[stop-imf] IMF: "Disappointed" at no protests at spring meetings

[Robert Weissman]

Full text at: http://www.imf.org/external/np/tr/2001/tr010410.htm

Transcript of a Press Briefing by Thomas Dawson
Director
External Relations Department
International Monetary Fund
Tuesday, April 10, 2001, 9:30 a.m.
Washington, D.C.

QUESTIONER: Just my routine question. Do you expect any disturbances and
demonstrations at the Spring Meeting at this
                      time?

                      MR. DAWSON: At this point, you know, caution is
always the word, preparedness is always the word. But we don't have
                      any indication of any large-scale demonstrations. I
think there is a matter of record that a couple of groups have requested
                      permits for demonstrations. But we don't have a
sense of overwhelming interest. The press interest is less than last year
at
                      this time, but more than previous years. But as I
say, we don't have a particular indication of a groundswell of interest.

                      I would note that last year we had a number of
events, call them demonstrations if you wish, that were happening around
the
                      time of the Spring Meetings, including the week
before. This year, to the extent there is an interest, it seems to have
been
                      separated a bit in distance from the Spring
Meetings. I think a number of you will be rushing out shortly to the "Drop
the
                      Debt" event, and that is now taking place now,
whereas sort of the comparable event last year was on the fringes of the
                      meeting. So I think that the meeting itself may not
be quite the magnet that it was in the past. And, you know, we are
                      disappointed about that, of course.

-- 
Robert Weissman	<rob@essential.org>
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