PM gets invite to elite Davos gathering

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Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma has been asked to attend this year's World Economic Forum (WEF) in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, her spokeswoman Aiva Rozenberga confirmed Thursday.

"The letter contains an invitation to participate in the discussion, bearing in mind Latvia holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU. It is currently being planned that the Prime Minister will participate in the forum on January 23," Rozenberga told Latvian Radio.

The annual gathering is famous for assembling a global political and business elite in one place at one time, but is also frequently criticized for a lack of openness as discussions take place behind closed doors.

The meeting at the exclusive resort, according to organizer Klaus Schwab, is intended as a talking shop and an opportunity to exchange ideas in an unconstrained atmosphere.

However the event also attracts the attention of conspiracy theorists who claim it forms the core of a world elite who decide the fate of the planet for the next twelve months.

As a result the WEF has made some efforts in recent years to appear more open by inviting pop stars and actors, as well as having some sessions open to public scrutiny, but it remains essentially an off-the-record event.

This year's event runs January 21-24.

Previous Latvian attendees include former Presidents Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Valdis Zatlers and former Prime Minister and now EU Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis. 

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