WEF to focus on globalisation challenges in Davos meet

GENEVA, Jan 20: Some of the world's leading movers and shakers gather in the Swiss resort of Davos from January 27-February 1 to ponder the challenges of globalisation in the 21st century, reports AFP.

But leaders of the World Economic Forum (WEF) are quick to dispel comparisons with last month's World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial conference in Seattle, which failed spectacularly amid violent demonstrations.

While ministers focused on launching a new round of trade liberalisation discussions at the WTO conference, the annual meeting of the WEF differs in its objective, philosophy and organisation, WEF Managing Director Claude Smadja said.

Key figures from the worlds of business and politics, as well as media leaders, academic experts and leaders of civil society will gather in Davos for "open, multi-faceted dialogue," Smadja said.

Under the theme of "New Beginnings: Making a Difference," the 30th annual meeting of the WEF will count among its main topics the future of the globalisation process and how to make it "more inclusive."

Other themes will include the impact of information technology and biotechnology, the geo-political picture including the role of US, the quality of life and society and the economic outlook.

Some 650 representatives of the media will be reporting on the form's activities in the small Alpine resort with some of the major sessions being webcast, and more than 15 non-governmental organisations would take part "very actively as fully-fledged participants," he added.

"The situation and the difference is very simple and this is why we expect a very successful annual meeting," Smadja told reporters.

However, comparisons to Seattle are unavoidable as demonstrators gear up for making their anti-globalisation voice heard in Davos, even if not to the degree the protests rocked the Seattle meeting.

With guest including United States President Bill Clinton and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, the president of the parliament in the eastern Swiss canton (state) of Graubunden, where Davos is situated, requested the help of the Swiss army - a move Bern accepted Tuesday.

Some 70 soldiers will help guard bridges, tunnels and power stations in Davos.

On Sunday, police said they suspected activists hostile to the WTO were behind an attack using fireworks on a congress centre in Davos.

But Smadja pointed out the importance to the WEF to uphold the 'Davos spirit' of reconciling the concern for maximum security while protecting the gathering's informality and the "atmosphere that we consider essential for the success of the discussion in Davos."

From January 27 until February 1, the forum will bring together 1,200 top business leaders, 300 political leaders 300-400 academic experts and leaders of civil society, as well as 30 heads of state or government.

Participants also include Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair, Colombian President Andres Pastrana, Abdurrahman Wahid, president of Indonesia, and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Acting Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend, although he was invited.

"As far as we know there was never any confirmation that he would attend," Smadja said, adding they suspected Putin's dual capacity as head of government and state would make it "extremely difficult if not impossible" from a constitutional point of view to leave the country.

Among the business leaders will be Bill Gates of Microsoft and Steve Case of AOL, while NGOs will include representatives from Greenpeace International, friends of the Earth and Human Rights Watch.

President and founder of the WEF Klaus Schwab said he felt "offended" by comments that the Seattle meeting had been "a trigger" for inviting NGOs to Davos.

NGOs had been invited since the first year of the WEF, with more than 15 NGOs due to come this year and most having been invited in the Spring and Autumn, he said.