In Durban today, informal meetings and contacts continue as the work of the Working Group and Subsidiary Bodies strive to make progress on both technical and political issues.

The Group of 77 and China saluted the decision by the South African Presidency to continue consultations on the political questions that are on the table in Durban in a transparent format that allows for a real input from all actors. The Presidency convened today an "INDABA", a word in Zulu that refers to a gathering of people, infused with wisdom, in order to discuss a matter of great importance to the community. The hope was expressed that this setting will be useful for the kind of open participatory, Party-driven process than can lead to a comprehensive and balanced outcome in keeping with the high expectations the world is placing in this meeting. Ambassador At Large Diseko called all Parties to come to this meeting with an open mind and with the spirit to preserve the common good.

The meeting was mainly useful to establish the playing field and, hopefully, rules of engagement for an open discussion where all Parties can be heard and where conclusions should not be imposed on the participants, but rather emerge from the Parties themselves and their exchanges. Most Groups took this opportunity to reiterate and clarify the positions that they had indicated in their opening statements, and many parties contributed their perspectives to the discussion as well. The European Union reiterated their full commitment to Kyoto and remained open to committing to a second commitment period, albeit under a number of conditions. Several speakers expressed reservations on the conditionalities that the EU would tie to that commitment. Regardless of the merit of other additional measures and decisions that might be made at this meeting, there was a strong feeling from developing countries that the Kyoto Protocol, as the legally binding instrument for the implementation of the principles and provisions of the Convention, needs not be taken hostage of other conditions, and Parties need to move forward in good faith to discuss and exchange views so that a concrete decision for a second commitment period can be reached in Durban.

The Group of 77 and China reiterates that the Kyoto Protocol is the cornerstone of the climate change regime, and that the second commitment period that allows us to maintain and increase the levels of ambition for emission reduction commitments of developed countries is at the heart of any successful outcome of these negotiations. The Protocol, its mechanisms, its rules and its compliance system must be preserved and strengthened for the preservation of the legally-binding international multilateral rules-based climate change regime. The Group of 77 and China believes that the work of the AWG-KP must conclude with the adoption of an amendment of the second commitment period, and is prepared to engage in negotiations on all agenda items, in a balanced and comprehensive manner, in order to get a second commitment period in Durban and overcome the procedural objections and strategic delays favored by a few Parties.

On the Green Climate Fund, the G77 and China negotiators have been actively engaged in finding a possible solution to overcome the blockade created by the US stalling tactics in the meeting of the Transitional Committee. The Group is working with all Parties seeking not just a procedural result for this meeting, but a meaningful solution that means the Green Climate Fund can begin to operate and financing can start reaching developing countries and have a concrete effect in multiplying mitigation action as soon as possible.