COPENHAGEN: A group of European foreign ministers will meet Thursday in Copenhagen a bid to speed up negotiations ahead of a crucial UN climate change summit in December, the Danish government said Tuesday.
Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller invited British counterpart David Miliband, Bernard Kouchner of France, Carl Bildt of Sweden and Alexander Stubb of Finland to send the world a "clear signal" of their commitment against global warming, Moeller's office said in a statement.
This "central circle" of ministers will underscore "the need for their active contribution to promote a climate deal" when the international community meets at the end of the year in the Danish capital, the statement said.
The international diplomatic community must "engage more" in the process and join forces to ensure success at the December summit, it said.
"We must deploy all our strength in the battle to obtain a climate agreement," Moeller said in the statement.
The ministers will hold a press conference at the University of Copenhagen before participating in a public debate with students on the necessity of striking a new climate deal in Copenhagen.
World leaders will meet in Denmark in December to negotiate a new international accord on fighting climate change after the Kyoto Protocol requirements expire in 2012.
