MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Bielsa calls for more “Antarctic cooperation”.

Argentine Foreign Affairs Minister Rafael Bielsa last Tuesday called for a “more effective international cooperation” in Antarctica during the official inauguration of the Antarctic Treaty permanent Secretariat in Buenos Aires.

In his opening speech Mr. Bielsa underlined Argentina's commitment to Antarctica and promised full support for all "constructive activities" in the continent.

"Proof of Argentina's commitment to Antarctica and the Treaty is that in 1992 we offered Buenos Aires as the permanent seat of the Secretariat and more recently the Argentine government has facilitated these offices".

Mr. Bielsa also extended a "warm welcome to Argentina" to Dutch born Jan Huber who will be running the Secretariat until June 2008 following his nomination as Executive Secretary during the XXVII Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting held in South Africa last May/June.

This is the first time ever Argentina becomes the permanent seat of an international agreement plus the fact that for over four decades the Antarctic Treaty has proved a cooperation model in promoting scientific research, peaceful activities and conservation of the environment.

Mr. Bielsa pointed out that the Secretariat in Buenos Aires is the result of joint efforts for years of "all consultative members with the noble purpose of achieving the greatest efficiency of this important cooperation instrument".

"Concern with protection of the Antarctic environment", the "growing complexity of Antarctic affairs" and a full agenda of Consultative and Environmental Protection committees meetings spurred a quick decision regarding the establishment of the permanent Secretariat, revealed the Argentine minister.

The consensus to have Buenos Aires as the permanent seat of the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat was reached in the consultative meeting held in Saint Petersburg in 2001 when the United Kingdom finally lifted its objection to the Argentine candidacy.

Executive Secretary Jan Huber praised Argentina for its active role and celerity in the establishment of the Treaty's Secretariat.

"Not only have they given us these comfortable and ample offices free, but their efficient work with other members helped with the quick setting up of this efficient and effective Secretariat", said Mr. Huber. Further on Mr. Huber underlined that while the rest of the world has suffered war and crisis, "not a single armed or other conflict has taken place in Antarctica". All Antarctic matters have been addressed diplomatically in the framework of close and friendly cooperation through the consultative process of the Antarctic Treaty (1961) added Mr. Huber. However Mr. Huber also highlighted that it's "a historic day" because the Treaty was essentially born to find a solution to sovereignty claims in Antarctica, and it has proved to be "an agreement on disagreement". "Fundamental differences persist", because some countries such as Argentina are claiming parts of Antarctica, although the great majority of the 45 part states are not talking about claims and don't acknowledge the seven countries that are insistent on the issue, added Mr. Huber. "The sovereignty issue persists and its solution in the short term is impossible".

The Antarctic Treaty became effective 1961 and freezes, but does not annul, all sovereignty claims. The Treaty preserves Antarctica as an area of peace, research and international cooperation.

Argentina argues its claim on a hundred years of uninterrupted presence in Antarctica.

The Secretariat's main activity will be granting support to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative and the Environment Protection Committee meetings which are held annually in one of the consulting parties. The 28 countries involved are active in scientific research in Antarctica and therefore fully participate in the decision making process of the Treaty.

The first challenge for Mr. Huber and his staff will be contributing to the organization of the XVIII Consultative Meeting scheduled to take place in Stockholm, Sweden in 2005.