'Africa to safeguard interests at Copenhagen'

Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Africa’s chief negotiator at the Copenhagen Climate Summit Meles Zenawi has said Africa needs a successful outcome in Copenhagen more than any other place and will not allow its basic interests be trampled upon.

Meles said the climate change issue had become a matter of survival which had forced Africans to speak with one voice and Africa would leave no stone unturned to ensure its benefits.

"I am determined to do so on the one hand through reaching out to the leaders of the developed 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.

The prime minister said Africa needed to secure adequate compensation for the damage done to the continent's development prospects.

"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.

Africa's message is that developedn countries should substantially reduce their carbon emissions and support Africa while other developing countries should contribute their fair share to the solution, he added.

Apart from Meles, the African negotiating team includes the leaders of Kenya, Algeria, South Africa, Libya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Mauritius, Nigeria and Uganda.