COPENHAGEN TALKS END, CLOSE TO COLLAPSE
Adianto P. Simamora and Stevie Emilia , THE JAKARTA POST , COPENHAGEN
Copenhagen climate talks ended one day late Saturday, with the release of an accord that was declared an ""attachment"" to the conference decision, deemed the lowest level in international negotiating terms.
The Copenhagen Accord was drafted directly by the leaders of the 26 participating countries including US President Barack Obama and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
""The conference of parties *COP 15* agrees to take note of this *Copenhagen* accord,"" the conference said at its final high-level meeting.
No legally binding agreement or treaty was produced in the two-week climate talks, the biggest climate talks in history, attended by over 45,000 people including 119 heads of state and government.
UN climate chief Yvo de Boer said he arrived in Copenhagen convinced that the conference could produce a legally binding treaty, as required by Bali.
But he disagreed the conference outcome was a disaster, as he saw a magnitude of political engagements and commitments, not to mention real money, being put on the table.
""The wish list that I put under the Christmas tree two years ago, I now have to take to Mexico *to produce a legally binding treaty*,"" he said, referring to the host of next year's conference.
The draft text of the accord was tabled at the conference Friday at midnight; many countries, mainly small island states, rejected it.
UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki moon said he realized the outcome would not satisfy all delegates, especially those countries most vulnerable to the rising sea level.
""Finally, we seal the deal, but the agreement must be made legally binding next year,"" he said.
On Friday night, Obama said the accord was far from perfect
""This is a consensus that will serve as a foundation for global action against climate change for years to come,"" he said.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa hailed the conference outcome, saying it was a stepping stone for a legally binding treaty to be made next year.
""*The accord* is not bad. It is far better than nothing,"" Marty said.
He said the accord had accommodated five points Yudhoyono had mentioned in his speech Thursday before world leaders.
""This is the first time in my career I saw a draft of an accord made by heads of state or government. Obama himself even checked the placement of commas in the draft,"" said Marty.
He claimed that point number six of the accord was a proposal from Indonesia.