President to address Bali Sumit

12 December 2007
Report: Soodh

President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom will deliver an address at today’s Opening of the High-Level Segment of the UN Climate Change Conference in Baali, Indonesia.

President’s address will focus on the impending dangers of climate change and sea-level rise to Small Island Developing States such as the Maldives and the importance of adaptation building capacity in Least-Developed Counties. The President will reiterate his calls for universal recognition of environmental security as a fundamental right. President Gayoom will also highlight the importance of securing a binding post-Kyoto climate change agreement before the end of 2009.

President will also deliver the SAARC Declaration on Climate Change to the delegates of the Conference. The Declaration was adopted last week by the SAARC Council of Ministers.

Other speakers at the Opening of the High-Level Segment include President Yudhoyono of Indonesia, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, Mr. Yvo de Boer. The President of Palau and the Prime Ministers of Australia, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and Grenada, will also deliver addresses at the Opening.

A special video presentation by the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Rajendra Pachauri will also be aired at the Opening.

President Gayoom is scheduled to deliver his address at 8.00 in the morning Male’ time.