ANKARA - Turkish Environment & Forestry Minister Veysel Eroglu made a presentation at a meeting of Council of Ministers on Monday and said Turkey would have a voice in the new agreement after signing Kyoto Protocol that ends in 2012, officials said on Tuesday.
The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the international Framework Convention on Climate Change with the objective of reducing greenhouse gases that cause climate change. As of June 2008, 182 parties have ratified the protocol.
"If Turkey ratifies Kyoto protocol, we will officially be able to participate in all working groups established under UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol; and also negotiate arrangements unique to our country`s conditions," Eroglu was quoted as saying.
"So, Turkey will have a voice in the new agreement to be reached after 2012 (when Kyoto Protocol ends). Otherwise, we will face a finished agreement if we do not attend the planning and preparation process of the new one," he said.
He also told the ministers that Turkey would not be obliged to set a target in the first responsibility period (2008-2012) to reduce greenhouse gas even if it becomes a party to the protocol right now.
"Turkey would have a great prestige in terms of its commitment to fight climate change which is on the top of international agenda and is one of the most important problems of the world," he said.
(TÇ-MS)