Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. Allow me at the outset to express our appreciations to the Government of Germany for hosting this meeting, and for the Convention's Secretariat for their excellent arrangements.

I would like to congratulate you and your Vice Chair for your election to lead this Ad Hoc Working Group in this critical year. The Group reiterates that this process must be an open, party-driven, transparent, and inclusive process and focusing on the implementation of the Bali Acton Plan.

Mr. Chairman,

We meet today at a point of profound challenges to address the devastating impacts of climate change which, are only increasing, threatening the very existence of our societies and their development prospects. The Group would like to express its disappointment at the very slow progress of the implementation of the Bali Action Plan.

Our Group will continue its support and cooperation towards achieving the objectives of the Bali Action Plan, and reaching an agreed outcome that would "enable the full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention through long-term cooperative action, now, up to and beyond 2012", in accordance with the provisions and principles of the Convention, in particular the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.
Mr. Chairman,

The Group would like to thank you for producing the document before us, as mandated, to facilitate the negotiation, building upon the ideas and proposals submitted by the Parties. The Group would like to draw attention, however, to the fact that many of its submissions have unfortunately been either omitted or not adequately reflected.

An example is the issue of Adaptation, which is the important priority for the Group of 77 and China.  It is known that detailed proposals were submitted by members, and groups of members of G77 and China, on this very important and urgent issue, but were not adequately reflected in the document. Instead of focusing on meeting cost of adaptation as provided for in the Convention, the text places this obligation mainly on the developing countries themselves.

Similarly, the Group's concrete proposals on finance and technology have not been adequately expressed, nor have the commitments pertaining to these issues as stated in the Convention been explicitly included. The G77 and China would like to further share its concern that there has not yet been an open and clear exchange of views on specific proposals that the Group have submitted especially on the above issues.

Mr. Chairman,

Realizing that we should keep a constructive view, and having exchanged opinions with the AWG-LCA Chair, it is clear to us that the basis for negotiations are the parties' submissions and proposals. In this context we recall that this document is a paper prepared under the responsibility of the Chair, not reflecting a convergence of Parties' views nor, therefore, a basis for the further documents for negotiations. The G77 and China will continue to elaborate its proposals, priorities and focus areas from the perspectives of our group, expecting reactions from our Partners.

Mr. Chairman,

As we move into a negotiating mode and focus our attention on the enormous task before us, the Group of 77 and China will ensure that its positions are fully taken into account.

Time is running short, and much work has to be done in order to bring us to an agreed outcome at COP15. In this regard, the Group reiterates its call in this year of critical importance, for allowing sufficient time for its internal coordination in the organization of all sessions, including the pre-sessional period.

The G77 and China stand ready during this session to enter into an open and transparent dialogue that would move us forward in these discussions, and bring us closer to an agreed outcome in Copenhagen.

As we strive for an agreed outcome and a constructive process towards that end, the Group of 77 and China reiterates its belief in the importance of maintaining the integrity of that process within the UNFCCC framework.

Mr. Chairman,

We enter this phase of our discussions to negotiate in good faith, and will work under your able guidance, towards an outcome that will serve all our interests in a balanced manner, that may define the global cooperation necessary for us to address this urgent and most serious challenge of our times.

I thank you.