Indian interest in Antarctic research

Press, 22 January 1982, Page 12

Indian interest in Antarctic research

From

BRIAR WHITEHEAD

in Wellington

The Indian High Commission in Wellington does not know whether the Indian Government will become a party to the Antarctic Treaty although an Indian Scientific expedition arrived in Antarctica on January 9.

India and China are the only countries that are not parties to the Treaty but have scientists working in Antarctica. The Treaty provides a framework for co-operative scientific exploration on the continent. Government Departments in Wellington were not sure of the intentions of either Government to accede to the Treaty and neither the Indian High Commission nor the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China were aware of plans to join the Treaty. The United States, as depository Government for the Treaty would receive any such

approach. The American Embassy was not aware of depositing of instruments of accession, but would not need to know, a spokesman said. The Indian Acting High Commissioner in. New Zealand, Mr A. P. Rellin, had two telex messages from New Delhi reporting the Indian Prime Minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi congratulating the team of 20 Indian scientists on their arrival and noting that “the Indian .Ocean links India to Antarctica.” The achievement would “take India forward to greater success in science.” Mr Rellin said the expedition was purely scientific in nature. Government officials said that India had given advance notice of the expedition to Treaty members, and possibly would make its decision about membership after it worked in Antarctica and had evaluated

the benefits of continued research and membership of the Treaty. Nations not members of the Treaty were not breaking international law by sending scientific teams to Antarctica, they said. The continent was international territory. However, working in co-operation with other treaty nations had obvious benefits. It was not expected that the Indian or Chinese teams would work outside treaty conventions even though they were not party to it.

An N.Z.P.A. Reuter report from New Delhi said the team was expected to perform oceanographic experiments mainly in an area known as the Antarctic convergence, on the outer limit of the Antarctic Ocean, and in the sea around existing Soviet, Japanese and Australian stations.