Guess Who's at Super-Secret Bilderberg Meeting Today

Italy hosts 50th-anniversary confab of mysterious society of world leaders



June 4, 2004
© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

The 50th anniversary conference of the elite Bilderberg group – which many believe conspires semi-annually to foster global government – is under way in Stresa, Italy.

The conference, which began yesterday and will run through Sunday, is being hosted at the Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees.

Since 1953, the Bilderberg group has convened government, business, academic and journalistic representatives from the U.S., Canada and Europe with the express purpose of exploring the future of the North Atlantic community.

According to sources that have penetrated the high-security meetings in the past, the Bilderberg meetings emphasize a globalist agenda and promote the idea that the notion of national sovereignty is antiquated and regressive.

'Shadowy aura'

"It's officially described as a private gathering," noted a BBC report last year, "but with a guest list including the heads of European and American corporations, political leaders and a few intellectuals, it's one of the most influential organizations on the planet."

And according to a current BBC report on the conference in Stresa: "Not a word of what is said at Bilderberg meetings can be breathed outside. No reporters are invited in and while confidential minutes of meetings are taken, names are not noted. The shadowy aura extends further – the anonymous answerphone message, for example; the fact that conference venues are kept secret. The group, which includes luminaries such as Henry Kissinger and former UK chancellor Kenneth Clarke, does not even have a website."

But, counter participants, the secrecy is not evidence of a grand conspiracy, but only an opportunity to speak frankly with other world leaders out of the limelight of press coverage and its inevitable repercussions.

"There's absolutely nothing in it," argues the UK's Lord Denis Healey, one of the four founders of Bilderberg. "We never sought to reach a consensus on the big issues at Bilderberg," he told the BBC. "It's simply a place for discussion."

Here is the partial guest list of the current meeting obtained by WorldNetDaily – which includes Senators Jon Edwards, D-N.C. and Jon Corzine, D-N.J., Henry Kissinger, Richard Perle, Melinda Gates (wife of Bill Gates), David Rockefeller, Timothy F. Geithner, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Donald Graham, chairman and CEO of the Washington Post Company, and even Ralph Reed, former head of the Christian Coalition:

A Scholten, Rudolf Director, Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG adviser, world bank and European Central bank
B Dehaene, Jean-Luc Former Prime Minister, Mayor of Vilvoorde
B Hansen, Jean-Pierre Chairman, Suez Tractabel SA
B Phillipe, HRH Prince
B Struye de Swielande, Dominique Permanant repressentative of Belguim, NATO
CDN Lynch, Kevin G. Deputy Minister, Department of Finance
CDN McKenna, Frank Counsel, McInnes Cooper, former premier of New Brunswick
CDN Reisman, Heather President and CEO, Indigo Books and Music Inc.
CH Borel, Daniel Chairman, Logitech International S.A.
CH Couchepin, Pascal Former Swiss President, Head of Home affairs Dept.
CH Vasella, Daniel L. Chairman and CEO, Novartis AG Chairman, W Capital Management AB
CHN Long, Yongtu Secretary General, Boao forum for Asia
CY Pantelides, Leonidas Ambassador to Greece
D Ackermann, Josef Chairman, Group Executive Committee, Deutsche Bank AG
D Naas, Matthias Deputy Editor, Die Zeit
D Sandschneider, Eberhard Director, Research Institute, German Society for Foreign Policy
D Schilly, Otto Minister of the Interior
D Schrempp, Jurgen E. Chairman, DaimlerChrysler AG
D Weber, Jurgen Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Deutche Lufthansa AG
D Wissmann, Matthias Member of Parliament
D Zumwinkel, Llaus Chairman, Deutche Post Worldnet AG.
DK Eldrup, Anders Chairman, DONG gas company (becoming privatised) A/S
DK Federspiel, Ulrik Ambassador to the USA
E Cebrian, Juan Luis CEO, PRISA (Spanish language media company), former Chairman, International Press Institute
E Riodriguez Inearte, Matias Vice Chairman, Grupo Santander
E Serra Rexach, Eduardo Head, Real Institute Elcano
F Beytout, Nicolas Editor In Chief, Les Echos
F Camus, Phillipe CEO, European Aeronautic Defence and Space NV
F Castries, Henri de Chairman, AXA Insurance
F Montbrial, Thierry de President, French Institute of International Relations
FIN Lehtomaki, Paula Minister of Foreigh Trade and Development
FIN Lipponen, Paavo Speaker of Parliament
FIN Ollila, Jorma Chairman, Nokia Corporation, former director, Lucent Technologies
GB Browne, John Group Chief Executive, BP plc
GB Clarke, Kenneth Member of Parliament (Con.), Deputy Chairman, British American Tobacco
GB Kerr, John Director, Shell, Rio Tinto, Scottish American Investment Trust
GB Neville-Jones, Pauline Chairman, QuinetiQ (UK privatized military research/services company), governor of the BBC, Chairman Information Assurance Advisory Council, formar Chairman Joint Intelligence Committee, former Managing Director NatWest Markets
GB Verwaayen, Ben J. M. CEO, British Telecom
GB Wolf, Martin H. Associate Editor/Economic Commentator, The Financial Times
GB/USA Weinberg, Peter CEO, Goldman Sachs International
GR David, George A. Chairman, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company SA
GR Diamantopoulou, Anna Member of Parliament, former European Commissioner for Social Affairs
I Ambrosetti, Alfredo Chairman, Abbrosetti Group
I Benedetti, Rodolfo De CEO, CIR
I Bernabe, Franco Vice Chairman, Rothschild Europe
I Bortoli, Ferrucio de CEO, RCS Libri
I Caracciolo, Lucio Director, Limes Geopolitical Review
I Draghi, Mario Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Goldman Sachs
I Galateri, Gabriele Chairman, Mediobanca
I Giavazzi, Francesco Professor of Economics, Bocconi University
I Merlini, Cesare Executive Vice Chairman, Council for the United States and Italy, Council on Foreign Relations, former director, Italian Institute for International Affairs
I Passera, Corrado CEO, Banca Intesa SpA
I Riotta, Gianni Editorialist, Corriere della Serra
I Scaroni, Paolo CEO, Enel SpA
I Siniscalo, Domenico Director General Ministry of the Economy
I Tremonti, Giulio Minister of Economy and Finance
I Tronchetti Provera, Marco Chairman and CEO, Pirelli SpA
I Visco, Ignazio Foriegn Affairs Manager, Banca D'Italia
INT Bolkestein, Frits Commissioner for the Internal Market, European Commission, former leader of Dutch right wing Liberal Party VVD
INT Monti, Mario Competition Commissioner, European Commission
INT Padoa Schioppa, Tommaso Director, European Central Bank
INT Trichet, Jean Claude President, European Central Bank
INT Vitorino, Antonio M. Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner, European Union
INT Vries, Gijs M. de EU Counter Terrorism Coordinator
INT/USA Wolfenson, James D. President, The World Bank
IRL Gleeson, Dermot Chairman Allied Irish Bank Group (currently being investigated for personal and corporate tax evasion)
IRL Sutherland, Peter D. Chairman, Goldman Sachs International, Chairman, BP plc
ISR Barnavie, Elie Department of General History, Tel-Aviv University
N Auser, Svein CEO, DnB NOR ASA
N Myklebust, Egil Chairman, Scandinavian Airline System (SAS)
N Underdal, Arild Rector, University of Oslo
NL Burgmans, Antony Chairman, Unilever NV
NL Halberstadt, Victor Professor of Economics, Leiden University
NL Koenders, Bert (AG) Member of Parliament, president, Parliamentary Network of the World Bank
NL Netherlands, HM Queen Beatrix
NL Veer, Jeroen van der Chairman, Committee of Managing Directors, Royal Dutch/Shell
NL Wijers, Hans Chairman, AkzoNobel NV
P Balsemao, Francisco Pinto Chairman and CEO, IMPRESA, SGPS, Former Prime Minister
P Lopes, Pedro M. Santana Mayor of Lisbon
P Socrates, Jose Member of Parliament
PL Olechowski, Andrzej Leader, Civic Platform
PL Sikora, Slawomir President and CEO, Citibank Handlowy
RUS Shevtsova, Lilia Senior Associate. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
RUS Yavlinsky, Grigory A. Member of Parliament
S Brock, Gunnar CEO, Atlas Copco AB
S Heikensten, Lars Governor, Swedish Central Bank
S Wallenberg, Jacob Chairman, SEB investments (including biotech)
TR Babacan, Ali Minister of Economic Affairs
TR Cemal, Hasan Senior Columnist, Milliyet Newspaper
TR Dervis, Kemal Member of Parliament, former senior World bank official
TR Koc, Mustafa V. Chairman, Koc Holdings AS
USA Boot, Max Neoconservative, Council on foreign Relations, Features Editor, Wall Street Journal
USA Collins, Timothy C MD and CEO, Ripplewood Holdings LLC, Yale School of Management, Trilateral Commission
USA Corzine, Jon S. Senator (D, New Jersey), Chairman and CEO, Goldman Sachs
USA Donilon, Thomas L Vice President, Fannie Mae, Council on Foreign Relations
USA Edwards, John Senator (D. North Carolina), Democratic Presidential Candidate
USA Feith, Douglas J. Undersecretary for Policy, Department of Defense
USA Gates, Melinda F. Co Founder, Gates Foundation, wife of Bill Gates
USA Geithner, Timothy F. President, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
USA Graham, Donald E. Chairman and CEO, Washington Post Company
USA Haas, Richard N. President, Council on Foreign Relations, former Director of Policy and Planning staff, State Department
USA Holbrooke, Richard C Vice Chairman, Perseus, former Director, Council on Foreign Relations, former Assistant Secretary of State
USA Hubbard, Allen B President E&A Industries
USA Issacson, Walter President and CEO, Aspen Institute
USA Janow, Merit L. Professor, International Economic Law and International Affairs, Columbia University
USA Jordan, Vernon E. Senior Managing Director, Lazard Freres & Co LLC
USA Kagan, Robert Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
USA Kissinger Henry A. Chairman, Kissinger Associates Inc.
USA Kovner, Bruce Chairman Caxton Associates LLC, Chairman, American Enterprise Institute
USA Kravis, Henry R. Founding Partner, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., acquisitions financier
USA Kravis, Marie Josee Senoir Fellow, Hudson Institute Inc.
USA Luti, William J. Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs
USA Mathews, Jessica T. President, Carnegie Endowment for International War Peace
USA McDonough, William J. Chairman and CEO, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, former president, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
USA Mundie, Craig J. Chief Technical Officer, Advanced Strategies and Policies, Microsoft Corporation
USA Nooyi, Indra K. President and CEO, PepsiCo Inc.
USA Perle, Richard N. Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, former Likud policy adviser, former chair Defence Policy Board, former co chairman, Hollinger Digital
USA Reed, Ralph E. President, Century Strategies
USA Rockefeller, David Member JP Morgan International Council, Chairman, Council of the Americas
USA Ross, Dennis B Director, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
USA Schnabel, Rockwell A. Ambassador to the EU
USA Strmecki, Marin J. Smith Richardson Foundation
USA Thornton, John L. Chairman, Brookings Institution, Professor, Tsinghua University
USA Yergin, Daniel Chairman, Cambridge Energy Research Associates



In addition, according to the Bilderberg.org website, two reporters ("rapporteurs") from the British publication The Economist will also be attending: Gideon Rachman, Brussels correspondent, and Adrian D. Wooldridge, the magazine's foreign correspondent.

That may afford slightly more transparency than in the past. In 1998, British free-lance journalist Campbell Thomas attempted to cover the conference in Turnberry, Scotland, for the Daily Mail. Thomas began by seeking the opinions of neighbors to the secret meeting being held nearby. One of those was a young woman who told him he was in the hotel's staff quarters and should leave immediately, which he did. A short while later, two local police officers arrested Thomas, who reportedly remained in custody for eight hours.

British journalist Jon Ronson, who is the author of a book on Bilderberg, had this to say: "I'm a sort of semi-conspiracy theorist when it comes to Bilderberg because I think they wouldn't go to that much trouble of having this incredibly expensive international conference every year and they'd go to all this trouble to keep themselves out of the press and be really secret and invite the world's most powerful people if it was just a chat and a game of golf, which is basically what they say it is. So I do think they have some impact on world affairs."

Some observers are even speculating that President Bush will make an appearance at this year's event, just as Bill Clinton did at the group's 2000 meeting. By coincidence, it just happens that Bush will be in Italy over the weekend

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