ID :
42326
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 16:27
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/42326
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Rudd cancels overseas trip
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will not attend the World Economic Forum next week, but will instead remain home to continue working on Australia's response to the global financial crisis.
Mr Rudd was due to head to Switzerland next Friday for the meeting with 40 world leaders to discuss the key challenges facing the world and the global economy in 2009.
But a spokesman for the prime minister said the trip had been cancelled.
"Following developments in the global economy in recent days the prime minister has decided to cancel his planned visit to the World Economic Forum to continue working on Australia's response to the global financial crisis," the spokesman said in a statement late on Friday.
Planned trips to India and Papua New Guinea have also been postponed "due to events in India and the postponement of the special Pacific Islands Forum in Port Moresby".
Mr Rudd was due to meet Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January 28.
The meeting had been thrown into doubt before Mr Rudd cancelled his trip, after Mr Singh's office announced on Friday the Indian leader will undergo heart bypass surgery after doctors found blocked arteries.
The 76-year-old leader - who has a history of heart problems - will have the surgery in a New Delhi hospital on Saturday, Singh's spokeswoman Deepak Sandhu said.
The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting to discuss the fate of Fiji's membership of the regional body, which had been due to be held in the Port Moresby on Tuesday, has also been postponed.
Fiji's self-appointed leader Frank Bainimarama had said he would not attend because he needed to lead relief work after recent devastating floods that killed at least 11 people.
The PIF meeting will be rescheduled for February 10 so Commodore Bainimarama can attend, PNG's Prime Minister Michael Somare says.
Mr Rudd will now focus on developing the next stage of the government's response to the global economic crisis.
"(Mr Rudd) will spend the next week in meetings with advisers, officials and business and industry leaders formulating the next steps in the government's decisive and comprehensive program to support Australian jobs and strengthen the Australian economy during a global financial crisis," the PM's spokesman said.
Mr Rudd was due to head to Switzerland next Friday for the meeting with 40 world leaders to discuss the key challenges facing the world and the global economy in 2009.
But a spokesman for the prime minister said the trip had been cancelled.
"Following developments in the global economy in recent days the prime minister has decided to cancel his planned visit to the World Economic Forum to continue working on Australia's response to the global financial crisis," the spokesman said in a statement late on Friday.
Planned trips to India and Papua New Guinea have also been postponed "due to events in India and the postponement of the special Pacific Islands Forum in Port Moresby".
Mr Rudd was due to meet Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January 28.
The meeting had been thrown into doubt before Mr Rudd cancelled his trip, after Mr Singh's office announced on Friday the Indian leader will undergo heart bypass surgery after doctors found blocked arteries.
The 76-year-old leader - who has a history of heart problems - will have the surgery in a New Delhi hospital on Saturday, Singh's spokeswoman Deepak Sandhu said.
The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting to discuss the fate of Fiji's membership of the regional body, which had been due to be held in the Port Moresby on Tuesday, has also been postponed.
Fiji's self-appointed leader Frank Bainimarama had said he would not attend because he needed to lead relief work after recent devastating floods that killed at least 11 people.
The PIF meeting will be rescheduled for February 10 so Commodore Bainimarama can attend, PNG's Prime Minister Michael Somare says.
Mr Rudd will now focus on developing the next stage of the government's response to the global economic crisis.
"(Mr Rudd) will spend the next week in meetings with advisers, officials and business and industry leaders formulating the next steps in the government's decisive and comprehensive program to support Australian jobs and strengthen the Australian economy during a global financial crisis," the PM's spokesman said.
