The Secretary for Malvinas, Antarctica and the South Atlantic of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Parks Administration renewed a Framework Agreement for Cooperation and Technical Assistance with the aim of deepening the scientific and technical work they carry out jointly in Antarctica.
As per the objectives and priorities of the National Antarctic Policy developed by our country as a result of its uninterrupted 117 year presence in Antarctica, the National Antarctic Directorate and the Argentine Antarctic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of this agreement.
"The defense of our sovereignty, the conservation of natural resources and scientific research in Antarctica are State policies for the government of President Alberto Fernández," said Secretary Filmus, during the ceremony which took place on August 23rd at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and during which a video conference was held with park rangers and scientific personnel stationed in Antarctica.
Filmus also stressed that "the renewal of the agreement between the Secretary for Malvinas, Antarctica and the South Atlantic of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Administration of National Parks will further enhance the joint work that we have been carrying out in the white continent" and finally emphasized that “it is with great pride that we renew this agreement originally signed by General Jorge Leal, one of our Antarctic pioneers ”.
For his part, Erratchu mentioned that "the mutual collaboration agreement will allow national park rangers to participate in the annual expeditions to Orcadas Station in Antarctica with the purpose of conducting scientific research."
“For us it is very important, as a conservation organization to join these Antarctic campaigns, in which we strengthen our long-standing institutional relationship with the National Antarctic Directorate and with the Argentine Antarctic Institute to coordinate with both management teams regarding the implementation of public policies for the marine protected areas in the South Atlantic ”, concluded the head of National Parks.
The National Parks work in Antarctica dates back to 1990, when the then National Antarctic Director, General Jorge Leal (leader of the South Pole expedition in 1965), signed a reciprocal collaboration agreement with the National Parks Administration, which provided the framework for park rangers to contribute to the scientific and environmental conservation work that our country carries out in Antarctica.
The event was attended by national congresswoman for Tierra del Fuego, Rosana Bertone; the Director of National Antarctic Directorate, Patricia Ortúzar; National Director for Antarctic Foreign Policy, Máximo Gowland; and the Director of the Argentine Antarctic Institute, Walter Mac Cormack; the Malvinas Museum director, Edgardo Esteban; the Antarctic Joint Commander, Edgar Calandin. Also in attendance from National Parks were board member, Francisco González Taboas; Chief of Cabinet, Fernanda Álvarez; National Director for Operations, Federico Granato; National Director of Marine Areas, Mercedes Santos and Director for Human Resources, Alejandro Rojas.