Merkel: ‘mixed feelings’ about outcome of Copenhagen talks reached after day of diplomacy
By Michael Casey, APFriday, December 18, 2009
Merkel: Mixed feelings about Copenhagen outcome
COPENHAGEN — German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she has “mixed feelings” about the outcome of the Copenhagen climate conference.
President Barack Obama says the United States, China and several other countries reached an “unprecedented breakthrough” Friday to curb greenhouse gas emissions — including a mechanism to verify compliance.
Merkel calls the talks extremely difficult and says “I must also say that I view the outcome with mixed feelings.”
The deal falls short of committing any nation to emissions reductions beyond a general acknowledgment that the effort should contain global temperatures along lines agreed on by leading economies in July.
A European Union news conference to announce its reaction was postponed. An official said an agreement involving nations not included in the deal Obama announced was being negotiated.
Associated Press writers John Heilprin, Arthur Max, Seth Borenstein and Karl Ritter contributed to this report.
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