By Michelle Grattan
Sydney Morning HeraldJuly 17, 2000
The Prime Minister will now attend the United Nations Millennium Summit in New York in September - despite indicating earlier that the Olympic Games made it impossible for him to go.
Mr Howard has changed his mind because it provides an opportunity to meet other Commonwealth leaders who, with him, are in the group which is investigating ways to make the Commonwealth more relevant. The Prime Minister will host the next meeting of the Commonwealth, in Brisbane next year, and therefore needs to take an active interest in the group, which will report to that meeting.
Included in it is the President of Zimbabwe, Mr Robert Mugabe, who has been subject of widespread criticism for the deteriorating political situation in that country.
The September New York summit is being billed as the largest ever gathering of world leaders. President Bill Clinton and the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair are due to attend. It begins nine days before the Olympics. Last month, a spokesman for Mr Howard said the Olympics made it impossible for him to attend the summit.
