Qatar insists WTO to meet in Doha

Robert Evans, Reuters, Geneva

Qatar's ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) insisted on Tuesday that his country was committed to hosting a key ministerial meeting next month despite strong suggestions that it would be moved.

And other envoys -- as well as WTO officials -- declined to discuss with reporters the possibility of a switch because of tensions in the Middle East that was raised at a gathering of trade ministers in Singapore at the weekend.

"Its up to my government to decide, but we are committed to host," the Qatari envoy, Sheikh Fahed Awaid al-Thani, said as he emerged from an informal meeting of heads of delegations to the WTO which heard a report on the Singapore discussions.

He confirmed that a meeting of the Qatari cabinet would take place on Wednesday at which the ministerial, due to take place from Nov. 9-13 and on preparations for which the Gulf state has already spent some US$25 million, would be discussed.

"By the end of the week we are expecting to hear a decision," the ambassador added.

Trade sources said he went further during the WTO session, telling other envoys to the 142-member body that everything was ready for the conference and that it would be held in Qatar.

The sources said WTO Director-General Mike Moore told the session the Qatari authorities had done an excellent job in preparing for the gathering, where the big powers hope to launch a new round of global free trade talks.

The sources also quoted WTO General Council chairman Stuart Harbinson, ambassador of Hong Kong, as saying that a decision early last year on the timing and venue of the ministerial remained "the situation today".

Canada's ambassador, Sergio Marchi, asked about suggestions of a switch to Singapore or another location less directly touched by the U.S. bombing of Afghanistan, said: "Till further notice, we go to Qatar."

In Brussels, European Union Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy said the meeting, which will also approve China's entry to the WTO, was still due to take place in Qatar "for the moment".

There was no fresh comment from the United States, which launched its attacks in Afghanistan in pursuit of Saudi exile Osama bin Laden, who it accuses of masterminding the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington.

But U.S. officials have pointed to a statement from Trade Representative Robert Zoellick in Malaysia on Monday in which he said threats from allies of bin Laden against foreigners had to be taken into account.

Trade diplomats in Geneva make little secret in private that they hope the Qatari authorities will themselves recognize that security concerns could lead many delegations to stay away even if the meeting goes ahead in Doha, and offer to withdraw.

But most say it is vital to have a meeting on the set dates in the hope of launching a round -- which Canada's Marchi argued on Tuesday would be "a very positive signal" at a time when dark clouds hang over the global economy.