Bilderbergs Meet In Athens May 14-16, 2009

The Bilderberg Group was started during the Cold War to increase understanding between world leaders of Europe and the United States. The group was created in 1954 by Prince Bernhard in Oosterbeek, Netherlands, and is named after the hotel that they met in that first year. The theory goes that the World Wars that had started in Europe could be averted in the future if leaders of those countries had a chance to meet and get to know each other in an informal setting. Each year, 100 government, economic, and business leaders are invited to meet and talk freely without the interference of the news media (or their own constituents). Between 30 and 35 are permanent members of the group, and the remainders are invited based on their ability to influence society through government, economics or culture. The list of attendees is made public, and members of the press may attend, but may not report on proceedings. Minutes are kept, but they don’t contain the names of who said what, only what was spoken.

The buzz among conspiracists is that no one can become President of the United States without being a Bilderberger. Both President Bushes, John Kerry, John Edwards, Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Henry Kissinger, Donald Rumsfeld, Steven Spielberg, as well as Tony Blair and a list of equally well-placed European notables, have attended past meetings. The group is undeniably an elite collection of movers and shakers, and what they say behind closed doors is kept a secret. Conspiracy addicts see this as an evil plot for one-world government, yet the group proposes no legislation, issues no policy statements, and takes no votes. The participants regard it as an opportunity to chat informally with people who are their international peers without every word being scrutinized on the nightly news. Their rule of silence is strictly enforced, and squealers get the boot.

According to the Greek newspaper Elefterios Tipos, the Bilderbergs will meet May 14th-16th in Athens. GR Reporter in Greece lists some of the invitees this year:

In the list of invited guests are the Queen of Netherlands Beatrix, the Spanish Queen Sophia, and diplomats from the rank of the US National Security Council James Jones. Also among the invited are ministers of foreign affairs like the Turkish one Ali Babacan, who will get the chance for a tête-à-tête meeting with the Greek minister of foreign affairs Dora Bakoyanni. Except for political figures, the meeting will host representatives of giant companies like Domenico Siniscalco from “Morgan Stanley”.

The hotel is apparently none of our business.