SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES BONN AGREEMENTS ON EMISSION LIMITATION

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for

Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General welcomes the Bonn agreements reached after a marathon negotiating session, as they give a strong signal to the global economy that early in this century, emission limitation must become part and parcel of production and consumption processes.  The agreements also recognize the need for more financial and technological support for developing countries to engage in a global strategy against climate change and provide a solid political basis for industrialized  countries to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and bring it into force in time for the Johannesburg Summit in September 2002.

The Secretary-General appreciates the hard work and spirit of compromise shown by all delegations and the unflinching leadership of Jan Pronk, Conference President.  He fully shares the sentiment of Mr. Pronk that the Bonn agreements are proof that "multilateral cooperation in the UN framework does make good sense".

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