Simon Upton

National List MP

Saturday 3 June 2000

Der Spiegel brands talkfest a 'global coffee club'

Helen Clark's Third Way talkfest in Berlin may be nothing more than a global coffee club, according to the authoritative German weekly, Der Spiegel.

The gathering of Third Way leaders in Berlin for which Helen Clark has travelled around the world has drawn some less-than-flattering commentary from the German media, National List MP Simon Upton said today.

"Der Spiegel reports that Chancellor Schroeder has a programme of visits laid on for President Clinton in case the occasion proves to be just 'ein globales Kaffeekraenzchen (a global coffee club).

"At a cost of DM3 million it could be rather expensive latte!

"Spiegel also explains that the most prominent Third Waver of them all, Tony Blair, will not be present on account of baby Leo. In his absence, Spiegel says, the Chancellor is counting on playing the role of the 'intellektuelle Lokomotive' of the conference.

"Helen Clark is undoubtedly an intellectual locomotive but almost certainly running on rather different tracks from the privatising, business-friendly leaders gathered together in Berlin," Mr Upton said.

Ends

For Simon Upton's analysis of the Third Wavers meeting, visit Upton-on-line at http://www.arcadia.co.nz/column/010600.htm

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