The United States has finally decided to take part in the planned United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Indonesia's Bali on Dec. 3-15, 2007, an Indonesian official said Monday.
"Washington will send 60 delegates to the conference," Indonesian Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar was quoted by the national Antara news agency as saying.
He made the remarks shortly after cabinet meeting on preparations for the conference at the presidential office here.
The minister said the United States had initially refused to take part in the conference, but due to pressure from European countries and the presence of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in New York several days ago, it finally changed its mind.
He said 189 countries to be represented by some 10,000 delegates and 2,500 foreign journalists had officially registered to take part.
Witoelar said the Indonesian government would bear 20 million to 30 million U.S. dollars of the conference's total cost of 60 million to 70 million dollars.
"Delegates will pay for their hotel accommodation costs and other expenditures," the minister said.
He said the conference was expected to produce a Bali Declaration which would be followed up in Warsaw, Poland, in 2008 and in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009.
The two conferences are expected to adopt decisions to be implemented after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.
Witoelar said that during the Bali conference, security on the resort island would come under United Nations supervision.
"The conference venue will be safeguarded by the UN blue force and some eight hotels will be cordoned off," the minister said.
Source: Xinhua
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