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<font size=3><b>Reflections by comrade Fidel<br>
<br>
THE TRUTH OF WHAT HAPPENED AT THE SUMMIT<br><br>
</b>Sender: activistas@cubanmission.com<br><br>
The youth is more interested than anyone else in the future.<br>
<br>
Until very recently, the discussion revolved around the kind of society
we would have. Today, the discussion centers on whether human society
will survive.<br>
<br>
These are not dramatic phrases. We must get used to the true facts. Hope
is the last thing human beings can relinquish. With truthful arguments,
men and women of all ages, especially young people, have waged an
exemplary battle at the Summit and taught the world a great lesson.<br>
<br>
It is important now that Cuba and the world come to know as much as
possible of what happened in Copenhagen. The truth can be stronger than
the influenced and often misinformed minds of those holding in their
hands the destiny of the world.<br>
<br>
If anything significant was achieved in the Danish capital, it was that
the media coverage allowed the world public to watch the political chaos
created there and the humiliating treatment accorded to Heads of States
or Governments, ministers and thousands of representatives of social
movements and institutions that in hope and expectation traveled to the
Summit’s venue in Copenhagen. The brutal repression of peaceful
protesters by the police was a reminder of the behavior of the Nazi
assault troops that occupied neighboring Denmark on April 1940. <br>
<br>
But no one could have thought that on December 18, 2009, the last day of
the Summit, this would be suspended by the Danish government –a NATO ally
associated with the carnage in Afghanistan-- to offer the conference’s
plenary hall to President Obama for a meeting where only he and a
selected group of guests, 16 in all, would have the exclusive right to
speak. <br>
Obama’s deceitful, demagogic and ambiguous remarks failed to involve a
binding commitment and ignored the Kyoto Framework Convention. He then
left the room shortly after listening to a few other speakers. Among
those invited to take the floor were the highest industrialized nations,
several emerging economies and some of the poorest countries in the
world. The leaders and representatives of over 170 countries were only
allowed to listen.<br>
<br>
At the end of the speeches of the 16 chosen, Evo Morales, with the
authority of his indigenous Aymara origin and his recent reelection with
65% of the vote as well as the support of two-thirds of the Bolivian
House and Senate, requested the floor. The Danish president had no choice
but to yield to the insistence of the other delegations. When Evo had
concluded his wise and deep observations, the Danish had to give the
floor to Hugo Chavez. Both speeches will be registered by history as
examples of short and timely remarks. Then, with their mission duly
accomplished they both left for their respective countries. But when
Obama disappeared, he had yet to fulfill his task in the host country.
<br>
<br>
From the evening of the 17th and the early morning hours of the 18th,
the Prime Minister of Denmark and senior representatives of the United
States had been meeting with the Chairman of the European Commission and
the leaders of 27 nations to introduce to them --on behalf of Obama-- a
draft agreement in whose elaboration none of the other leaders of the
rest of the world had taken part. It was an antidemocratic and
practically clandestine initiative that disregarded the thousands of
representatives of social movements, scientific and religious
institutions and other participants in the Summit. <br>
<br>
Through the night of the 18th<sup> </sup>and until 3:00 a.m. of the 19th,
when many Heads of States had already departed, the representatives of
the countries waited for the resumption of the sessions and the
conclusion of the event. Throughout the 18th, Obama held meetings and
press conferences, and the same did the European leaders. Then, they
left.<br>
<br>
Something unexpected happened then: at three in the morning of the 19th,
the Prime Minister of Denmark convened a meeting to conclude the Summit.
By then, the countries were represented by ministers, officials,
ambassadors and technical staff.<br>
<br>
However, an amazing battle was waged that morning by a group of
representatives of Third World countries challenging the attempt by Obama
and the wealthiest on the planet to introduce a document imposed by the
United States as one agreed by consensus in the Summit. <br>
<br>
The representative of Venezuela, Claudia Salerno, showed with impressive
energy her right hand bleeding from strongly slamming on the table to
claim her right to take the floor. Her tone of voice and the
dignity of her arguments will never be forgotten.<br>
<br>
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba made a vigorous speech of
approximately one thousand words from which I have chosen a few
paragraphs to include in this Reflection: <br>
<br>
“The document that you, Mister Chairman, repeatedly claimed that did not
exist shows up now. […] we have seen drafts circulating surreptitiously
and being discussed in secret meetings…”<br>
<br>
“…I deeply resent the way you have led this conference.”<br>
<br>
“…Cuba considers the text of this apocryphal draft extremely inadequate
and inadmissible. The goal of 2 degrees centigrade is unacceptable and it
would have incalculable catastrophic consequences…”<br>
<br>
“The document that you are unfortunately introducing is not binding in
any way with respect to the reduction of the greenhouse effect gas
emissions.”<br>
<br>
“I am aware of the previous drafts, which also through questionable and
clandestine procedures, were negotiated by small groups of people…”<br>
<br>
“The document you are introducing now fails to include the already meager
and lacking key phrases contained in that draft…” <br>
<br>
“…as far as Cuba is concerned, it is incompatible with the universally
recognized scientific view sustaining that it is urgent and inescapable
to ensure the reduction of at least 45% of the emissions by the year
2020, and of no less than 80% or 90% by 2050.”<br>
<br>
“Any argument on the continuation of the negotiations to reach agreement
in the future to cut down emissions must inevitably include the concept
of the validity of the Kyoto Protocol […] Your paper, Mister Chairman, is
a death certificate of the Kyoto Protocol and my delegation cannot accept
it.”<br>
<br>
“The Cuban delegation would like to emphasize the preeminence of the
principle of ‘common by differentiated responsibilities,’ as the core of
the future process of negotiations. Your paper does not include a word on
that.”<br>
<br>
“This draft declaration fails to mention concrete financial commitments
and the transfers of technologies to developing countries, which are part
of the obligations contracted by the developed countries under the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change […] Mister Chairman, by imposing
their interests through your document, the developed nations are avoiding
any concrete commitment.”<br>
<br>
“…What you, Mister Chairman, define as ‘a group of representative
leaders’ is to me a gross violation of the principle of sovereign
equality consecrated in the United Nations Charter…”<br>
<br>
“Mr. Chairman, I formally request that this statement be included in the
final report of the works of this regrettable and shameful
15<sup>th</sup> session of the Conference of the Parties.”<br>
<br>
The representatives of the countries had been given only one hour to
present their views. This led to complicated, shameful and embarrassing
situations.<br>
<br>
Then, a lengthy debate ensued where the delegations from the developed
countries put a heavy pressure on the rest to make the conference adopt
the above mentioned document as the final result of their
deliberations.<br>
<br>
A small number of countries firmly insisted on the grave omissions and
ambiguities of the document promoted by the United States, particularly
the absence of a commitment by the developed countries on the reduction
of carbon emissions and on the financing that would allow the South
countries to adopt alleviating and adjustment measures.<br>
<br>
After a long and extremely tense discussion, the position of the ALBA
countries and Sudan, as President of the G-77, prevailed that the
document was unacceptable to the conference thus it could not be adopted.
<br>
<br>
In view of the absence of consensus, the Conference could only “take
note” of the existence of that document representing the position of a
group of about 25 countries.<br>
<br>
After that decision was made, --at 10:30 in the morning Denmark’s time--
Bruno, together with other ALBA representatives, had a friendly
discussion with the UN Secretary to whom they expressed their willingness
to continue struggling alongside the United Nations to prevent the
terrible consequences of climate change. Their mission completed, our
Foreign Minister and Cuban Vicepresident Esteban Lazo departed to come
back home and attend the National Assembly session. A few members of the
delegation and the ambassador stayed in Copenhagen to take part in the
final procedures.<br>
<br>
This afternoon they reported the following:<br>
<br>
“…both, those who were involved in the elaboration of the document, and
those like the President of the United States who anticipated its
adoption by the conference…as they could not disregard the decision to
simply ‘take note’ of the alleged ‘Copenhagen Agreement,’ they tried to
introduce a procedure allowing the other COP countries that had not been
a part of the shady deal to adhere to it, and make it public, the
intention being to pretend such an agreement was legal, something that
could precondition the results of the negotiations that should carry
on.”<br>
<br>
“Such belated attempt was again firmly opposed by Cuba, Venezuela and
Bolivia. These countries warned that a document which had not been
adopted by the Convention could not be considered legal and that there
was not a COP document; therefore, no regulations could be established
for its alleged adoption…”<br>
<br>
“This is how the meeting in Copenhagen is coming to an end, without the
adoption of the document surreptitiously worked out in the past few days
under the clear ideological guidance of the US Administration…” <br>
<br>
Tomorrow our attention will be focused on the National Assembly. <br>
<br>
Lazo, Bruno and the other members of the delegation will be arriving at
midnight today. On Monday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will be able
to explain in details and with the necessary accuracy the truth of what
happened at the Summit.<br>
<br>
Fidel Castro Ruz<br>
December 19, 2009<br>
8:17p.m. <br><br>
<br>
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