Mr. Chairman the Group of 77 and China would like to express it appreciation to the Secretariat of the UNFCCC for all its hard work during these sessions. Also Group would to acknowledge the excellent Chairmanship and that of your co-chairs during this process. The Group again expresses its appreciation to the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Germany for the facilities made available to us.

The Group of 77 and China reiterates the expressions of condolences to Parties who have suffered from man-made and natural disasters within the recent past.

Mr. Chairman, the Group of 77 and China welcomed the opportunity to further deliberate on the issue of possible improvements to means as agreed in the work plan of the AWG-KP. This is an important step towards the setting of deep and ambitious quantified emission reduction commitments for Annex I Parties for the second and subsequent commitment periods by 2009. In order to ensure no gap between the first and the second commitment periods of the Kyoto Protocol and to improve the environmental integrity of the international climate regime, it is vital that these negotiations be completed well before the expiry of the first commitment period.  We reiterate the importance of urgently completing our negotiation of Annex 1 Party commitments for the second commitment period, at the latest by 2009.  

As agreed in Bangkok, the AWG-KP began analysing means available that would assist Annex I Parties to reach their still to be determined deeper QELROs.  In this regard we noted with concern that some proposals from Annex I Parties go beyond the mandate of the Working Group. The G77 believes that the focus of our discussions should be in line with the legal mandate of Article 3.9, which is to set further quantified emission reduction commitments for Annex I Parties for the second and subsequent commitment periods. We should not take on board issues presently being advanced by some Parties that would distract our attention from our mandate and that might delay the final agreement.

The Group looks forward to constructively participating in the upcoming session in Accra in order to come to conclusions on the means. We close by again stressing the importance of the 2009 deadline for agreements on Annex 1 party commitment for the second commitment period. Complexities notwithstanding, there is no scope for slippage. The G77 & China, strongly support, Mr. Chairman, your call for a new sprit and a new approach from here on in.

Thank You Mr. Chairman.