BARRETT: What kind of message are you sending with the move to New York? SCHWAB: We should not be deterred by terrorists. People should not consider having a meeting in New York as something that is special.
But why New York, then? So much of the program was to be centered around what happened in New York that the idea came up to have it here.
How has September 11 changed the upcoming meeting’s agenda? Issues related to the fight against terrorism became top priorities. Civil rights, eradicating poverty, encouraging a dialogue of cultures… [these] became even more important in the new context.
What do you hope will come out of January’s meetings? A visionary concept for the future. The American people, President George W. Bush and the coalition have acted fast to combat terrorism globally. But we need a long-term framework; we need a vision. There are new parameters for political decision making and for business decision making.
