Mr. Chairman,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

First allow me to express again my deep appreciation to the Government and people of the Kingdom of Thailand for hosting this meeting in the stunning city of Bangkok.

At the stocktaking plenary of this meeting in Bangkok I would like to emphasize on what I already said on Tuesday at the opening plenary: the G77 and China believes that there is a key option for Durban under the AWG-KP: the adoption of the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol. A second commitment period is the key and necessary outcome for a success in Durban. We must do all the necessary efforts to avoid a gap between the first and the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.

We also expect a high level of ambition from Annex 1 countries which means presenting ambitious numbers for defining quantified emission reductions in the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol that will provide for deep cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions that are required according to science, including as documented in the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Some believe we were not able to advance in technical issues under this Working Group. But the fact that some Annex I countries were so clear to their non-commitment to the second commitment period confirmed our convictions that technical issues have to come after political willingness. It is also clearer to us that there are some countries that still do not understand that there are two distinct tracks of negotiations that must be respected. We want progress in both tracks, but we should respect each track's mandate and not allow positions that can undermine positive outcomes to be reached in both of them.
Under the negotiating track of this Working Group, our mandate is to obtain a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol. And we are determined to fulfill this mandate.

Let me underscore that time is running out and all Parties must do their best trying to find common language and agreed solutions.

Mr Chairman,
We believe that the discussions we have had in Bangkok regarding the Kyoto Protocol and conducted under you and your Vice-Chair's able guidance were useful in order to clarify Parties positions on some key issues beyond repeating the usual national positions. We hope that this process will continue to allow us to go ahead.

Mr. Chairman,

Allow me to reiterate that the G77 and China is willing to participate in the process in a constructive and proactive manner in order to reach in Durban a balanced and agreed outcome.

I thank you Mr. Chairman.