[mgj-discuss] NYT on IMF press conference

[Mark Rickling]

[Apparently Kohler doesn't realize it's virtually impossible to have a
dialogue from behind locked doors. Open the meetings now!!! -- mark]

 http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/18/international/18IMF.html

April 18, 2002

I.M.F. Urges Calm Protests
By THE NEW YORK TIMES

WASHINGTON, April 17 - The head of the International Monetary Fund urged
protesters to demonstrate peacefully at the spring meetings of the fund and
World Bank here this weekend, cautioning that unrest would hurt chances for
dialogue.

In making his plea, Horst Köhler, the managing director, acknowledged
popular support for the antiglobalization movement but said the time had
come for constructive discussion, not violence.

"We've made mistakes," Mr. Köhler said today at the National Press Club,
referring to the fund's handling of past criticism. "We are absolutely
prepared to listen to the demonstrators, to the NGO's, to be involved in
this dialogue."

Last July in Genoa, Italy, a 23-year-old Italian protester was shot and
killed by the police while demonstrating at a summit meeting of industrial
nations.