Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 20 July (BelTA) – Belarus wants to become a consultative party to the Antarctic Treaty, head of the Belarusian Antarctic expedition Alexei Gaidashov told the Belarus 1 TV channel, BelTA informs.

The first object of the Belarusian Antarctic station has been built in the Antarctic recently. According to Alexei Gaidashov, this is an important event for the country which has been working in the Antarctic for ten years. “This is a multidimensional foothold in the southern hemisphere. Belarus does not have representative offices, either diplomatic or production ones, in the Antarctic. This foothold will give a kind of support to our country and the country’s policy in the Antarctic zone,” Alexei Gaidashov said.

According to the scientist, the opening of the Antarctic station is a significant event for any state which is included in the Antarctic Treaty and a request for the permanent presence in this zone.

Alexei Gaidashov reminded that since 2006, when Belarus joined the treaty, the issue of harmonizing the status of a consultative party has been on the agenda. “This is a very complicated process. We have a rather strong position and our own niche, we have significantly improved our position in the system of the treaty. Belarus is now included in it as a non-consultative party. The status of a consultative party allows the country to vote, impose a veto, i.e. to take part in the preparation of decisions regarding the present and the future of the Antarctic,” he said.

The 25^th anniversary of the environmental protection protocol of the Antarctic Treaty was marked at the recent consultative meeting. Fifty-four participants of the treaty, including Belarus, signed a declaration after the meeting. The head of the Belarusian Antarctic expedition said that today there are no economically viable technologies allowing to efficiently extract natural resources in the Antarctic. When they emerge, it will be possible to change the protected area status of the Antarctic.

The Belarusian scientist said that the opening of the station in the Antarctic will help Belarus enhance its presence there. The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus has enumerated the most promising avenues of research for Belarusian specialists. These included the aerosol and gas composition of the atmosphere, climate and geographic research, biological and microbiological research, ecology.

Alexei Gaidashov said that Belarusian scientists may spend the winter of 2019-2020 in the Antarctic. Plans have been made to build 10-12 infrastructure objects at the Belarusian Antarctic station by this time.