News Flash

leaders must ensure substantive outcome in Copenhagen

By Sun Xiaohua and Li Xing (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-12 01:12

Copenhagen: Nations are starting to focus on the bigger pictures so as to ensure progress and delivery substantive results of the ongoing United Nations Climate Change Conference, UN climate chief Yvo de Boer said on Friday at the regular press briefing.

Two draft texts of the final documents have been tabled. The two draft documents are Long term Cooperative Action and Amendments to the Kyoto Protocol.

There is the need to bring the two documents together so as to take the work forward in preparations for the arrival of the heads of states and governments, de Boer said.

A lot more work needs to be done because "demons live in the details," said Su Wei, chief negotiator and deputy director of the Chinese delegation.

During his press conference, de Boer announced that some 115 heads of states or governments will start to arrive in Copenhagen next week.

"Lots of things will happen next week," he said, adding that the leaders will make national statements and talk among each other in consultations and "resolve the final issues".

There will be "grand stand" ceremonies with the Queen of Denmark organizing a dinner and photo sessions.

But in between, "they must ensure that we get to substantive outcome of this conference," de Boer said.

He praised the work of Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen for his efforts to help "focus attention on key political issues" and "make the conference a success".

"I don't think the criticism (about the leaked Danish draft document) is fair," he said.