DOHA: The local media saw the Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority HE Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah at his best in the concluding sessions of COP18/CMP8 meeting yesterday.
His tone was in stark contrast to that of initial days of the UN climate talk when he faced criticism in his capacity as the Presidency of the COP. However, during the critical hours of the last two days, he struck a personal chord with the attendees.
Addressing the plenary session yesterday, Al Attiyah said: “I just want to make all of you happy. Unfortunately I am not carrying a magic wand for that. If you are ready to sit here for two or more weeks, I can guarantee that.
I love to stay with you. I have been seeing only your faces for the last two weeks. I forgot the face of my family members and children. But we have to finish the job.
“Believe me it is a good text, we cannot find a text that make everyone happy. I am not saying what is in store is a perfect package. Perfection is just a concept. If great minds like Plato and Socrates were in the COP presidency, I assure you even they will not be able to deliver a perfect COP18 package to you.”
On Friday, when he felt that the Doha meet was not going ahead according to the original schedule, Al Attiyah told the Parties: “You need to really push to close on the contentious issues. We are hours and hours behind schedule. I do not mind the delay. I’m living just 10 minutes away from this conference room. But you have to catch a flight.” The Peninsula
