MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Punta Arenas hosts next week Antarctic science programs summit

Retamales said 26 countries are expected for the Antarctic meeting

Chile will host the next annual meeting of the Council of Managers of Annual Antarctic Programs, CMNAP, which convenes 26 countries, reported the organizers. The host city will be Punta Arenas in the extreme south of Chile and headquarters of Chile’s Antarctic Institute.

Jose Retamales CMNAP president and managing director of Chile’s Antarctic Institute said the meeting will analyze “in depth” the contributions from the different scientific research programs, with special emphasis in a future “multilateral cooperation”.

“The event consolidates the Chilean government policy to move the Antarctic Institute’s main offices to Punta Arenas, making this city the gate to Antarctica and host of Antarctic research and international scientific meetings”, said Retamales.

The CMNAP summit is scheduled for August 3 to 6 and Chile will be represented by a delegation of 15 members, with Paulina Julio, deputy manager of INACH, head of the group.

Together with the CMNAP summit, four international forums addressing science, logistics and environment conservation in Antarctica will be taking place.

CMNAP was created in 1988.