History made as non-Commonwealth leaders attend CHOGM for first time

For the first time ever the Secretary-General of the United Nations has attended a Commonwealth summit.

On the eve of the much anticipated climate change talks in Copenhagen, Ban Ki-moon accepted an invitation from Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma to this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago’s capital, Port of Spain.

As well as Mr Ban, two other non-Commonwealth leaders also flew into the Caribbean country to take part in climate change talks, as leaders across the world look for a binding commitment in the Danish capital next month.

President Nicolas Sarkozy of France and Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen of Denmark – who will chair the UN sponsored talks next month – both spoke with Commonwealth leaders and attended a special session on climate change.

“My message to you today is simple,” Mr Ban told Heads. “Stay focused, stay committed, come to Copenhagen, and seal a deal.”

At a press conference after the first day’s discussions, he told media that the meeting had been “very constructive and useful” and that “leaders of Commonwealth countries all wish very strongly that there will be a deal in Copenhagen.”

Prime Minister Rasmussen called the Commonwealth summit “a unique opportunity to discuss the truly global nature of climate change.”

“I know that for many of you climate change represents an immediate existential threat,” he said to them. “You cannot afford the luxury of a failure in Copenhagen.”

The French president echoed the need expressed by Mr Ban and Mr Rasmussen for a successful agreement to come out of Copenhagen.

He said there was “a tremendous sense of urgency” surrounding the upcoming UN summit. “We can’t afford to miss the opportunity. It is imperative that Heads of State and Government are present on 18/19 December in Copenhagen.”

To date, some 85 Heads of Government have decided to attend.

Secretariat Links:

• What is CHOGM?
• Country Profile: Trinidad and Tobago