Antarctic exploration text decried

Press, 23 October 1984, Page 1

Antarctic exploration text decried

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington

New Zealand is a party to a secret negotiations text which would allow the exploration for, and exploitation of, minerals in the Antiirpfip The secret negotiations text of the Antarctic Treaty nations was released yesterday by the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition and Greenpeace. It was published simultaneously in the United States, Britain, France, West Germany, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand. It is the second draft text prepared by the chairman

of the minerals regime negotiations of the treaty nations, Mr Chris Beeby, from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The first draft text was published by Greenpeace and the coalition in June, 1983. Apart from their general objections to having such a negotiating text at all, the two groups have four specific complaints about it. • There is no mechanism in the draft for conserva-tion-minded countries to join the agreement, or have any useful participation in making decisions.

• The degree of environ-

mental protection offered under the draft is "hopelessly inadequate.” There are environmental principles in the draft, but no mechanism for monitoring or policing its weak rules.

• Drilling and dredging in the early stages of mineral activity will not be subject to controls.

• The drafts proposed to open areas to minerals exploitation, and then to hand over all decisions to small groups of countries. The central body itself has no power to reject any project. The two groups noted that the parties to the Antarctic Treaty consistently af-

firmed their deep concern for the Antarctic environment.

“Such assertions contrast vividly with the secrecy of the negotiations and the appalling and inevitable environmental consequences,” they said. The coalition and Greenpeace had four criteria for managing the Antarctic under an international wilderness concept. Complete protection was needed for Antarctic wildlife. Wilderness values had to be protected. Scientific co-operation and the free exchange of data between the scientists of all countries had to continue, they said.

As well, Antarctica had to be kept a zone of peace, free from nuclear and other weapons, and free from the international discord the rivalry over resources would generate. The New Zealand convener of the coalition, Ms Cath Wallace, said that the veil of secrecy on the draft text of the agreement had to be raised. “The world has a right to judge for itself whether the last wilderness on Earth could be protected from the hazards of oil spills and resource rivalry by this document drawn up by the 16 Antarctic Treaty nations in secret,” she said. Although the General

Assembly of the United Nations was soon to debate the issue of the future of the Antarctic administration, the Treaty consultative parties, of which New Zealand was one, had refused to release this crucial document. An Australian Foreign Affairs spokesman said that the Beeby Draft included specific objectives and principles on environmental protection arid there were strict controls over any prospecting. Unlike other countries in the 16-nation Antarctic Treaty, the United States and the Soviet Union were involved in all negotiations because they were the only

two with Antarctic-wide activities, he said. The Foreign Affairs spokesman denied that the Beeby Draft was a secret document as the coalition DCQprfpd “It is a Government working party document and as such has not been made public,” the spokesman said. , “Conservation groups were informed of the contents when it was completed.” The report was the fifth draft in two years of a treaty for all nations involved in Antarctica. A final treaty text was not expected for another three years, he said.