New International Interest in Antarctica 



As noted in previous Commission Reports, there is growing 

 international interest in Antarctica. Since the Treaty entered 

 into force in 1961, 26 additional nations have acceded to it, 

 bringing the total number of Parties to 38. Ten of the acceding 

 states have achieved Consultative Status by establishing and 

 maintaining research programs in the Antarctic, making a 

 total of 22 Parties eligible to participate in making decisions 

 under the Antarctic Treaty. 3 



The growing international interest in Antarctica reflects, 

 in part, recognition of the unigue scientific values of 

 Antarctica and the influence of Antarctica on global climate 

 and weather patterns. It also reflects efforts by a number 

 of countries to identify and exploit undeveloped fishery 

 resources in areas not under national jurisdiction, and 

 speculation about potential non-living mineral resources, 

 particularly possible offshore oil and gas resources. In 

 addition, there is a growing interest in tourism and an 

 increasing tourist industry. 



Speculation about possible non-living resources appears 

 to have been a major factor in stimulating an initiative 

 started by Malaysia in 1983 to involve the United Nations in 

 Antarctic matters. In 1988, the "Question of Antarctica" was 

 raised again, and two resolutions were adopted by vote during 

 the forty-third session of the United Nations General Assembly 

 in November. The first resolution expressed regret that the 

 Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties had proceeded with 

 negotiations and, on 2 June 1988, had adopted the Convention 

 on Regulation of Antarctic Mineral Resources Activities. It 

 calls upon the Consultative Parties to invite the United 

 Nations Secretary General or his representative to all meetings 

 of the Treaty Parties and reguests that the Secretary-General 

 provide a report on these meetings to the forty-fourth session 

 of the General Assembly. The second resolution repeats an 

 earlier appeal to the Antarctic Treaty Parties to exclude the 

 apartheid regime of South Africa from participating in meetings 

 of the Consultative Parties. 



The Marine Mammal Commission believes that the Antarctic 

 Treaty and the related agreements that form the Antarctic 

 Treaty system provide the necessary basis for protecting and 



3 At the end of 1988, the Antarctic Treaty Consultative 

 Parties were: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, 

 Peoples Republic of China, France, German Democratic Republic, 

 Federal Republic of Germany, India, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, 

 Norway, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Union of Soviet 

 Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay. 



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