Antarctic Treaty to be Administered from Argentina

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, July 24, 2001 (ENS) - A long awaited breakthrough has been made with a decision to establish the first secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty System in Argentina, 40 years after the treaty came into force.

A blocking veto against the choice of Buenos Aires has been removed by Britain, allowing the Antarctic Treaty System to back establishment of the office there by consensus.

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Sea ice in Antarctica (Photos courtesy Antarctic Treaty System)
The Antarctic Treaty internationalized and demilitarized the Antarctic Continent and provided for its cooperative exploration and future use. In 1991, the Madrid Protocol designated Antarctica as a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science. It sets out environmental principles, incorporates a conditional prohibition on mineral resources activities, and requires the conduct of Environmental Impact Assessments for proposed activities.

Since its establishment in 1961, the treaty system has relied on the rotating host country for its Antarctic Treaty meeting to facilitate joint management of the region.

Despite the growing number of member countries and increasing complexity of their work, the Antarctic Treaty System remained exceptional among international organizations for not having its own secretariat.

Debate within the treaty system about establishing the office was partly limited by concerns about its powers. It also became caught up in wrangling between countries keen to host the office, including Australia and Argentina.

But for several years Buenos Aires has remained the only option accepted by all countries except the United Kingdom. London vetoed the choice because of continuing bilateral tensions following the 1982 Falklands War.

Last week at the annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia, the breakthough came when Britain announced to the meeting that it would join the consensus.

ice No comment was immediately available from the UK or Argentinian governments.

The Australian delegation leader, Dr. Tony Press, welcomed the decision. "It will provide very useful assistance in running meetings and co-ordinating inter-sessional work," he said.

The go-ahead presents an opportunity to revitalize the treaty system, according to Dr. Marcus Haward, program leader at the Antarctic Co-operative Research Centre at the University of Tasmania.

"As the numbers of treaty parties grow and their business becomes more complex it will be important just to have it act as a clearing house," Dr. Haward said. "It's also a welcome sign relations between Argentina and the United Kingdom are continuing to improve."

Visit the Antarctic Treaty System online at: http://www.antarctic.com.au/encyclopaedia/hist/AntTreSys.html

{Published in cooperation with The Antarctican.}