Today marks the 58th anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in Washington, on 1 December 1959. Its 12 original signatory countries, among them Argentina, had previously participated in scientific activities in the sixth continent, within the framework of the International Geophysical Year (1957-1958).
Signed in the context of geopolitical tensions during the Cold War, the Antarctic Treaty sought to prevent all forms of armed conflict in Antarctica, as well as to guarantee freedom of scientific research by promoting international cooperation to that end. Over time, these geopolitical concerns were coupled with a genuine interest in guaranteeing the preservation of the Antarctic environment and its ecosystems.
Over the past 4 decades, the Antarctic Treaty has been at the core of a series of international agreements which established the international legal framework in force for Antarctic management, known as the "Antarctic Treaty System", which includes the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972), the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980) and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (1991), as well as the regulations introduced by Antarctic fora created by said instruments.
On the occasion of this new anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty, the Argentine Republic salutes the international Antarctic community and once again renews its commitment to this successful multilateral experience.
Press release No. 554/17
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