FRANCE, DENMARK FOR CHOGMBy SEAN DOUGLAS Thursday, November 19 2009
Denmark Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon join President of France Nicolas Sarkozy as special guests of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Port-of-Spain from November 27 to 29.
Prime Minister Patrick Manning last night announced the addition of the French and Danish leaders, whose countries are not part of the Commonwealth of nations, and Ban to the list of VIPs who will visit Trinidad and Tobago.
Newsday reported exclusively yesterday that Sarkozy was due to take part in the CHOGM and his interest stemmed from a climate change campaign he mounted with Brazil’s president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva in Paris, recently.
Manning’s disclosure came in a televised ten-minute address to the nation, in which he also reminded citizens that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, will also attend CHOGM as Head of the Commonwealth.
The trio of Rasmussen, Sarkozy and Ban are expected to throw their weight behind efforts to establish a Commonwealth position or positions on climate change, ahead of next month’s United Nations Climate Change Talks in Copenhagen, Denmark, from December 7 to 18. The talks are intended to continue efforts to rein in emissions of greenhouse gases which are widely considered to be causing global warming. Alluding to Copenhagen, Manning said, “This CHOGM in Port-of -Spain, under our chairmanship, therefore is the last international summit meeting before that critical meeting, and has become most important to the process. We have the opportunity to positively influence its outcome.”
He said Trinidad and Tobago is doing its utmost to advance the process that could result in a global agreement on this crucial matter affecting all of humanity.
“I should also advise you that our country has been at the centre of almost frenzied activity among leading nations from both the developed and developing world as we seek to ensure that we take the strongest possible position in preparation for the Copenhagen meeting.
“In this context, and as evidence of this, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, Prime Minister Rasmussen of Denmark, the chairman of the meeting in Denmark and Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon will be on official visits to Trinidad and Tobago to participate in this process.”
Sarkozy and Rasmussen are expected to meet early next week with German Chancellor Angella Merkel, after which Sarkozy is due to make a trip to Manaus, northern Brazil for a meeting of ten Amazonian countries before flying to Trinidad for the CHOGM.
Rasmussen, 45, has only been the Danish Prime Minister since April 5, 2009. Rasmussen previously served in the post of Interior and Health Minister in 2001, and in 2007 he was appointed Minister of Finance before succeeding Anders Fogh Rasmussen (no relation) as prime minister earlier this year when Fogh became NATO secretary-general.
As Finance Minister, Rasmussen had negotiated funds for banks hit by the global financial crisis. As head of the youth arm of his party, the centre-right, Venstre, he delivered educational funds to soviet-occupied Afghanistan where he was photographed disguised as an Afghan, toting an AK47 rifle, sparking controversy in Denmark.
Sarkozy, 53, was elected French President on May 16, 2007, after beating socialist Segolene Royal. UN head Ban Ki-Moon is no stranger to Trinidad and Tobago having visited for last April’s Fifth Summit of the Americas.
Manning, in his address, also disclosed that forty of the 40 heads of state and their delegations have confirmed their attendance for CHOGM thus far.
