EU Urges US to Let Other Parties Go Ahead With Kyoto Protocol

The European Union (EU) on Wednesday urged the United States to let other parties go ahead with the agreed Kyoto Protocol to continue the fight against global warming.

Margot Wallstrom, the EU environment commissioner, raised the question as to whether the U.S. would let other parties that have signed the Kyoto Protocol go ahead with implementing it.

"Will the U.S. let other parties go ahead? That is at least what (U.S.) President (George W.) Bush promised," said Wallstrom.

Wallstrom, however, was cautious while commenting on the ongoing discussions in The Hague about a new plan that will be tabled during the resumption of the international conference of signatory states to the United Nations framework convention on environmental protection.

"It is too early now to draw final conclusions from this meeting as discussions are continuing," she said, "However, we are facing a difficult situation."

Wallstrom described the plan, worked out by the Dutch environment minister who serves as the president of the U.N. conference of signatory states, as a good basis for further negotiations with the U.S. in Bonn, where the resumption of the U. N. conference is scheduled to be held on July 16.

"We are working hard to get an agreement in Bonn and are willing to be flexible," she said, "In particular we need to build bridges toward the developing countries."

"The key question is: do other countries, including Japan, have the political will to make Bonn a success? And will the U.S. let other parties go ahead?" she asked.

The ongoing discussions in The Hague continue until the end of the week, according to EU sources.

Last year's U.N. conference of signatory states failed to produce an agreement on how to implement the Kyoto Protocol which commits developed countries to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases to help roll back global warming.

The conference, held in The Hague last November, only saw failure after the United States and the EU ended up deadlocked on such issues as purchasing emission rights by paying for re- forestation programs in developing countries.

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