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News :: Miscellaneous |
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IMF/WB/G20 moved to Ottawa Nov. 16-20 |
Current rating: 0 |
by The Toronto Star
(No verified email address) |
17 Oct 2001
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We've only got a month let's get going |
The Toronto Star Oct. 17, 03:57 EDT Canada to host global meetings: Martin OTTAWA (CP) Despite very short notice, Canada will host a major global gathering of international finance ministers next month, Finance Minister Paul Martin announced Wednesday.
As well, leaders of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, whose meetings were cancelled last month amid security concerns, will be invited to the Ottawa meeting, Martin told a news conference.
He played down security concerns around the Nov. 16-20 meetings of the Group of 20 countries, which represent 88 per cent of the world's economic output and 60 per cent of the world's poor.
India was scheduled to host the G-20 meetings, but formally backed out last week amid the escalating war in the region following the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the United States.
Martin said Canada stepped in to show that terrorism cannot be allowed to prevent world bodies from continuing their normal activities.
"In the wake of Sept. 11, it is more vital than ever that we continue our work on the world stage," Martin, currently head of the G-20, said.
"These meetings will help create the conditions for global prosperity. They will also broaden the fight against terrorism.
"We cannot and we will not allow terrorist attacks to bring the world to a halt."
Fighting terrorist funding around the globe will be on the agenda, along with solutions to global poverty and seeking ways to help economies ride out the current downturn.
Officials could not say how many delegates are expected from the 19 other countries involved in the G-20 or from the other global bodies.
The International Monetary and Financial Committee of the IMF and the Development Committee of the IMF and World Bank which were originally scheduled to meet Sept. 28 and 29 in Washington have said they will attend next month's meetings, Martin said.
Security shouldn't be a concern, he added.
Less than two weeks ago, Ottawa played host to a meeting of NATO leaders without incident.
"We have discussed it extensively with the security authorities and everybody has assured me that those matters are well in hand," Martin said. |
See also:
http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=75514&group=webcast
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