Zoellick To Discuss Double Secret Probation Climate Plan At ASEAN Meeting

[hatrack]

US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick will offer details at a summit in Laos on reported secret US talks with Australia on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, US officials said Wednesday. "I think Deputy Secretary Zoellick, who has just arrived in Laos for the ASEAN meeting, will have more to say about this tomorrow, local time, later on today our time," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

"So I would hesitate to preempt the deputy secretary at this point," the spokesman told reporters. The White House declined to confirm explicitly a report in The Australian newspaper that the two allies had quietly worked to build an international agreement to battle global warming, but said an explanation would come soon.

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"I do expect that you'll be hearing more out of the region later, and I think we may have some more information that we'll be able to get into with you later, as well," spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters. "You've heard the president talk about how we have been working in partnership with countries around the world to promote cleaner energy and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and that is something we have continued to move forward on," he said.

"In terms of the specific announcement that you're talking about, I've seen some media reports," said McClellan. "But I'm not going to make the announcement ahead of anything that's going to be coming out of there first." Australian Environment Minister Ian Campbell confirmed that the United States and Australia had been secretly negotiating and that details of the international deal as well as the countries involved would be announced soon.

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http://www.terradaily.com/2005/050727191258.vtwmis5i.html