Milan, Italy– The recent statement by Russia’s deputy economy
minister, Mukhamed Tsikhanov, clarifies that Russia is still moving
towards ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, according to Greenpeace
and WWF, participating in the Climate Change Conference in
Milan.
The statement from Tsikhanov that “There are no decisions about
ratification apart from the fact that we are moving towards
ratification” strongly slaps down the misleading statements by Mr.
Illarionov yesterday and reinforces previous statements by
President Putin on this matter.
Jennifer Morgan, the head of WWF’s Climate Change program, said
that Tsikhanov’s statement demonstrates the ongoing high level
discussions on ratification occurring in the capital and reinforces
the President’s words to world leaders over the last weeks and
months. “President Putin’s statements over the last weeks and
months hold true. Russia is considering the matter of ratification
carefully and a positive decision could come in 2004, according to
deputy minister Tsikhanov.”
“This back and forth is indicative of the games being played by
the opponents of Kyoto, using every opportunity possible to falsely
call the Kyoto Protocol dead,” said Steven Guilbeault, Greenpeace
International Climate Campaigner. “Over fifty countries have
ratified since the Bush Administration pulled out of the agreement,
demonstrating the commitment by
the world community to tackling climate change.”
