US pressurized India to accept Copenhagen Accord

New Delhi, Jan 13: A month after the Copenhagen Summit, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said that India was pressurised by the developing countries, particularly United States, into accepting the Copenhagen Accord.

“During the last day of the summit (December 18, 2009) when the talks had reached an impasse, it was the intention of European Nations and the U.S. to announce the breakdown and hold the four BASIC nations (India, China, Brazil and South Africa) accountable for its failure," Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said while addressing the Aspen Institute of India recently.

Briefing on the talks held on the last day of the Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change, Ramesh said that the leaders of Bangladesh and Maldives were repeatedly told by US president Barack Obama that they would not receive any money unless the accord is signed by the BASIC (India, China, Brazil and South Africa) countries.

“He (Mr. Obama) made it categorically clear that any money flow to the developing countries will be linked to the Accord provided the four countries of BASIC group come on board," Ramesh said.

Following which, Ramesh said that India was asked by Bangladesh, Australia and UK if they would deprive them of the money.

“Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina did ask me whether India will deny her country this money. This was the line taken by UK and Australia as well," he said.

The environment minister said that in such a situation, the BASIC countries were forced to accept the accord.

“Against this background, none of the heads of the four states wanted to be responsible for the breakdown of the talks. China was particularly wary being world"s largest green house gas emitter. This was the moral line taken at the summit and against this background the Accord was noted," Ramesh recalled.

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