the month, the Y2K coordinator responded that the problem is one of hardware, but that efforts are being made to ameliorate any difficulties. Mr. McConnell said he would discuss the problem off line.
None of Morocco, the United Kingdom and the European Commission had anything further to report to the conference call. Mr. Taniguchi from the energy sector confirmed that in the energy sector in China there were no problems resulting from Y2K that had currently been reported.
Mr. McConnell then asked whether national monitoring centers would be kept open or whether a scaling back of operations would take place. The UK announced that its 24 hour monitoring will halt 24 hours early. The Netherlands and Japan announced that they would similarly be scaling back their monitoring activities. Bulgaria noted that monitoring would be continued until 4 January, particularly in the banking sector. Korea, Mexico and Morocco are maintaining their monitoring also. The European Commission has not yet discussed scaling back operations, but will remain vigilant.
Mr. McConnell reported that of 126 countries, 112 have submitted reports to the IYCC since the rollover and all of these reports have now been published on the Internet. The backlog that was being experienced in publishing information is now solved. Russia has yet to file a Global Status Watch Report.
Mr. McConnell asked for any other comments and then asked for a decision on the next conference call and its timing. He noted that now the public must be convinced that the global Y2K operation was worth all the trouble. In the United States, talks are already underway discussing the good points that have arisen from Y2K and how to counter criticisms that the operation was all a waste of money.
The Y2K coordinator from the European Commission brought up a recent report which states that three nuclear stations were shut down in the United States. The United States responded that the three shut downs were routine and although to shut down three stations is a high number in one day, it was stressed Y2K was not related to the shut downs, neither did they pose any threat to the public.
The Y2K coordinator for Korea noted that automatic weather observation system in Iowa and another incident were reported on CNN as being related to Y2K. The United States responded that indications were that all is working smoothly. Mr. McConnell stated that if the two reports proved to be Y2K related, a report would be circulated among all members.
Responding to a question asking for information about hackers or terrorism relating to Y2K, the United States responded that the situation is being monitored and there seems to be no difference from the normal level of activity. Nothing unusual has been noted.
On a note of caution, the Y2K coordinator from Chile noted that currently it is estimated that 70% of computers are off at the moment in Chile, so caution must be exercised upon the return to work on Monday. She noted that the estimate of 70% might not be very accurate, but it is important to bear in mind that further monitoring is necessary, particularly when everybody returns to work.
Concerning the timing of the next conference call, Mr. McConnell suggested that it be held after a significant amount of the business day had been concluded around the world. Mr. McConnell suggested that the next conference call take place 40 hours from the time of the current conference call. Mr. McConnell urged all participants to let the International Y2K Cooperation Center know if any change in status occurred between the current conference call and the next one, particularly upon the return to work.
It was confirmed that a meeting on 2 January, scheduled for 17:00 EST (US) will take place for those countries of a group who agreed to take requests from countries experiencing severe Y2K difficulties.
Finally, a change was made to the timing of the next conference call, which was amended to 11:00 GMT on 3 January, as it was decided that this time would give more countries more time to assess any effects arising from Y2K after the return to work in participating countries.
Mr. McConnell wished everyone a Happy New Year and ended the conference call.
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