Moldova volunteers to run COP29 climate summit, Serbia also mulls bid

DUBAI, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Moldova has put itself forward as a candidate for the presidency of next year's U.N. climate summit and Serbia is also considering throwing its hat in the ring, according to people familiar with the matter and a document seen by Reuters.

The two countries' proposals are an attempt to resolve a geopolitical spat that has left the COP29 event without a host.

Talks on who will take over from current COP28 host the United Arab Emirates hit an unprecedented deadlock, with countries in the eastern Europe region, which is due to host the annual U.N. summit, unable to agree on a candidate.

Moldova has now volunteered to preside over the talks, according to a letter from the country to other Eastern European nations, seen by Reuters. The tiny land-locked country, however, has not volunteered to host the massive event, sources familiar with the matter said.

The sources told Reuters that Serbia was considering putting itself forward for both hosting and running COP29, but had yet to make a formal bid.

Azerbaijan also confirmed on Thursday it was bidding to host COP29, and had Armenia's support to do so. A joint statement from both administrations said the move was a goodwill gesture to promote reconciliation between the estranged South Caucasus neighbours.

Azerbaijan and Armenia had previously been expected to block one another's bids to host.

Meanwhile, Russia has vetoed bids from countries from the European Union - which has sanctioned Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. That blocked Bulgaria's bid to host.

Whether any of the latest candidate countries will win regional approval remains to be seen. Diplomats are racing to reach a decision before the COP28 summit's scheduled end on Dec. 12.

Under U.N. guidelines the president for a COP rotates between five global regions and it is up to countries in that region to unanimously decide between themselves who takes it on.

Serbia is a traditional ally of Russia, but like Moldova, it has applied to join the EU. Moldovan President Maia Sandu has denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Moldova's environment ministry and the office of Serbia's president did not respond to requests for comment.

The COP president plays a key role in guiding talks among the nearly 200 countries present at annual U.N. climate talks, and usually one country takes on both the presidency and hosting of the summit.

If countries cannot approve a COP29 president, the UAE may have to keep the role for a second year. If countries cannot choose a new host, the summit's location could revert to Germany, where the U.N.'s climate secretariat is headquartered.

A spokesperson for the German foreign office said discussions were taking place among Eastern European countries to find a solution.

"Germany is aware that, as seat of the UNFCCC, it has a particular responsibility and role to play under the rules of the global climate conferences," the spokesperson added.

The geopolitical deadlock has left whichever nation ends up running COP29 with scarce time to prepare for the role, and some negotiators in Dubai said they expect next year's event to be a scaled-back affair, given the short time-frame.