Ex-lead climate negotiator’s role hailed

COPENHAGEN—Lead negotiators from 130 developing nations criticized the Philippine government’s decision to drop Bernarditas Muller, a key negotiator on behalf of the so-called G-77 developing countries, from the list of its national delegation, saying that her participation in the climate-change negotiations is “indispensable.”

“We were all surprised by this development as Muller is one of the most distinguished and strongest negotiators in the world, not only in the developing nations’ participation in the climate-change negotiations,” Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, Sudanese chief negotiator for the G-77 and China bloc, told the BusinessMirror. “Muller has played a historical role in advancing and safeguarding the interest of developing countries on climate change, so I cannot see the logic.”

The United Nations-backed climate talks here in Copenhagen, which involves more than 190 nations, is expected to produce, at the least, a political declaration, and at most, a binding international treaty.

Di-Aping said Sudan has decided to adopt Muller as part of their official delegation in the climate-change summit, saying that “we cannot enter this final stage of negotiations without one of our trusted and most knowledgeable negotiator.”

Muller, a senior negotiator not only for the Philippines but for the developing nations, told the BusinessMirror she was saddened by President Arroyo’s decision to drop her from the RP delegation.

“It just happened without much explanation. I think the RP government should be the one explaining this,” said Muller, who is wearing a conference ID representing Sudan. “But I will of course hope that this decision will not soften RP’s decision in the negotiations.”

Muller adds that she agreed to being adopted by Sudan as she has been in the negotiations for more than 20 years now, adding that “poor countries have so much to lose if we don’t get this right.”

“We are the most vulnerable victims of climate disasters and therefore we would like to see us aided. We are very much concerned now [over] the untransparency going on in the negotiations,” Muller, a strong critic of the US and the European Union in the climate-change negotiations, said.

Acknowledging Muller as a leading voice for developing countries in trying to secure a just and equitable outcome of the climate talks, Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello earlier said in a forum, “What else can explain this fact except pressure from the rich countries who are intimidated by Muller’s negotiating skills?”

“The reality is that the government’s handling of Philippine climate policy is haphazard and uncoordinated. We question Mrs. Arroyo’s voluntary assumption of the position of climate czar. What is her credibility to lead such efforts? We have witnessed her failure with the illegal-drugs battle, and we cannot stand for such ineptitude which will have not only national but also global repercussions,” Bello added.

BusinessMirror sought comments from the official RP delegates in Copenhagen but most of them were mum over the controversy. One said, however, that “since GMA is coming here in Copenhagen, of course she wanted those who are willing to work closely with her and push the interest of the country in these negotiations.”

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