INTERNET, GLOBALISATION TO TOP DAVOS AGENDA By Elif Kaban
GENEVA, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Globalisation and the Internet will top the agenda for business and political leaders in the Swiss ski resort of Davos during the annual gathering of the World Economic Forum this month, organisers said on Tuesday.
Security will be tight at the five-day meeting starting on January 27 following threats from anti-free trade groups to disrupt it in the same way as they did in Seattle at a ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organisation in December.
``Security is a matter under the responsibility of the Swiss authorities, and we have full assurances that security for everybody is absolutely guaranteed,'' forum president and founder Klaus Schwab told a news conference.
Davos local authorities have asked the government for army help to guard key installations during the meeting whose speakers include U.S. President Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky, European Union Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy and WTO chief Mike Moore are also due to attend.
The government has said it will send in a contingent of army guards in what is likely to be the biggest security operation since the forum was first held in 1971.
At the weekend, windows were smashed at a Davos conference centre in a minor attack apparently caused by explosives.
A Berne-based anti-free trade group has asked for permission to demonstrate in Davos on January 29 when Clinton, who in Seattle had expressed sympathy for the protesters, is due to make a one-day visit.
FIRST MAJOR MEETING SINCE SEATTLE
The forum is the first major international gathering since the cause for global trade took a blow in Seattle where differences between trading countries dashed plans for the launch of a new round of talks to free up trade.
But many diplomats say there is little chance of getting the proposal back on track before a new U.S. president takes over next January and gets his administration in place.
In Davos, Schwab said ``trade doesn't have a very significant place on the agenda because, with the present situation and also particularly with the forthcoming U.S. elections, I don't feel we can make a very strong contribution to revitalise the multilateral trade discussions at this particular moment.''
The key themes at this year's 30th annual meeting, titled ``New Beginnings: Making a Difference,'' include the future of globalisation as well as the technology and biotech revolutions and the emergence of an electronic commerce economy.
More than 2,000 businessmen, economists, bankers, politicians and academics will take part in the meeting with key sessions being broadcast live over the Internet.
BARAK AND ARAFAT BOTH SET TO COME
The forum might offer an opportunity for talks on the Middle East peace process with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat attending.
But there was no word on any key Syrian officials attending.
History was made in Davos when Arafat and then Israeli prime Minister Shimon Peres reached a draft agreement in 1994 to give autonomy to the Gaza Strip and Jericho.
Presidents taking part include Germany's Johannes Rau, Italy's Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, Finland's Martti Ahtisaari, South Africa's Thabo Mbeki, Indonesia's Abdurrahman Wahid, Mexico's Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon, Ukraine's Leonid Kuchma, Armenia's Robert Kocharyan and Azerbaijan's Haydar Aliyev.
Financial figures attending include U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers, German Finance Minister Hans Eichel, Bank of France governor Jean-Claude Trichet and Japanese Vice Finance Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi.
Schwab said Russia's acting President Vladimir Putin was unable to come but First Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Mikhail Kasyanov would be heading Moscow's team.
From the corporate world, speakers include Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch and America Online's Stephen Case.