The XVIII Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was held in Kyoto, Japan from 11-22 April 1994. The substantive items of the agenda included : Review of the operation of the Antarctic Treaty System; Implementation of the Madrid Protocol on Environmental Protection pending its entry into force; Liability for environmental damages; Regulation of tourist activities in Antarctica; Establishment of a Secretariat for ATS; Questions relating to exercise of jurisdiction, cooperation in scientific and logistic matters, Inspections under Antarctic Treaty System. The meeting was attended by representatives of the twenty-six Consultative Parties including India and by the delegations of seven contracting parties.

Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty

The meeting recognised that the priority task must be the interim implementation of the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty. It was agreed to constitute a new transitional working group on environmental matters to carry out the functions of the Environment Committee envisaged under the Protocol. The agenda for the XIX ATCM to be held in Seoul in May 1995 was restructured.

Considerable efforts are being made by Consultative Parties, including India, active in Antarctic research to implement the provisions of the Protocol as far as practicable. Efforts are underway to introduce updated means of waste disposal and the parties have begun the process of introducing environmental impact assessment of activities in Antarctica. Swedish team which visited our Permanent research station at Maitri in Antarctica reported that the operations there were being carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty and Environmental Protocol.

The growing industry of tourism in Antarctica attracted much attention. To help both visitors and Non-Governmental expeditions to Antarctica to be aware of, and to comply with the provisions of the Protocol the meeting agreed on a set of detailed guidelines.

However, there was no agreement on the question of location of the Secretariat for the Antarctic Treaty System.