Expect tight security around the WTO buildings, but mainly at the CICG where the conference takes place

Several thousand in Geneva for WTO meeting, demonstration

Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The barriers were being readied in front of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Thursday 26 November along the lake road in Geneva, and security measures around the area began to move into place for the start of the Seventh Ministerial Conference Monday 30 November, with several thousand people expected to take part.

Hotels have little space, but for local residents the main sign of the global talks will be disrupted traffic.

Detours and road closings begin Saturday 28 November, when 3,000-5,000 demonstrators are expected to take part in an anti-WTO march that starts at 14:30 at the Place Neuve.

Anti-WTO march Saturday after in centre of Geneva

The Vengeron exit (where the road split before the airport) on the A1 autoroute into Geneva, coming from Lausanne, will be closed early Saturday 28 November until the end of the march late afternoon. Traffic will be directed to the airport exit.

The march itinerary supplied by Geneva police:

rue de la Corraterie – quai des Bergues – rue du Mont-Blanc – rue Bonivard – place Dorcière – place des Alpes – rue des Pâquis – rue De-Chateaubriand – avenue de France – rue de Lausanne – place Albert-Thomas – avenue de la Paix – chemin Eugène-Rigot – chemin de la Voie-Creuse – rue du Valais – rue de Montbrillant – parc des Cropettes.

Police note that the march will be followed by planned “festivities” at l’Ilot 13 (rue de Montbrillant) and the Usine (quai des Forces Motrices). Motorists should expect traffic to be difficult in these areas Saturday late afternoon.

Given that anti-WTO demonstrations have been accompanied by rioters in the past, notably in Seattle in 1999, police caution the public to be vigilant and take greater safety precautions than usual this weekend.

Geneva traffic next week: parking, road, postal restrictions announced

The conference takes place at the CICG and several restrictions are being put in place, with barriers going up today, 27 November:

• Parking will be banned in the area from Saturday 28 November at 08:00 to Wednesday 2 December at 18:00
• only residents will have access to rue de Varembé, rue de Vermont and the chemin Louis-Dunant
• the post office at Genève 20 CIC is closed from 28 November, re-opening 3 December, with post boxes and special delivery mail available at the Cornavin post office during this period.

The police have set up a special phone number for calls about traffic and related questions, from 08:00-18:00 every day except Saturday, when it is open until the march ends: in Switzerland, 0800 800 844.

Barriers will be removed Friday 4 December.

WTO Conference is highest decision-making body, Doha not on agenda

The conference is not a negotiating session, but was recently described by Director-General Pascal Lamy as “a platform for ministers to review the functioning of this house” and an opportunity “to send a number of strong signals to the world with respect to the entire WTO waterfront of issues — from monitoring and surveillance to disputes, accessions, Aid for Trade, technical assistance and international governance.”

The Ministerial Conferences, held every two years, are the highest decision-making body of the WTO. Next week’s conference has been delayed, so this is the first in four years. Significantly missing from the agenda is what to do about the suspended Doha Round, but observers agreed it will nevertheless be one of the most discussed topics next week in Geneva.

National delegates will be joined by groups from nearly 600 NGOs (non-governmental organizations) have been accredited.

Links to other sites: Reuters, World Trade Organization, 7th Ministerial Conference and agenda for the conference

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