Merkel, Cameron to skip Rio+20 meet: Embassies

Merkel had received a personal invitation from Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff but she telephoned Rousseff to inform her that Berlin would be represented at the June 20-22 summit by Environment Minister Norbert Rottgen and Development Minister Dirk Niebel, the German embassy said.
It did not say why Merkel could not attend.
The British embassy, meanwhile, said Cameron would also stay away and London would be represented by Deputy Prime Min­ister Nick Clegg.
The summit’s dates had been altered so they would not coincide with Queen Eliza­beth II’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations and thus make if possible for Cameron and other world leaders to attend.
There is no word so far on whether US President Barack Obama will show up although observers and non-governmental organisations say privately he was unlikely to do so given that he will be busy campaigning for his re-election. The European Union said through its mission here that its president, Jose Manuel Barroso, would attend the sum­mit. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is also expected to show up and Sunday Rousseff invited French President-elect Fran­cois Hollande.
The Rio+20 gathering, the fourth major summit on sustainable development since 1972, is to bring together at least 100 global leaders and 50 000 participants from around the world, including corporate executives and representatives of various social movements. Participants will take stock of the health of the planet, focusing on growth, food security, access to water, lifestyles, energy, biodiversity and climate. — AFP.