Five finance ministers will not attend G20 meeting
[how can much of anything be resolved without Japan? mish]
Friday, November 19, 2004 4:37:04 PM
afxpress.com
BERLIN (AFX) - The finance ministers of five countries due to participate in the Group of 20 meeting opening here late Friday will not be attending, turning the G20 into more of a G15, a German finance ministry spokesman said
The ministers who have cancelled their appearance are Roberto Lavagna of Argentina, Nicolas Sarkozy of France, Sadakazu Tanigaki of Japan, Alexei Kudrin of Russia and Lee Hun-jai of South Korea, the spokesman said
All had been kept away by various engagements in their countries, he said. The French minister Sarkozy will be represented by the director of Treasury and economic policy, Xavier Muscat
Fourteen other wealthy and emerging countries, and the European Union, will be represented at the finance ministerial level at the annual G20 meeting to discuss financial issues
Those 14 countries are: Australia, Britain, Brazil, Canada, Germany, China, India, Italy, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey and the United States
The G20 delegations were gathering for a private opening dinner Friday night at a Berlin hotel. Working sessions will be held Saturday and Sunday
Issues linked to foreign exchange market volatility, particularly the weak dollar, were not on the agenda but were expected to be discussed on the sidelines
The high oil price also was expected to dominate the talks |
