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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President


For Immediate Release Wednesday, December 10, 1997

STATEMENT OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

I was extremely gratified to learn that the nations of the world agreed in Kyoto today to take strong, binding action against global warming. This historic agreement lays a solid foundation for long-term efforts to protect our climate while creating new opportunities for economic growth.

All Americans can be proud of the role our country played in securing this comprehensive agreement. The core elements were those laid out in President Clinton's proposal, and in the final hours, our skillful negotiating team led by Ambassador Stu Eizenstat led the way in bridging gaps among nations.

Addressing global warming is a long-term challenge and the Kyoto agreement is a vital turning point. Clearly, more work is needed. In particular, we will continue to press for meaningful participation by key developing nations. We are confident that can be achieved.

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