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Chile says it's interested in hosting WTO meeting
Wednesday, December 6, 2000
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
GENEVA -- Chile said Wednesday it is interested in hosting the next World Trade Organization conference, but asked for more time to make its bid.
In a letter posted on the WTO website, Chilean Ambassador Alejandro Jara Puga said his government was "seriously considering" proposing the capital Santiago as host for the meeting, which has to take place before the end of next year.
Volunteers to host the meeting have been few and far between since the anti-globalization riots during the last meeting in Seattle a year ago. Some 600 people were arrested and the city reported $3 million in property damage.
So far, only Qatar has officially applied to host the meeting, but there have been concerns that the Persian Gulf state lacks the facilities for the thousands of politicians, diplomats and journalists expected to attend.
Last week, Qatar's government said it would moor cruise ships in the harbor of the capital, Doha, to increase the number of hotel rooms available to 4,440. The WTO has said 6,000 are needed.
The WTO general council was expected to make a decision this week, during its final session of the year. But Jara said he could not confirm Santiago's candidacy until next week because Chile is waiting for the results of a WTO technical visit to Chile to check out the facilities.
He said his government still had to consider the "financial aspects of hosting an event on this scale."
WTO Director-General Mike Moore visited Chile last month as part of a tour of five Latin American countries.
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