JoeChalupa
12-09-2005, 12:45 PM
Clinton 'annoys' U.S. climate team (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/12/09/climate.clinton.ap/index.html)
MONTREAL, Quebec (AP) -- A contentious U.N. climate conference entered its final day Friday with the long-term future undecided in the fight against global warming, and with a surprise visitor on tap to rally the "pro-Kyoto" forces.
Bill Clinton, who as president championed the Kyoto Protocol clamping controls on "greenhouse gases," was scheduled to speak at the conference Friday afternoon -- in an unofficial capacity but potentially at a critical point in backroom talks involving the U.S. delegation.
The U.S. envoys, representing a Bush administration that renounced the Kyoto pact, were said to be displeased by the 11th-hour surprise.
"They haven't protested formally, but they're annoyed," a source in the Canadian government, conference host, said of the U.S. delegates. "They're not infuriated, but they're not thrilled."
This source spoke on condition of anonymity because as a civil servant -- not a politician -- he is barred from the public light during Canada's current election season.
The U.S. delegation was meeting late Thursday and had no immediate public comment, said spokeswoman Susan Povenmire.
Clinton, who was invited here by the City of Montreal, will speak in the main conference hall between the official morning and afternoon plenary sessions, said U.N. conference spokesman John Hay.
Despite its unofficial nature, the speech was sure to attract hundreds of delegates from the more than 180 countries represented.
A city spokesman said the ex-president will be representing the William J. Clinton Foundation, which operates the Clinton Global Initiative, a program focusing on climate change as a business opportunity
- I love this guy.
MONTREAL, Quebec (AP) -- A contentious U.N. climate conference entered its final day Friday with the long-term future undecided in the fight against global warming, and with a surprise visitor on tap to rally the "pro-Kyoto" forces.
Bill Clinton, who as president championed the Kyoto Protocol clamping controls on "greenhouse gases," was scheduled to speak at the conference Friday afternoon -- in an unofficial capacity but potentially at a critical point in backroom talks involving the U.S. delegation.
The U.S. envoys, representing a Bush administration that renounced the Kyoto pact, were said to be displeased by the 11th-hour surprise.
"They haven't protested formally, but they're annoyed," a source in the Canadian government, conference host, said of the U.S. delegates. "They're not infuriated, but they're not thrilled."
This source spoke on condition of anonymity because as a civil servant -- not a politician -- he is barred from the public light during Canada's current election season.
The U.S. delegation was meeting late Thursday and had no immediate public comment, said spokeswoman Susan Povenmire.
Clinton, who was invited here by the City of Montreal, will speak in the main conference hall between the official morning and afternoon plenary sessions, said U.N. conference spokesman John Hay.
Despite its unofficial nature, the speech was sure to attract hundreds of delegates from the more than 180 countries represented.
A city spokesman said the ex-president will be representing the William J. Clinton Foundation, which operates the Clinton Global Initiative, a program focusing on climate change as a business opportunity
- I love this guy.