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COP 15 – Venezuela Slams L7 Document, “Our Principles Do Not Have a Price Tag”

Copenhagen, Dec 19, 2009

As the fate of the COP 15 hangs in the balance, Venezuela issued a strong critique of the L7 document, the proposal in question.
Partial and choppy excerpts:
“Developing countries spend 1.3 trillion dollars a year for war. Here we are not begging. These countries are calling for figures that will enable them to save there own lives. 1.5 degrees. 350 parts per million…
Now we propose that we leave L7 as miscellaneous.. we don’t want to burn it.
Keep your checkbooks in your pockets and commit yourselves to principle . You can’t purchase principles, Mr. developed countries…”

“And I would like to point out that we only have had this document for four hours. And you expect us within four hours to make a substantive decision – do you really think this is a serious proposal? That is my question….
The imperial interests are being imposed and this is flying in the face of those who are most vulnerable. And we would reject this document…”

“Our dignity does not have a price tag. We will not sell the principles – not even for 30 billion dollars, our principles do not have a price tag”