Now, said the official, more countries agree that they have to look at ways of having two-way conversations with civil society. Then, he said, the information gathered must be better transmitted to the negotiators. Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew said he hopes to set a few earlier deadlines on issues in talks with counterparts in the next two days. Meanwhile, steel barricades have gone up around the Palacio San Martin where demonstrators will try to keep trade ministers from meeting today. There are also barricades outside the Sheraton Buenos Aires, where businesspeople are gathered.
Armed police stand outside both buildings.
But he is not expecting any violence today, he said, because the demonstration is very organized and will be peaceful. Copyright 2001 CanWest Interactive and The Montreal Gazette Group Inc., a division of Southam Publications, a CanWest Company. The contents of this website are protected by copyright. All rights are reserved and commercial use is prohibited. To make use of this material you must first obtain the permission of the owner of the copyright.