By NAOMI KOPPEL Associated Press Writer
GENEVA (AP) - The World Trade Organization (news - web sites) said Tuesday it was going ahead with a meeting of ministers in Qatar despite suggestions to move it to Singapore for security reasons.
Hong Kong Ambassador Stuart Harbinson, who chairs the WTO's general council, told a meeting of the heads of delegations the decision to go to the capital of the Gulf state, Doha, still stood and could not be changed unless all 142 members agreed.
The Geneva-based trade body has insisted for weeks that the meeting will go ahead Nov. 9-13 despite the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks against the United States and the U.S. military reprisals against Afghanistan (news - web sites).
WTO officials have stressed that the trade conference and hoped-for new round of talks to reduce barriers to imports and exports will send a much-needed signal of reassurance at a time of global economic gloom.
The Qatari government was to meet Wednesday to discuss prospects for the meeting, Sheik Fahed Awaid, the Qatari ambassador, said Tuesday. ``It's up to the government to decide, but we are committed,'' he said.
Singapore emerged as an alternative site at a meeting of trade ministers there last weekend. The city state said it would be able to host a small-scale conference.
Singapore hosted a WTO ministerial conference in December 1996 - the first since the body was formed in January 1995.
Arab countries have been hit by demonstrations since American forces began airstrikes on Oct. 7 to punish Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia for not turning Osama bin Laden (news - web sites), the prime suspect in the attacks in the United States.
Reaction to the airstrikes has been muted in Qatar, and the country has stopped issuing visas to visitors until Nov. 15 to help keep out troublemakers.
But this has not allayed security jitters about the meeting. European Union (news - web sites) Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy said Tuesday it was ``no secret'' that Qatar is ``in the vicinity of the war zone.''
The decision to move the meeting to Singapore would be a major blow to the Qatar government. The small but wealthy U.S. ally planned to open two new hotels to host some of the 4,500 visitors. It has expanded its airport, laid new asphalt on major roads and planted flowers across the capital.
Canadian Ambassador Sergio Marchi said it was vital that a meeting take place somewhere, even if it could not be in Doha.
``I would hope that we don't miss this opportunity and miss this moment, whether it is in Qatar or whether it is elsewhere, because a successful launch by the WTO is a very positive signal that we can send to the world,'' he said.:
