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Commonwealth Summit could be postponed
Australian foreign affairs minister Alexander Downer said on Sunday the commonwealth heads of government meeting in Brisbane in 12 days could be postponed.
Australian foreign affairs minister Alexander Downer said on Sunday the commonwealth heads of government meeting in Brisbane in 12 days could be postponed.
Speculation over the October 6-9 summit is mounting with the United States about to start its war on terrorism.
Leaders such as British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien would be expected to stay at home rather than travel halfway around the world. “I think there'd be a point where the CHOGM could be postponed, if a large number of prime ministers decided that they couldn't come because of the war on terrorism, Downer told a news channel.
However, CHOGM organisers said Canadian government officials were still planning to come.
There is never any deadline and technically they could pull out at the last minute, CHOGM spokesman Andrew Reynolds said. “I think it will go ahead”. And Downer said there was no hint yet that Blair would withdraw as a result of his close involvement with the US war on terrorism.
“We don't have any indication that he's not going to come,” Downer said.
Other prime ministers and heads of government are still coming. So far, we haven't had any cancellations by heads of government as a result of the attack on America. Downing said the CHOGM would be a good opportunity to get a large number of countries together to focus on the issue.
Bureau Report
Leaders such as British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien would be expected to stay at home rather than travel halfway around the world. “I think there'd be a point where the CHOGM could be postponed, if a large number of prime ministers decided that they couldn't come because of the war on terrorism, Downer told a news channel.
However, CHOGM organisers said Canadian government officials were still planning to come.
There is never any deadline and technically they could pull out at the last minute, CHOGM spokesman Andrew Reynolds said. “I think it will go ahead”. And Downer said there was no hint yet that Blair would withdraw as a result of his close involvement with the US war on terrorism.
“We don't have any indication that he's not going to come,” Downer said.
Other prime ministers and heads of government are still coming. So far, we haven't had any cancellations by heads of government as a result of the attack on America. Downing said the CHOGM would be a good opportunity to get a large number of countries together to focus on the issue.
Bureau Report