Crusader claims Ice support

Press, 22 June 1989, Page 19

Crusader claims Ice support

N’ZPA-Reuter Paris The environmental crusader, Mr Jacques Cousteau, has said that the Australian Prime Minister, Mr Bob Hawke, had promised to support his campaign to make the Antarctic an international wilderness reserve.

Mr Cousteau emerged from breakfast with Mr Hawke, on a four-day visit to France, saying: "We have almost the same position for the protection of the Antarctic... we will work together.” The 78-year-old undersea explorer is campaigning against a new convention which sets guidelines for mining and drilling in Antarctica. The convention was hammered out last year in Wellington to replace an existing 1959 treaty. Saying both Mr Hawke and the French President, Mr Francois Mitterrand, backed his efforts, Mr Cousteau declared: “Everyone now realises there is a global environmental problem... the first step is to protect the world’s biggest reserve of

fresh water.” Mr Mitterrand said last week that he was “seduced” by Mr Cousteau’s notion of banning mining and drilling and turning the ice-bound polar region into an international nature reserve.

The Wellington convention binding 16 nations cannot come into effect if both Australia and France, two of seven countries with territorial claims in Antarctica, refuse to sign by a November deadline. Mr Cousteau said he believed New Zealand was also ready to change its mind on the July, 1988, agreement reached after six years of tough negotiations.

Mr Hawke, he said, was willing to back his efforts to gain support from other countries who must sign the convention. The French Prime Minister, Mr Michel Rocard, said that the two countries sought a general arid definitive policy on Antarctica and would launch a diplomatic offensive together.