Climate talks formally resumed in Bonn

PRESS RELEASE

Bonn, 16 June 2001 - Conference President Jan Pronk formally resumed the climate change talks here today at 10h30.

The Sixth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention was suspended last November in The Hague. The COP was expected to reopen this coming Thursday following several days of informal talks. However, the President and the Bureau (Executive Board) decided last night that replacing the informals with an early resumption of the COP would give greater momentum to the negotiations.

Mr. Pronk restarted the COP by calling on governments to finish the work begun in The Hague and to achieve results. "It is crucial that we bring our four years of work to completion," he said. "The public is waiting to see results."

The President then announced that work will proceed over the next several days within four negotiating groups. These groups-which will be closed to press and observers-will address financial and technological support to developing countries, the Kyoto Protocol's flexible mechanisms, sinks, and compliance.

The high-level segment of the COP will start Thursday, and there will also be a ceremonial opening. Ministers and senior officials will participate in this segment, which will run through Sunday.

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Note to journalists: The opening press briefing for the resumed COP 6 remains scheduled for Wednesday evening. For more information, please contact Michael Williams at +49-160-367-5933. For interviews with Executive Secretary Michael Zammit Cutajar contact Carine Richard-Van Maele at +49-160-367-5892.

UNITED NATIONS
NATIONS UNIES
FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE - Secretariat
CONVENTION - CADRE SUR LES CHANGEMENTS CLIMATIQUES - Secrétariat

 
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