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U.S. Delegation to the Fifth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-5) U.S. Statement on the Amendment Proposed by Kazakhstan: To add its name to the list in Annex I Plenary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties, Agenda Item 6.b Bonn, Germany, October 27, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Chairman,

The United States warmly welcome the initiative of the Government of Kazakhstan to join Annex I of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). We are impressed at the deliberate, thoughtful manner in which Kazakhstan has considered the implications of this step. Clearly it is Kazakhstan's sovereign right to take this step. By joining Annex I, Kazakhstan will assume a number of new responsibilities, including additional monitoring and reporting requirements. In fulfilling these requirements, it will help the international community to better understand how we are collectively affecting the global environment. This is no small contribution. I note also that, through its reporting, Kazakhstan will provide much of the information requested by previous speakers. By taking this step, Kazakhstan has signaled the seriousness with which it views climate change -- and the degree to which it is committed to help resolve the problem. This is a reminder to us that we -- collectively and individually -- should do more to address this global problem. In this spirit, we should all welcome and support Kazakhstan's application to join Annex I.

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