Trinidad Diary 2

Sacre Bleu! The 1000 year rivalry between France and England is over it seems. Nicolas Sarkozy took the Commonwealth Heads of Government by storm in Trinidad today by all accounts - well New Zealand's account anyway.

And he was impressive at a press conference he ran afterwards in Trinidad.

The French president's turbo-charged visit means John Key is now less convinced that he should stay away from the Copenhagen climate change talks than he was, though only marginally.

There's now a six per cent chance he will go instead of a five per cent one, Key said later but only half joking. I predict he will go.

Sarkozy ran the most impressive press conference I've ever seen - clear, focused, concise, committed, controversial, even combative without being rude. It's no wonder Europe is leading the world on climate change with him and Gordon Brown driving it.

No one asked Sarkozy about the All Black test tonight. Somehow I get the feeling it is the last thing on his mind.

John Key is at the dinner now for the Queen where he has proposed the toast to her on behalf of leaders. South Africa's Jacob Zuma proposed the toast to the Commonwealth. Key is sitting with Gordon Brown and Zuma and Malaysia's Dato Sri Mohd Najib.

The day started with the opening ceremony where it became clear that a majority of African countries have given Chogm a miss. Hopefully Key will press Zuma at the dinner to find out why so many were absent. Only seven out of 16 African leaders attended in person. One African specialist journalist here believes it is a boycott over Zimbabwe, though there has been no talk of one.

Today has been totally dominated by climate change and human rights issues will get an airing tomorrow. I hope the leaders have the guts to confront the Ugandan president, Yoweri Museveni, about a disgusting piece of legislation before his Parliament, allowing HIV positive men to be executed.

As the host of the last Chogm he was given a speaking slot this morning.

Expulsion from the Commonwealth would be too generous a treatment for Uganda were it to pass.

Now that I have seen Port of Spain in the daylight it seems a lot better place than it did last night. And the people are incredibly pleasant and friendly - except the odd one or two in uniform whose mission in life is to prevent sensible people from sensibly going about their work.

The secretary general of the Commonwealth, Kamalesh Sharma, invited a journalist from each country to the opening ceremony as a guest. Those of us that went that way meant that unlike our brethren who were it covering it from the wings, we did not have to get up before dawn to be herded to an empty theatre in order to wait for three hours before it started.

When will the organizers of Chogm, Apec etc wake up?

- Audrey Young

PICTURED: President Sarkozy arriving at CHOGM in Trinidad. Photo / AP