Suggested some flexibility in climate stand, says Ramesh

New Delhi, Oct 20 (PTI) India Environment Minister Jairam
Ramesh Tuesday said he has suggested to Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh "some flexibility" in the country's stand on
climate change issues but ruled out diluting the stance on
Kyoto Protocol that imposes emission cuts on developed
countries.
"My note (to PM) suggested the possibility of some
flexibility in India's stance... I have never at any stage
considered or advocated abandoning the fundamental tenets of
the Kyoto Protocol," he said in a statement.
He was clarifying government's position against the
backdrop of a newspaper report which said that he had
suggested junking the Kyoto Protocol, walking out of G-77 and
accept emission cuts at the upcoming Copenhagen summit.
Maintaining that Indian stand was "irrevocably anchored"
in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Bali
Action Plan and it was non-negotiable, Ramesh said the basic
point was that "India's interests and India's interests alone
shall dictate at our negotiating stance."
As for the insinuation that he was reflecting US
interests, he said "I will let my actions speak for
themselves.
"India is working, and will continue to work, closely
with our partners in the G-77 and China in articulating a
common position on this issue, while also engaging with other
countries to our benefit."
Earlier in the day after a meeting of SAARC Environment
Ministers, Ramesh had said India and other South Asian
nations will adhere to the Kyoto Protocol at the Copenhagen
negotiations. PTI