No consensus on Antarctica.

No consensus on Antarctica

Despite intensive efforts to reach consensus, the forty-second General Assembly adopted two resolutions on the question of Antarctica by roll-call votes. In a text approved by 122 votes to none, with 9 abstentions, the Assembly appealed once again to the Consultative Parties to the Antarctic Treaty to take urgent measures to exclude South Africa from participation in meetings of the Parties. Twenty-four delegations formally announced that they were not participating in the vote.

In a second text adopted by a vote of 100 to none, with 10 abstentions, the Assembly called upon the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties to invite the Secretary-General or his representative to all meetings of the Treaty Parties, including the minerals regime negotiations, and to impose a moratorium on those negotiations until all members of the international community could fully participate. Forty-four delegations did not participate in that vote.

Richard Woolcott of Australia, speaking on behalf of Treaty parties, said consensus was the only realistic basis for consideration of Antarctica by the Assembly. Consensus had not been achieved despite protracted, last-minute efforts, he said. Dato Yusof Hitam of Malaysia expressed disappointment that once again the opportunity for consensus was missed in the debate.

The 20 Consultative Parties to the Antarctic Treaty are: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, Federal Republic of Germany, France, German Democratic Republic, India, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Africa, USSR, United Kingdom, United States and Uruguay. The 17 Non-Consultative Treaty Parties are: Austria, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Republic of Korea, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Romania, Spain and Sweden.