HIROSHIMA ¨C The 48th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting ended its 11-day session in the city of Hiroshima on Thursday, without reaching an agreement on key issues, including the protection of emperor penguins.
The meeting¡¯s decision-making required unanimity among the consultative countries. A proposal to designate emperor penguins as a specially protected species was supported by an overwhelming majority, but China and Russia opposed it.
The participating countries also failed to approve a proposal to allow Canada, Belarus and Turkey to become consultative countries.
Regarding restrictions on Antarctic tourism, the meeting adopted a resolution urging countries to share information.
During the meeting, the Ukrainian delegation claimed that a scientist from the country is being detained by Russia and demanded the immediate release of the scientist. The Russian delegation disputed the claim.
Hideki Uyama, Japan¡¯s ambassador in charge of the meeting, said at a news conference that the impact of geopolitical rifts on the gathering could not be denied.
Still, he emphasized that the session?sent a message of international cooperation even in an era of division and conflict.
The Antarctic Treaty was adopted in 1959 during the Cold War.
The Hiroshima gathering was the first consultative meeting held in Japan in 32 years. It was joined by about 400 people from 44 countries, including 29 consultative countries, such as the United States and China.
The next meeting will be held in Incheon, South Korea, in May next year.
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