Holding Of Conference Of World Trade Organisation In Qatar Remains In Question

The holding of a conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at the level of ministers in Qatar from November 9-13 is still in question. As the RIA Novosti correspondent reports, a number of countries, among them the USA, Japan and Canada, are expressing grave concern over security of the participants in the forum whose list includes about 300 Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Economics and Ecology from 142 states, as well as more than 2,000 members of the official delegations. Singapore is being proposed as an alternative venue of the forum. The WTO General Council fears that many countries may refuse to participate in the conference in Doha, notwithstanding the Qatari authorities' assurances of absolute security. On Wednesday the representatives of the leadership of the WTO and Qatar must again discuss the situation and take the final decision.