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OPENING CEREMONY

On Tuesday, 25 February, Executive Secretary Michael Zammit-Cutajar opened the meetings of the FCCC subsidiary bodies at 10:00 am in the Stadthalle Bad Godesberg in Bonn, Germany. He noted that this meeting marks a new phase in the history of the FCCC. For the first time delegates have assembled at the new seat of the secretariat, which will become the base for one of the most important international negotiating processes. Bonn Mayor Bärbel Dieckmann welcomed participants to Bonn and said the city intends to become a center for addressing international environment and development issues. Parliamentary Secretary Walter Hirche, on behalf of German Environment Minister Angela Merkel, stated that Germany’s willingness to host the secretariat demonstrates the high priority it places on the issue of climate change. He called for accelerated negotiations towards an ambitious protocol with strong reduction targets.