Obama's suprise meeting with BASIC leaders help clinch deal

Sagar Kulkarni
Copenhagen, Dec 19 (PTI) It was high drama at the venue
of climate talks here Friday night with US President Barack
Obama making a surprise entry into a room where Indian Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh and leaders from China, Brazil and
South Africa were in a huddle discussing strategy on
negotiations.

This meeting proved to be the clincher for finding common
ground on the extended climate change talks.
Obama was apparently hoping to meet Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao alone and after that hold separate meetings with Singh,
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and South
African President Jacob Zuma.
But, the four leaders wanted to meet him together, rather
than in separate sessions, an official privy to negotiations
said.
Obama and his team appeared to be taken aback but went
ahead to meet them together.
"Can I join you now? Are you ready to talk to me or do
you need more time? I can go back and come again," said Obama
to the leaders of the four countries as he walked into the
room with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and aides.
He was told by leaders that he was welcome to join them.
What followed was an intense discussion between Obama and the
leaders of the four emerging economies with the result being
finalisation of a broad agreement on which they could work.
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