Indonesia successful in convincing US to participate in UNFCCC

"The most significant outcome of the Washington meeting is that the US which was originally unprepared to take part in the UNFCCC is now ready to participate in it," State Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar said after a meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono here Tuesday.

As the Bali conference would not be a meeting of state leaders the participants would be ministers, Rachmat said adding some 20 ministers from the President George W. Bush administration were expected to take part in the Bali meeting.

Asked about the reason for which the US changed its stand, he said this was the fruit of Indonesia`s lobbies.

"They (the US) believe such is the best way to go and we have been successful in convincing them," he said.