The Africa’s negotiating team led by PM Meles has received bid farewell here on Saturday at the National Palace organized by the renowned artistes and personalities.

Speaking at the occasion PM Meles said the climate issue has become a matter of survival that enforced African to speak in one voice.

Though it is immature to talk about the outcomes of the conference, Africa would leave stone unturned to ensure its benefits, he said.

The premier said Africa’s decision to speak with one voice and field one negotiation team is for the first time in the history of the continent.

“ We need to have adequate compensation for the damage done tour development prospects and we need money-not the phony money that we have frequently been promised without any prospect of it being delivered but real money that can make a difference” Meles said.

“ I am deeply honored to have been chosen by my colleague to be Africa’s spokesman on the matter and lead Africa’s negotiation team. I am sure every Ethiopian feel equally honored” he said.

“ I want to assure everyone here that I will work tirelessly and with total dedication to the fulfillment of the interests of our continents as a whole in the upcoming negotiations” he said.

“ I am determined to do so on the one hand through reaching out to the leaders of the development countries in a constructive and flexible manner and reaching out to major developing countries seeking their solidarity with us so that no one will be tempted to ignore our voice” , he said.

African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson, Erastus Mewecha on the occasion said Africa’s decision to speak out with one voice, represented by one team of delegation at Copenhagen, is a landmark decision.

The deputy chairperson said African message is to put across that developed countries should substantially reduce their carbon emissions and support Africa while other developing countries should contribute their fair share to the solution.

President Girma Woldegiorgis on the occasion expressed his good luck message for the delegation.

Africa’s negotiation team includes leaders of Ethiopia, Kenya, Algeria, South Africa, Libya, DR Congo, Mozambique, Mauritius, Nigeria and Uganda.

The premier has received messages from various segments of the society, and written and paintings that depicted the adverse impact of climate change were staged at the occasion.

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