Qatar asserted on Thursday that all member countries in the World Trade Organization (WTO) would take part in the fourth conference in Doha between November 9-13, said reports.
It hinted Israel’s participation in the conference, said the Kuwaiti official news agency (KUNA).
Head of the organizing committee of the conference Sheikh Hamad bin Faisal Al Thani said at a news conference that all member countries in the WTO are entitled to take part in this conference according to international organizations laws.
He asserted the importance of separating the economic forums from politics and not to politicize the WTO conference.
Asked whether Israel’s participation would cause embarrassment to Qatar as being the chairman of the organization of Islamic conference, he said, "We must be frank towards this issue… This is an economic gathering and not political.” "This forum will be attended by economic experts and all Arab countries know the laws of the international economic congregations. It is not our right to extend invitations. The secretariat general of the WTO is the one entitled to do so,” he said.
He said that Qatar did not receive any objection from an Arab or Islamic country in this respect, adding that Syria and Iran in particular are not members in the WTO. He said that his country would take into consideration the reservations of the Arab and Islamic countries.
"Qatar is an Islamic and Arab country and this does not mean that Qatar refrains from organizing international gatherings,” he said. He said that his country would allow the organization to organize peaceful demonstrations opposing the conference.
Two previous WTO meetings were marred by anti-globalization protests. Qatar has pledged to ensure that the Doha meeting will go smoothly in security terms – Albawaba.com
