France's President Nicolas Sarkozy has given the COP15 plenary a regular telling-off, saying that the tempo of negotiations must be hastened.

“Have you understood what I am saying? The negotiations must get under way now. Time is running away from us,” the French president said, suggesting that the leaders of the main countries should meet this evening.

“We need a working meeting at the decision-making level at which everyone is willing to compromise,” Sarkozy says in a speech reported to be somewhat different than his prepared one.

In particular Sarkozy is said to be demanding that the United States and China should bend towards each other.

At the same time he has issued a clear signal to the African countries, who have left the summit in the doldrums over the past couple of days on procedural issues.

“To my African friends I would like to say that you will be the first ones to suffer. Don’t let this opportunity slip through your hands,” Sarkozy says.

Poverty and transparency
Addressing the issues of who should receive funding and whether there should be verification, Sarkozy said: “Who would dare stand up here and say that the money shouldn’t go to the poorest countries in Africa and Asia?”

“And who would dare stand up here on this podium and say that there is no need for an organisation to check whether we live up to our obligations and ensure the necessary transparency. Everyone must show transparency,” Sarkozy says adding that an agreement should be reached to keep temperature rise below two degrees.

“It is our historic responsibility. Who dares deny it. So let us negotiate hard tonight so we can get a political agreement here in Copenhagen,” Sarkozy says..

Quotes are translated from Danish