The Attorney-General and Minister for Climate Change, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, says it’s unfortunate there are people now trying to politicise the COP23 summit in Bonn, Germany.

Speaking at a press conference in Suva yesterday, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, who led the Fijian delegation in Bonn, said the critics had not done their research and were ignorant of what happened there.

He said the popularity of the Fijian delegation and the success of the COP23 meeting were covered widely by BBC, CNN and other international news media.

“This is a global issue, and also a moment for all of us to be proud of, we need to be proud of what Fiji has achieved,” he said.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the Parliament Speaker Dr Jiko Luveni went with an Opposition Member of Parliament to Bonn and the MP had acknowledged that this was a tremendous occasion.

“He was able to see beyond the political spectacles that some people are wearing now. We need to be proud of our nation irrespective of who accomplishes it, we need to be proud of Fiji.”

He said Fiji made truly remarkable progress for the Pacific and for every climate vulnerable nation and the world.

“COP23 has given a voice to the smaller nations afflicted by climate change.”

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said he made these comments because there had been a lot of talk by some people who were driving the old talk regarding climate change from a political prism.

On the issue of the welcome ceremony, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said: “Having a large-scale welcome ceremony to greet our COP23 delegation upon their return to Fiji was not the intent of the Government, the Honourable Prime Minister, or his team.

“The reported plans for a public event were the result of independent planning by a few well-intentioned, but perhaps naive, civil servants. Instead, in keeping with tradition, the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs will honour the hard work and successes of our entire delegation by holding a traditional ceremony and prayer on their premises, much like they did upon the departure of the Honourable Prime Minister to Bonn.”

He said Fiji already had much to be proud off with the Fijian COP presidency now officially underway, and their journey was just beginning.

He said COP23 negotiation went all night on Friday and finished in the early hours on Saturday morning.

This received an overwhelming response, as did the  dialogue which has now become the way of COP23 going forward to COP24.

He also reiterated the wonderful leadership shown by the PM at COP23 in the manner he steered the negotiations. 

Edited by Inoke Ravouvou

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