Their News [Archives:2008/1147/Local News]
– The Executive Coordinator of the Global Environment Facility (EEG/BDP/GEF), Mr. Yannick Glemarec Visit to Yemen
SANA'A, 13 April 2008: The Executive Coordinator of the Global Environment Facility (EEG/BDP/GEF) and UNDP Carbon Finance Manager, Mr. Yannick Glemarec, visited Yemen from 11- 14 April 2008, in order to consult with Government Officials and the Private Sector on the progress made so far in the implementation of the Clean Development Mechanism. During his visit, Mr. Glemarec met: H.E. the Prime Minister of Yemen Dr. Ali Mohammed Mojawar, H.E. Minister of Water and Environment and Chair of the CDM Approval Board, H.E. Minister of Industry and Trade, H.E Minister of Oil and Minerals, and other Governmental officials. As a background to the topic, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is a flexible mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol with two objectives: The CDM shall help developing countries in achieving sustainable development and assist industrialized countries in meeting their emission reduction targets. For each ton of CO2 equivalent that is reduced as a result of a CDM project, a certified emission reduction unit (CER) is issued and can be used by industrialized countries for the fulfillment of their commitments. Ideally, it will encourage additional capital flows into developing countries, accelerate technology transfer, creating new job opportunities and enable developing countries to leapfrog to cleaner technologies. In 2007 Yemen became one of the first countries in the world to sign a host Memorandum of Understanding for United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)'s Millennium Development Goals MDG Carbon Facility activities. The MDG Carbon Facility, an innovative mechanism for the development and commercialization of emission reduction projects, was established to help mobilize the potentially significant benefits of carbon finance for the developing world. This reflects the strong support for carbon financing as a development tool in Yemen and the foresight and leadership provided by UNDP-Yemen. In December 2007, Yemen will become the first country in the Arab State Region in which project-level agreement has been signed with the MDG Carbon Facility The Sana'a Landfill Gas project has the potential to generate annual emission reductions of over 100,000 tCO2e and contribute to improved waste collection and management – a significant environmental problem in Yemen. The cooperation on CDM capacity building by far exceeded the originally planned outputs. Yemen has received enormous international recognition for these crucial steps taken. The country has taken the lead in the region to promote its CDM capacity to the global carbon market.
The MDG Carbon Facility's compliance activities represent an innovative collaboration between UNDP and an international financial services provider, Fortis Bank (“Fortis”), offering prospective emissions reduction projects a comprehensive “one-stop-shop” package of services. UNDP and Fortis contribute their particular area of expertise, UNDP providing project development services and Fortis providing carbon banking services, comprised of purchasing and marketing the emission offsets generated by the Facility's projects. UNDP's collaboration with Fortis encompasses an initial pipeline of projects issuing emission offsets during the first Kyoto commitment period from 2008 to 2012.
Statements by Danish officials regarding Fitna
Statements to the press by the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Danish Prime Minister regarding Greet Wilders' film
Minister of Foreign Affairs Per Stig Moller
“It is important to respect and defend freedom of expression in Europe, but of curse that does not mean that one is in agreement with statements that re made. I am not in agreement with Mr. Widlers' statements. I don't think it is possible to say that 1.3 billion people are deluded terrorists. That vast majority of Muslims want a peaceful development,”
Prime Minster Anders Fogh Rasmussen:
“I have heard and seen enough to know that it can only be perceived as a pointless provocation. And as a matter of fact, I think there is every reason to pass less attention to persons who only want to provoke. The more attention they get, the more they will grow in numbers”.
Dutch Government's reaction to Wilders' film
Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has reacted to the film Fitna that MP Geert Wilders has released on the internet on 27 March.
Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende:
'On behalf of the Dutch government, I would like to respond to the online film by Mr Wilders.
The film shows images of violent acts and holds Islam and the Koran responsible for them. The government condemns such acts and those who commit them.
The film equates Islam with violence. We reject this interpretation. The vast majority of Muslims reject extremism and violence. In fact, the victims are often also Muslims.
We therefore regret that Mr Wilders has released this film. We believe it serves no purpose other than to cause offence. But feeling offended must never be used as an excuse for aggression and threats. The government is heartened by the initial restrained reactions of Dutch Muslim organisations.Muslims, Christians and people of other convictions can easily live together in peace. The problem is not religion, but misuse of religion to sow hatred and intolerance. That is why we are calling for respect for everyone's deepest convictions.
We are aware of the concerns and the sentiments about this film in the international Muslim community. We have recently spoken with many people at home and abroad to promote mutual understanding. We will continue to follow this course.
The Dutch government stands for a society in which freedom and respect go hand in hand. Such a society demands dedication and commitment. We oppose extremism. Anyone who breaks the law is dealt with firmly. Let us solve problems by working together. Let us reach out to others and build confidence and trust. Let us conquer prejudice. We shall surely succeed.'
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