Rollercoaster in Doha

Dec 1st, 2008 3:30 PM EST
By Sergius Seebohm

“It’s down to only the last three issues.”
“It is starting all anew.”
“We will have a final document within the next hours.”
“There won’t be a solution before Tuesday.”

Rumors are flying back and forth in the hallways of the Sheraton hotel at the 3rd day of the Doha conference. While the side events at the conference continue and stir useful discussions about new and innovative financing or Africa’s reaction to the financial crisis (check out Miki only steps away from Tanzania’s president Kikwete) the delegations are wrestling behind closed doors about the final outcome document.

And while we are busy finding out if the new agreement would be a good or not so good outcome we are struck by the news that the delegations are renegotiating large parts of the document again.
After several hours and a repeatedly postponed press briefing of the US delegation the heads of the US, German, Japanese and other industrialized countries took an unusual break: Obviously tired from endless negotiations in closed hotel lobbies they decided to meet for a quick chat among themselves at the terrace of the hotel – attracting quite some attention by the participants.

But obviously this airy meeting under the starry skies of Doha did not lead to the final breakthrough. Right now the negotiations are still ongoing, particularly about how to reflect the financial crisis. The poor countries want to have more influence on the global financial framework reforms.

-Sergius Seebohm

TAGS: Doha, Doha 2008 Series, Doha Financing for Development Summit, Policy News