From Davos without love…

With the global economical turmoil the annual gathering in Davos, Switzerland to last from the 28 January until the 1 February has become less glamorous and more intense. There have been probably not winners but some losers among the poorest nations in the world as those who have still more than enough are nevertheless feeling a little the pinch and contributing less. And of course a lot of the meetings and talk was about the American stimulus plan of the Obama administration which has not been received with smiles all around. Talk of protectionism is beginning to be heard as well as questions about how is Washington going to pay for it all. But all was not economics, what is making the front pages of newspapers today are the happenings yesterday in a panel discussion. Following an angry exchange over the Gaza war with Israeli President Shimon Peres, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan left the stage saying he would not return to Davos and flew home to a hero’s welcome.
And that was not all. It appears that the comments by the recently appointed U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner about China needing to loosen restrictions on its currency is facing criticism by economists and policy makers at the World Economic Forum. And as if that was not enough Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Sengalese President Abdoulaye Wade on Friday asked Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe to give up power. Mr. Odinga went a step further and suggested Mr. Mugabe should face legal crimes for countless deaths of political opponents.
The beautiful setting of Davos is being this year the stage for some unexpected happenings.