Diplomats discuss regime

Press, 15 May 1987, Page 18

Diplomats discuss regime

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington Diplomats from 35 ’ countries, including New Zealand, have assembled in Uruguay to produce a minerals regime for Antarctica. Antarctic Treaty members are meeting in Montevideo until May 21 to discuss mining and oildrilling rules. There is also a contingent of non-Govem-ment organisations, including Greenpeace and the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition, to monitor the talks. One focus of the meeting will be the text prepared by the Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Mr Chris Beeby,

who chaired a private meeting of some treaty countries at Whangaroa in Northland during March. Greenpeace and the coalition are concerned that minerals exploitation will inevitably lead to damage to the pristine Antarctic environment. Ms Kelly Rigg, for Greenpeace, said the meeting would consider critical political issues. These included who made decisions and how; the rights of the seven countries claiming territory in Antarctica; the powers and obligations of countries that sponsored miners; and who would reap the financial rewards of exploiting Antarctica.

Unfortunately, these considerations! seemed to outweigh environmental protection in the negotiations, Ms Rigg said. The negotiators were in a hurry to reach an agreement Some wanted to adopt the minerals convention before the negotiation of important elements — such as detailed provisions about liability in the event of an accident. Some treaty countries had so far resisted the attempts of a few countries, such as New Zealand and Australia, to insist that the convention bind operatoirs and their sponsoring States to accept unconditional and unlimited liability for en-

vironmental damage. The convenor of the Coalition for New Zealand, Ms Cath Wallace, said such reluctance to accept full responsibility could only be construed as meaning that these countries expected damage from mining to the Antarctic environment She said many of thfe negotiators were resistant to public participation and scrutiny of decisions. The pro-mining countries were Insisting that there be no separation between the exploration and full development stages. ,"■ Environmental organisations wanted a full reassessment of every project at each critical stage.