The Hindu : Front Page : India played key role in Bali negotiations

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 16, 2007
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India played key role in Bali negotiations

Priscilla Jebaraj

BALI: India’s intervention at the United Nations climate change talks here on Saturday to push through an amendment to a road map for the future fight against climate caused several adjournments and behind-the-scenes discussions, but in the end the entire G-77 and China, the largest negotiating bloc of developing countries, as well as the European Union expressed their support.

The Indian intervention kick started the action on a morning of high drama, which included rising tempers at sudden, unexpected calls for plenary meetings, a Chinese demand for an apology from the U.N.’s climate change chief, who then broke into tears, and a complete reversal of the American stance in less than half an hour.

After refusing to support the Indian amendment, the United States delegation was booed by a large part of the auditorium, and faced a barrage of strong protests from a number of developing countries, including the representative from Papua New Guinea who offered an ultimatum: “We seek the leadership of the United States, but if you’re not going to lead, then please get out of the way.”

Minutes later, the U.S. capitulated and agreed to join the consensus. “We want to be part of a road map,” said U.S. representative Paula Dobriansky.

While U.S. negotiators later told the press that they had merely been awaiting clarification on the import of the Indian amendment, other delegates offered several explanations for the reversal in policy. The UNFCCC referred to the impassioned appeals for consensus from the Indonesian President and the U.N. Secretary-General just before the plenary, but delegates from various groups pointed to the fact that no other country, not even allies such as Canada and Japan, supported the U.S. position.

“The U.S. being isolated and forced to change — I have never seen something like this in 45 years of international diplomacy,” said one delegate, who did not wish to be named.

Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal gave credit to the strong show of unity and initiative by the developing countries, the power of which he hoped could be carried over to other global negotiations. “The unity with China and the rest of the G-77 — that is a key takeaway for us from here,” Mr. Sibal said earlier.

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