Tunisian Minister Confident Qatar's COP18 Presidency will be Successful

Doha, December 05 (QNA) - Tunisian Minister of Environment Mamia Elbanna Zayani said the U.N. climate change conference (COP18) is a major turning point for the ongoing climate change talks. Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA) in an exclusive statement here on Wednesday, Zayani said she is hopeful the conference will reach positive results about an agreement on a second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol, noting that this will be a success for the conference. Zayani praised the organization of the conference, adding that hosting it in an Arab country highlights Arab efforts to limit the effects of climate change. She called on developed countries to assume their responsibilities towards climate change and not to put developing and developed countries in the same scale of responsibility. "The capacities of developing countries, including African and Arab countries, should be taken into consideration, so responsibilities cannot be equal." Zayani said she trusts Qatar, as the current COP president, will lead successful negotiations to come out with positive results, which, she added, what COP18 President HE Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah hopes for. (QNA)