May 13, 1998

CLINTON WILL COME TO WTO

Geneva, 12 May (TWN) -- United States President Bill Clinton will come to Geneva, for virtually an hour's visit, and address the Trade Ministers at the WTO's second ministerial meeting on the evening of 18 May. 

This was announced Tuesday by the WTO secretariat. 

This means that Clinton won't be there for the "celebrations" of fifty years of the multilateral trading system which was originally set for 20 May, separate from the Ministerial meetings, and then brought forward to 19 May (to be sandwiched between two working sessions of the Ministerial on 18 and 20) -- to suit the convenience of some of the G-7 leaders. 

With Cuban President Fidel Castro set to be a participant at the 'celebrations', the Monday visit means that the US head would not have to share the same platform or be at the same function as Castro or other leaders.