I would like to warmly welcome you all to this evening’s event, an occasion that we thought we should use to welcome all South Africans and our friends from all the regions of the world and give you a sense of the hospitality that you can expect in Durban next year.
Your presence here today is truly appreciated and celebrated.
Without much further ado, I would like to congratulate the government and the people of Mexico for hosting this successfully organised meeting of COP 16. We must as a country and the various sectors, take some lessons from them as much as we prepare to host the COP 17/CMP7 talks next year.
It is important for us as the various sectors involved in these Climate Change negotiations to actively engage with our counterparts in the UN regions and in the UN constituencies in the context of South Africa preparing to take the COP Presidency baton from Mexico.
We have been encouraged by the open and transparent manner in which the Minister Espinosa the COP President has approached this meeting. We in South Africa intend similarly to ensure that COP 17/CMP7 and any lead up processes to this meeting will similarly move forward on the basis of full participation and a transparent process.
We as Africans and as South Africans are known for our warm and welcoming and hospitable approach to our visitors. As you are all aware we have recently hosted one of the most successful FIFA World Cups ever, and we fully intend to ensure that COP 17/CMP 7 will be a similarly successful event.
Source: Department of Water Affairs
