Bilderberg Meeting & attendees

[semper occultus]

Secretive Bilderberg Club ready for protests

Graham Keeley, Barcelona

From The Times June 3, 2010

Splash! Could that be the sound of Lord Mandelson hitting one of the Dolce hotel’s four pools? Or Robert Zoellick of the World Bank? Paul Volcker of the US Economic Recovery Advisory Board? Or merely the euro taking another dive?

That is the thing about the Bilderberg group’s top secret meetings: you never know quite what is going on behind the police checkpoints.

Across the world, secretaries to the rich and the powerful have blocked out the next three days in their bosses’ calendars for their annual gathering, this time at the Dolce in Sitges, one of Spain’s most exclusive resorts.



Normally, every minute of their working lives is accounted for but, each year, a couple of hundred of the world’s financial elite and the more business-friendly members of the political class disappear from view; supposedly to save the planet from the dangers of parochialism, the nationalist genie.

It is all terribly confidential — breathe a word about it and you’re out of the club — but the Bilderberg watcher Daniel Estulin claims to have a copy of the agenda. The big question this time around is whether the euro will survive. “They are afraid that the countries in trouble will leave and the euro will fall apart,” said Mr Estulin. “The biggest nightmare is if EU members return to nationally orientated policies.”

That would certainly explain why the keynote address is being given by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the Spanish Prime Minister. The Piigs — Portugal, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain — are of concern to the Bilderbergers. After all, the club was set up in 1954 by a Polish exile, Joseph Retinger, to create a European bulwark against the spread of communism. It provided the germ of the European idea; Franco-German reconciliation, the entry of West Germany into Nato, the Maastricht treaty — all were cooked up in annual fireside chats.

Now, according to Mr Estulin’s information, the Bilderbergers are nervous that the erosion of the euro could nudge the world back into recession while public services cuts could trigger unrest and radicalise the political climate.

Plenty to talk about at the Dolce, then. The Bilderberg protesters, sure that they can smell a good oldfashioned capitalist conspiracy, will be holding fringe meetings in the town. The hunt will be on to find a chambermaid ready to ransack hotel litter bins for evidence that evil work is afoot. It has been easier to get nuggets of information out of Bilderberg since hotel staff started to read Dan Brown and talk about the illuminati.

Could it be, though, that the Bilderbergers are simply having fun, away from their spouses, on their annual jamboree? The secret of Bilderberg could be that there is no secret. Certainly, the hotel offers plenty of distractions for stressed CEOs: qi-gong courses, excellent fish, fine wines and bicycle tours.

Henry Kissinger, 87, the former US Secretary of State, and David Rockefeller, 95, the former chairman of the Chase Manhattan Bank, are the elder statesmen of Bilderberg — but the leaked invitation list reveals that the gathering is made up primarily of elderly white gents.

Remember Richard Perle, 68, George Bush’s erstwhile Prince of Darkness? He could perhaps form a Prince of Darkness sub-group with Lord Mandelson. Paul Wolfowitz, 66, formerly of the World Bank? Mario Monti, 67, EU commissioner for the single market between 1995 and 1999?

Only the possible attendance of George Osborne, 39, the British Chancellor, will reassure hotel staff that they are not dealing with a Saga Holidays tour. Other members of this clandestine coven include Queen Sofia of Spain and Queen Beatrix of Holland. No doubt their views will be sought on the Swedish royal wedding later this month. Is it right, for example, that a young princess should marry her personal trainer? Fortunately, the Dolce has a team of personal trainers on hand ready to chip into the debate.

Last year Bilderberg held its meeting at the Nafsika Astir Palace hotel in Greece and apparently failed to spot how close their host country was to melting down. Watch out, Spain!

The weather forecast is for three days of sunshine — time for the Bilderbergers to slink out of the shadows.


leaked attendees

BEL Davignon, Etienne F. Honorary Chairman, Bilderberg Meetings; Vice Chairman,
Suez Tractebel
DEU Ackermann, Josef Chairman of the Management Board and the Group Executive
Committee, Deutsche Bank AG
USA Alexander, Keith B. Director, National Security Agency
GRC Alogoskoufis, George Member of Parliament
USA Altman, Roger C. Chairman and CEO, Evercore Partners, Inc.
GRC Arapoglou, Takis Chairman and CEO, National Bank of Greece
TUR Babacan, Ali Minister of State and Deputy Prime Minister
GRC Bakoyannis, Dora Minister of Foreign Affairs
NOR Baksaas, Jon Fredrik President and CEO, Telenor Group
PRT Balsemão, Francisco Pinto Chairman and CEO, IMPRESA, S.G.P.S.; Former Prime
Minister
FRA Baverez, Nicolas Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
ITA Bernabè, Franco CEO Telecom Italia SpA
SWE Bildt, Carl Minister of Foreign Affairs
SWE Björklund, Jan Minister for Education; Leader of the Lìberal Party
CHE Blocher, Christoph Former Swiss Counselor; Former Chairman and CEO, EMS Group
FRA Bompard, Alexandre CEO, Europe 1
USA Boot, Max Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow for National Security Studies, Council
on Foreign Relations
AUT Bronner, Oscar Publisher and Editor, Der Standard
FRA Castries, Henri de Chairman of the Management Board and CEO, AXA
ESP Cebrián, Juan Luis CEO, Grupo PRISA
BEL Coene, Luc Vice Governor, National Bank of Belgium
USA Collins, Timothy C. Senior Managing Director and CEO, Ripplewood Holdings, LLC
GRC David, George A. Chairman, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Co. (H.B.C.) S.A.
GRC Diamantopoulou, Anna Member of Parliament
ITA Draghi, Mario Governor, Banca d’Italia
USA Eberstadt, Nicholas N. Henry Wendt Scholar in Political Economy, American
Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
DNK Eldrup, Anders President, DONG Energy A/S
ITA Elkann, John Chairman, EXOR S.p.A.; Vice Chairman, Fiat S.p.A.
DEU Enders, Thomas CEO, Airbus SAS
ESP Entrecanales, José Manuel Chairman, Acciona
AUT Faymann, Werner Federal Chancellor
USA Ferguson, Niall Laurence A. Tisch Professor of History, Harvard University
IRL Gleeson, Dermot Chairman, AIB Group
USA Graham, Donald E. Chairman and CEO, The Washington Post Company
NLD Halberstadt, Victor Professor of Economics, Leiden University; Former
Honorary Secretary General of Bilderberg Meetings
NLD Hirsch Ballin, Ernst M.H. Minister of Justice
USA Holbrooke, Richard C. US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan
NLD Hommen, Jan H.M. Chairman, ING N.V.
INT Hoop Scheffer, Jaap G. de Secretary General, NATO
USA Johnson, James A. Vice Chairman, Perseus, LLC
USA Jordan, Jr., Vernon E. Senior Managing Director, Lazard Frères & Co. LLC
FIN Katainen, Jyrki Minister of Finance
USA Keane, John M. Senior Partner, SCP Partners; General, US Army, Retired
USA Kent, Muhtar President and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company
GBR Kerr, John Member, House of Lords; Deputy Chairman, Royal Dutch Shell plc
DEU Klaeden, Eckart von Foreign Policy Spokesman, CDU/CSU
USA Kleinfeld, Klaus President and CEO, Alcoa Inc.
TUR Koç, Mustafa V. Chairman, Koç Holding A.S.
DEU Koch, Roland Prime Minister of Hessen
TUR Kohen, Sami Senior Foreign Affairs Columnist, Milliyet
USA Kravis, Henry R. Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute, Inc.
INT Kroes, Neelie Commissioner, European Commission
GRC Kyriacopoulos, Ulysses Chairman and Board member of subsidiary companies
of the S&B Group
FRA Lagarde, Christine Minister for the Economy, Industry and Employment
INT Lamy, Pascal Director General, World Trade Organization
PRT Leite, Manuela Ferreira Leader, PSD
ESP León Gross, Bernardino General Director of the Presidency of the Spanish
Government
DEU Löscher, Peter CEO, Siemens AG
GBR Mandelson, Peter Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory
Reform
INT Maystadt, Philippe President, European Investment Bank
CAN McKenna, Frank Former Ambassador to the US
GBR Micklethwait, John Editor-in-Chief, The Economist
FRA Montbrial, Thierry de President, French Institute for International Relations
ITA Monti, Mario President, Universita Commerciale Luigi Bocconi
ESP Moratinos Cuyaubé, Miguel A. Minister of Foreign Affairs
USA Mundie, Craig J. Chief Research and Strategy Officer, Microsoft Corporation
CAN Munroe-Blum, Heather Principal and Vice Chancellor, McGill University
NOR Myklebust, Egil Former Chairman of the Board of Directors SAS, Norsk Hydro ASA
DEU Nass, Matthias Deputy Editor, Die Zeit
NLD Beatrix, H.M. the Queen of the Netherlands
ESP Nin Génova, Juan Maria President and CEO, La Caixa
FRA Olivennes, Denis CEO and Editor in Chief, Le Nouvel Observateur
FIN Ollila, Jorma Chairman, Royal Dutch Shell plc
GBR Osborne, George Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
FRA Oudéa, Frédéric CEO, Société Générale
ITA Padoa-Schioppa, Tommaso Former Minister of Finance; President of Notre Europe
GRC Papahelas, Alexis Journalist, Kathimerini
GRC Papalexopoulos, Dimitris Managing Director, Titan Cement Co. S.A.
GRC Papathanasiou, Yannis Minister of Economy and Finance
USA Perle, Richard N. Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute for Public
Policy Research
BEL Philippe, H.R.H. Prince
PRT Pinho, Manuel Minister of Economy and Innovation
INT Pisani-Ferry, Jean Director, Bruegel
CAN Prichard, J. Robert S. President and CEO, Metrolinx
ITA Prodi, Romano Chairman, Foundation for Worldwide Cooperation
FIN Rajalahti, Hanna Managing Editor, Talouselämä
CAN Reisman, Heather M. Chair and CEO, Indigo Books & Music Inc.
NOR Reiten, Eivind President and CEO, Norsk Hydro ASA
CHE Ringier, Michael Chairman, Ringier AG
USA Rockefeller, David Former Chairman, Chase Manhattan Bank
USA Rubin, Barnett R. Director of Studies and Senior Fellow, Center for
International Cooperation, New York University
TUR Sabanci Dinçer, Suzan Chairman, Akbank
CAN Samarasekera, Indira V. President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Alberta
AUT Scholten, Rudolf Member of the Board of Executive Directors, Oesterreichische
Kontrollbank AG
USA Sheeran, Josette Executive Director, UN World Food Programme
ITA Siniscalco, Domenico Vice Chairman, Morgan Stanley International
ESP Solbes, Pedro Vice-President of Spanish Government; Minister of Economy and
Finance
ESP Sophia, H.M. the Queen of Spain
USA Steinberg, James B. Deputy Secretary of State
INT Stigson, Bjorn President, World Business Council for Sustainable Development
GRC Stournaras, Yannis Research Director, Foundation for Economic and Industrial
Research (IOBE)
IRL Sutherland, Peter D. Chairman, BP plc and Chairman, Goldman Sachs International
INT Tanaka, Nobuo Executive Director, IEA
GBR Taylor, J. Martin Chairman, Syngenta International AG
USA Thiel, Peter A. President, Clarium Capital Management, LLC
DNK Thorning-Schmidt, Helle Leader ofThe Social Democratic Party
DNK Thune Andersen, Thomas Partner and CEO, Maersk Oil
AUT Treichl, Andreas Chairman and CEO, Erste Group Bank AG
INT Trichet, Jean-Claude President, European Central Bank
GRC Tsoukalis, Loukas President of the Hellenic Foundation for European and
Foreign Policy (ELlAMEP)
TUR Ugur, Agah CEO, Borusan Holding
FIN Vanhanen, Matti Prime Minister
CHE Vasella, Daniel L. Chairman and CEO, Novartis AG
NLD Veer, Jeroen van der Chief Executive, Royal Dutch Shell plc
USA Volcker, Paul A. Chairman, Economic Recovery Advisory Board
SWE Wallenberg, Jacob Chairman, Investor AB
SWE Wallenberg, Marcus Chairman, SEB
NLD Wellink, Nout President, De Nederlandsche Bank
NLD Wijers, Hans Chairman, AkzoNobel NV
GBR Wolf, Martin H. Associate Editor & Chief Economics Commentator, The Financial
Times
USA Wolfensohn, James D. Chairman, Wolfensohn & Company, LLC
USA Wolfowitz, Paul Visiting Scholar, American Enterprise Institute for Public
Policy Research
INT Zoellick, Robert B. President, The World Bank Group
GBR Bredow, Vendeline von Business Correspondent, The Economist (Rapporteur)
GBR McBride, Edward Business Editor, The Economist (Rapporteur)
• AUT Austria
• BEL Belgium
• CHE Switzerland
• CAN Canada
• DEU Germany
• DNK Denmark
• ESP Spain
• FRA France
• FIN Finland
• GBR Great Britain
• GRC Greece
• IRL Ireland
• INT International
• ITA Italy
• NOR Norway
• NLD Netherlands
• PRT Portugal
• SWE Sweden
• TUR Turkey
• USA United States of America

[semper occultus]

attendees by country :

interesting 2nd largest contingent = Greek

AUT Bronner, Oscar Publisher and Editor, Der Standard
AUT Faymann, Werner Federal Chancellor
AUT Scholten, Rudolf Member of the Board of Executive Directors, Oesterreichische
AUT Treichl, Andreas Chairman and CEO, Erste Group Bank AG
BEL Coene, Luc Vice Governor, National Bank of Belgium
BEL Davignon, Etienne F. Honorary Chairman, Bilderberg Meetings; Vice Chairman,
BEL Philippe, H.R.H. Prince
CAN McKenna, Frank Former Ambassador to the US
CAN Munroe-Blum, Heather Principal and Vice Chancellor, McGill University
CAN Prichard, J. Robert S. President and CEO, Metrolinx
CAN Reisman, Heather M. Chair and CEO, Indigo Books & Music Inc.
CAN Samarasekera, Indira V. President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Alberta
CHE Blocher, Christoph Former Swiss Counselor; Former Chairman and CEO, EMS Group
CHE Ringier, Michael Chairman, Ringier AG
CHE Vasella, Daniel L. Chairman and CEO, Novartis AG
DEU Ackermann, Josef Chairman of the Management Board and the Group Executive
DEU Enders, Thomas CEO, Airbus SAS
DEU Klaeden, Eckart von Foreign Policy Spokesman, CDU/CSU
DEU Koch, Roland Prime Minister of Hessen
DEU Löscher, Peter CEO, Siemens AG
DEU Nass, Matthias Deputy Editor, Die Zeit
DNK Eldrup, Anders President, DONG Energy A/S
DNK Thorning-Schmidt, Helle Leader ofThe Social Democratic Party
DNK Thune Andersen, Thomas Partner and CEO, Maersk Oil
ESP Cebrián, Juan Luis CEO, Grupo PRISA
ESP Entrecanales, José Manuel Chairman, Acciona
ESP León Gross, Bernardino General Director of the Presidency of the Spanish
ESP Moratinos Cuyaubé, Miguel A. Minister of Foreign Affairs
ESP Nin Génova, Juan Maria President and CEO, La Caixa
ESP Solbes, Pedro Vice-President of Spanish Government; Minister of Economy and
ESP Sophia, H.M. the Queen of Spain
FIN Katainen, Jyrki Minister of Finance
FIN Ollila, Jorma Chairman, Royal Dutch Shell plc
FIN Rajalahti, Hanna Managing Editor, Talouselämä
FIN Vanhanen, Matti Prime Minister
FRA Baverez, Nicolas Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
FRA Bompard, Alexandre CEO, Europe 1
FRA Castries, Henri de Chairman of the Management Board and CEO, AXA
FRA Lagarde, Christine Minister for the Economy, Industry and Employment
FRA Montbrial, Thierry de President, French Institute for International Relations
FRA Olivennes, Denis CEO and Editor in Chief, Le Nouvel Observateur
FRA Oudéa, Frédéric CEO, Société Générale
GBR Bredow, Vendeline von Business Correspondent, The Economist (Rapporteur)
GBR Kerr, John Member, House of Lords; Deputy Chairman, Royal Dutch Shell plc
GBR Mandelson, Peter Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory
GBR McBride, Edward Business Editor, The Economist (Rapporteur)
GBR Micklethwait, John Editor-in-Chief, The Economist
GBR Osborne, George Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
GBR Taylor, J. Martin Chairman, Syngenta International AG
GBR Wolf, Martin H. Associate Editor & Chief Economics Commentator, The Financial
GRC Alogoskoufis, George Member of Parliament
GRC Arapoglou, Takis Chairman and CEO, National Bank of Greece
GRC Bakoyannis, Dora Minister of Foreign Affairs
GRC David, George A. Chairman, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Co. (H.B.C.) S.A.
GRC Diamantopoulou, Anna Member of Parliament
GRC Kyriacopoulos, Ulysses Chairman and Board member of subsidiary companies
GRC Papahelas, Alexis Journalist, Kathimerini
GRC Papalexopoulos, Dimitris Managing Director, Titan Cement Co. S.A.
GRC Papathanasiou, Yannis Minister of Economy and Finance
GRC Stournaras, Yannis Research Director, Foundation for Economic and Industrial
GRC Tsoukalis, Loukas President of the Hellenic Foundation for European and
INT Hoop Scheffer, Jaap G. de Secretary General, NATO
INT Kroes, Neelie Commissioner, European Commission
INT Lamy, Pascal Director General, World Trade Organization
INT Maystadt, Philippe President, European Investment Bank
INT Pisani-Ferry, Jean Director, Bruegel
INT Stigson, Bjorn President, World Business Council for Sustainable Development
INT Tanaka, Nobuo Executive Director, IEA
INT Trichet, Jean-Claude President, European Central Bank
INT Zoellick, Robert B. President, The World Bank Group
IRL Gleeson, Dermot Chairman, AIB Group
IRL Sutherland, Peter D. Chairman, BP plc and Chairman, Goldman Sachs International
ITA Bernabè, Franco CEO Telecom Italia SpA
ITA Draghi, Mario Governor, Banca d’Italia
ITA Elkann, John Chairman, EXOR S.p.A.; Vice Chairman, Fiat S.p.A.
ITA Monti, Mario President, Universita Commerciale Luigi Bocconi
ITA Padoa-Schioppa, Tommaso Former Minister of Finance; President of Notre Europe
ITA Prodi, Romano Chairman, Foundation for Worldwide Cooperation
ITA Siniscalco, Domenico Vice Chairman, Morgan Stanley International
NLD Beatrix, H.M. the Queen of the Netherlands
NLD Halberstadt, Victor Professor of Economics, Leiden University; Former
NLD Hirsch Ballin, Ernst M.H. Minister of Justice
NLD Hommen, Jan H.M. Chairman, ING N.V.
NLD Veer, Jeroen van der Chief Executive, Royal Dutch Shell plc
NLD Wellink, Nout President, De Nederlandsche Bank
NLD Wijers, Hans Chairman, AkzoNobel NV
NOR Baksaas, Jon Fredrik President and CEO, Telenor Group
NOR Myklebust, Egil Former Chairman of the Board of Directors SAS, Norsk Hydro ASA
NOR Reiten, Eivind President and CEO, Norsk Hydro ASA
PRT Balsemão, Francisco Pinto Chairman and CEO, IMPRESA, S.G.P.S.; Former Prime
PRT Leite, Manuela Ferreira Leader, PSD
PRT Pinho, Manuel Minister of Economy and Innovation
SWE Bildt, Carl Minister of Foreign Affairs
SWE Björklund, Jan Minister for Education; Leader of the Lìberal Party
SWE Wallenberg, Jacob Chairman, Investor AB
SWE Wallenberg, Marcus Chairman, SEB
TUR Babacan, Ali Minister of State and Deputy Prime Minister
TUR Koç, Mustafa V. Chairman, Koç Holding A.S.
TUR Kohen, Sami Senior Foreign Affairs Columnist, Milliyet
TUR Sabanci Dinçer, Suzan Chairman, Akbank
TUR Ugur, Agah CEO, Borusan Holding
USA Alexander, Keith B. Director, National Security Agency
USA Altman, Roger C. Chairman and CEO, Evercore Partners, Inc.
USA Boot, Max Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow for National Security Studies, Council
USA Collins, Timothy C. Senior Managing Director and CEO, Ripplewood Holdings, LLC
USA Eberstadt, Nicholas N. Henry Wendt Scholar in Political Economy, American
USA Ferguson, Niall Laurence A. Tisch Professor of History, Harvard University
USA Graham, Donald E. Chairman and CEO, The Washington Post Company
USA Holbrooke, Richard C. US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan
USA Johnson, James A. Vice Chairman, Perseus, LLC
USA Jordan, Jr., Vernon E. Senior Managing Director, Lazard Frères & Co. LLC
USA Keane, John M. Senior Partner, SCP Partners; General, US Army, Retired
USA Kent, Muhtar President and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company
USA Kleinfeld, Klaus President and CEO, Alcoa Inc.
USA Kravis, Henry R. Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute, Inc.
USA Mundie, Craig J. Chief Research and Strategy Officer, Microsoft Corporation
USA Perle, Richard N. Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute for Public
USA Rockefeller, David Former Chairman, Chase Manhattan Bank
USA Rubin, Barnett R. Director of Studies and Senior Fellow, Center for
USA Sheeran, Josette Executive Director, UN World Food Programme
USA Steinberg, James B. Deputy Secretary of State
USA Thiel, Peter A. President, Clarium Capital Management, LLC
USA Volcker, Paul A. Chairman, Economic Recovery Advisory Board
USA Wolfensohn, James D. Chairman, Wolfensohn & Company, LLC
USA Wolfowitz, Paul Visiting Scholar, American Enterprise Institute for Public

AUT 4
BEL 3
CHE 3
CAN 5
DEU 6
DNK 3
ESP 7
FRA 7
FIN 4
GBR 8
GRC 11
IRL 2
INT 9
ITA 7
NOR 3
NLD 7
PRT 3
SWE 4
TUR 5
USA 24
125

[stefano]

Thanks, semper.

Only the possible attendance of George Osborne, 39, the British Chancellor, will reassure hotel staff that they are not dealing with a Saga Holidays tour.

John Elkann is 34, he's probably the most up-and-coming young Illuminatus. Gianni Agnelli's grandson, chairman of Fiat, married into very old money.

[Gouda]

Kissinger? Where's Kissinger!

[semper occultus]

...maybe Rockefeller is carrying his own bags to this one ?

"If the Bilderberg Group is not a conspiracy of some sort, it is conducted in such a way as to give a remarkably good imitation of one" - C Gordon Tether

C Gordon Tether wrote the record-breaking, long-running, prestigious and influential daily column "Lombard" for The Financial Times, and on 6th May 1975 his column contained the above reference to The Bilderberg Group. Tether was subsequently censored by his editor Max Henry Fisher to never mention Bilderberg in his column again, and was eventually sacked by Fisher over a dispute over this censorship. Fisher was himself not a member of Bilderberg but was a member of The Trilateral Commission..

the MSM seem to have shifted from denial / ignoral to analysis-free breezy light-heartedness - as exemplified by:

Bilderberg 2010: The security lockdown begins

It's midday at the Bilderberg conference hotel – and that means helicopters, riot police and angry staff

This is the second dispatch from Charlie Skelton's Bilderblog.

guardian.co.uk Thursday 3 June 2010

"Congratulations!" grinned the man in charge of this year's Bilderberg conference, mustering as much sarcasm as a Dutchman could muster.

"You are the last guests here! You should have a banner!" he whooped, punching the air, wanting us gone. It's true – we had been dragging our heels as we left the Hotel Dolce Sitges. The folding tables were already being set up in the courtyard for participant lanyards and orientation packs. It was well past the midday "lockdown" of the hotel.

"Lockdown" at Bilderberg means that security is snapped securely shut – it means an unbreachable, Pentagon-like security cordon is tightened around this seaside hotel.

It means that hundreds (and I mean hundreds) of police, in various states of riot readiness, position themselves at every junction, every roundabout, along every road, layby and dirt track within a mile of the building. And every 15 minutes or so, ruining everyone's poolside naps, police choppers circle in the perfect sky above.

The helicopters started yesterday. The day before, as we were checking in, a couple of tourists in microlights came buzzing over the hotel before buzzing off towards the beach. For about two seconds, I thought: "Brilliant! That's how we're going to get photos! From the air!" Then I thought: "CIA snipers! Not so brilliant!".

We've made do with a few sneaky shots around the hotel and some hushed chats with the barstaff. We did a little undercover work. And, as a result, we can confirm the following people will definitely be attending this year's Bilderberg conference in Sitges.

I can't tell you how I know this. Let's just say we 'obtained' this information. Step forward if you hear your name.

1. Marcus Agius: The chairman of Barclays and a senior non-executive director on the BBC's new executive board. Married to Katherine, daughter of Edmund Leopold de Rothschild (I don't know why I mention that. Just a bit of family trivia – the sort of thing some people find interesting).

2. Josef Ackermann: The CEO of Deutsche Bank and a non-executive director of Shell.

3. General Jack Keane, the former vice chief of staff of the US army and on the board of the US defence conglomerate General Dynamics.

4. Juan Luis Cebrián Echarri: The CEO and co-founder of El Pais; the CEO of Grupo Prisa (Spain's biggest publisher); on the board of directors of Le Monde.

5. Richard Holbrooke: Barack Obama's special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan and a member of the board of directors of the Council on Foreign Relations.

6. Gustavo A Cisneros Rendiles: A Venezuelan media mogul – one of the world's richest men.

7. Victor Halberstadt: Professor of public economics at Leiden University and international advisor to Goldman Sachs. President of the International Institute of Public Finance.

8. Roger Altman: The founder and chairman of Evercore Partners, "the most active investment banking boutique in the world" (their website says).

9. Joaquín Almunia: Senior Spanish member of the European commission.

10. W. Edmund Clark: President and CEO of the TD Bank Financial Group.

11. Jan H.M. Hommen: Chairman of the ING Group.

12. Jyrki Katainen: Minster of finance in Finland, chairman of the Finnish National Coalition party.

And they're just the tip of the Bilderberg. More names will emerge as the weekend progresses, and the long-lens snaps have started coming in. The police have started pushing us further from the roundabouts. We've had the first detentions and the first angry deletions of photographs by police.

Although quite why attending Bilderberg has to remain such a mystery remains a mystery. The blackened windows of the limousines, the desperate camera-dodging of the delegates.

Tony Blair attended in 1993, but lied about it in parliament. Why lie? Why hide? If it's a long weekend of ping-pong, why the secrecy? If it's a long weekend of global strategising, why not simply behave like adults and talk to the press about it?

The paranoia was riding high amongst the conference organisers. A pair of them talked about the 2006 Bilderberg conference in Ottawa, where the radio host Alex Jones led the protests with his megaphone.

"They were very close to the hotel," said one. Another looked shocked and asked: "Did they ever try to attack?" A shake of the head and the answer: "No, but it was very scary." A third leaned in: "This is the negative side of the welfare state. People have enough income, so they can do this – it's like a permanent threat."

What threat? That people concerned about the unfairness of the world should drape a banner over a police cordon? That they should shout their anger at the madness of asset-grabbing transnational corporations, whose chairmen are sipping beers with our elected officials? "It's like a permanent threat." Don't make me spit.

My wife, Hannah, felt the hard edge of paranoia as we left the hotel at lockdown. She decided she needed to do some last-minute printing (she suddenly felt the urge to print out a history of Sitges from the internet).

The concierge ushered her into the business centre, where she found herself in the middle of pulsing heart of Bilderberg. She sat down to print. She was spotted. A stern Dutch lady shouted coldly: "Take her to security!" and barked: "What is your name?"

Startled, Hannah remarked: "This isn't a very friendly hotel." The lady replied: "No, it's not a very friendly hotel." Not this week it isn't.

As we left finally left the unfriendly Dolce Sitges, as the plainclothes police gathered, a pallet of watermelons was being rolled into the service entrance alongside a lighting rig. The patio lights had been covered with orange cellophane.

It's going to be quite a show later, the opening night of Bilderberg – watermelons everywhere, greedy eyes glowing orange on the dancefloor.

"More watermelons!" shouts the CEO of Deutsche Bank. Twenty are rolled towards him in an instant. He stamps upon the first and hoots his joy into the orange air, as the DJ leans into the microphone: "And we have a request from Mr Kenneth Clarke, it's Another One Bites the Dust!"

A happy Ken tosses his cigar over his shoulder and takes to the disco floor. Not that Ken's been confirmed yet. He's probably relaxing in his constituency. Maybe someone should find out.

On Tuesday night, when we were at the bar working our way through their selection of Catalan beers, we asked the barman how big he reckoned the Bilderbergers' hotel bill would be.

He rolled his eyes and said: "You don't want to know how much they're paying for this!" He misunderstood. I really did.

If the cost of dinner at the Dolce is anything to go by, it'll be a whacking great tab. My advice to David Rockefeller – avoid the 'award winning' trout fillets. If you're hungry, try the black spaghetti with salmon meatballs to start.

What else…?

My top tips for Bilderberg 2010 participants:

The gazpacho is good but thin.

The righthand of the two ping-pong tables (if you're standing with your back to the sunloungers) has a tricky camber. Better go for the left-hander.

If you're on a budget, go to breakfast at 7am, then go again at half 10, so you can get breakfast and lunch out of the same buffet.

Don't drink the tapwater in the bedrooms. It's got more chlorine in it than the swimming pool.

The kiwifruit breakfast pastries are to die for.

The artichoke soup needs black pepper.

Go to the spa, have an Ayurvedic massage, and during it repeat the mantra: "It's ok if I don't own everything, it's ok if I don't own everything." Then get drunk and throw bread rolls at the stripper.

The staff are Catalan, not Spanish. Apart from the Argentinian bellhop. He's Argentinian.

Cancel three-quarters of your police protection. You don't need them, and they're costing other people money.

[jingofever]

An article telling us silly plebes not to worry about Bilderberg. Predictably no American papers are covering it this year. Meanwhile they're going nuts over the idea of an NBA 'free agent summit'.

[anothershamus]

Watch the whole thing you will see the tie in!

[gnosticheresy_2]

oooh they done a website!

[semper occultus]

...they done a website..

from the Steering Committee :

Eldrup, Anders President, DONG Energy A/S
Koç, Mustafa V. Chairman, Koç Holding A.S.

hmm....Mustafa Koç !?

[Peregrine]

BC Premiere:

Campbell's Bilderberg adventure remains mysterious

"Why was B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell hanging out with global billionaires at the 58th annual Bilderberg Meeting in Sitges, Spain? And why didn’t he tell the world he was going?

After all, he went to a beautiful place, made some new friends, and the food had to be good. But Campbell hasn’t posted even a tweet’s worth about it on his Facebook page. Isn’t that something social media is for? To tell your friends about your latest neat trip?"

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