The owners of French giants EDF and germany’s Siemens have, in turn, waived Monday, October 22, to visit at the economic forum in Riyadh. Recent defections in date for this appointment since the disappearance of the journalist saudi Jamal Khashoggi, while the CEO of Total, he has maintained his coming.

Organized by the sovereign wealth fund of saudi arabia, this conference should be held from Tuesday to Thursday and serve, in principle, to showcase the economic reforms undertaken by the crown prince, Mohammed Bin Salman, regarded as the strong man of saudi Arabia. The success of this raout, titled “Future Investment” Initiative, appears to be compromised because of very many defections caused by the murder of Jamal Khashoggi the saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October.

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After you have argued that the journalist had emerged alive from the consulate, the saudi authorities have finally admitted Saturday that Mr. Khashoggi had been killed, but they have denied any involvement of power.

a Total of “faithful”

The us Treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, one of the most prestigious guests to this event, as well as the ministers of the economy, français, Bruno Le Maire, international trade, uk, Liam Fox, and Dutch finance, Wopke Hoekstra, have all announced at once that they would not participate in the event.

The director general of the international monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, announced that she postponed her trip to the Middle East, which included a step to Riyadh for the conference, but without expressly referring to it.

Mohammed Bin Salman, however, had Steven Mnuchin Monday in Riyadh. The two men stressed ” the importance of the strategic partnership between saudi Arabia and the United States “, reported the press Agency of saudi arabia (SPA).

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the website of The event does more than refer to the list of stakeholders for several days already. For their part, the organizers have said that they will release an updated list of participants, still unavailable on Monday on the eve of the opening of the summit.

conversely, a number of leaders of multinational, the CEO of Total, Patrick Pouyanné, has announced on Monday that he would travel as planned at the forum, holding that the “policy of the empty chair” was not the advancement of human rights, and “loyalty” to his commitments with its partner saudi arabian, Saudi Aramco.