New Delhi, Dec 22 (IANS) India stands by the Copenhagen Accord which contains provisions to ensure that the country’s national interests are protected, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said in the Rajya Sabha Tuesday.
He rebutted arguments that the Copenhagen Accord has sounded the death knell of the Kyoto Protocol.

The minister made the assertion while replying to a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the Copenhagen Accord.

“There is a provision (in the accord) for international consultations and analysis for implementation of the actions taken (on emission reductions). The guidelines for such consultation and analysis will be devised and defined in due course. We have been able to incorporate a specific provision that these ‘clearly defined guidelines will ensure that the national sovereignty will be respected’,” Ramesh pointed out.

“The Copenhagen Accord in no way signals the demise of the Kyoto Protocol,” he added.

Earlier, the BJP tore into the Copenhagen Accord, saying it would affect the country’s national interests.

“We have a lot of concerns. We should not be seen as the fall guy, but still we should not let our interests fall,” Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley contended after Ramesh read out a seven-page statement on the Copenhagen climate summit that concluded Dec 18.

The Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die after Ramesh’s reply.