A team of inspectors appointed by the Argentine Republic and the Republic of Chile undertook a joint inspection of the Rothera Antarctic Station, operated by the United Kingdom.
The inspection was conducted within the framework of the Antarctic Treaty (AT), Article VII, and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, Article 14. Joint inspections were undertaken for the second consecutive year; on this occasion, they began with an inspection of Czech station Johann Mendel on 19 January (inspected for the first time), and ended today with the Rothera station, operated by the UK's British Antarctic Survey (BAS).
The purpose of these inspections is to promote the objectives and the application of the provisions of the Antarctic Treaty and its Protocol, and to address mostly environmental protection aspects, as well as operational and security matters, among others. Additionally, they enable observation of the Antarctic programme in operation, as well as of other countries' stations.
This joint inspection was requested by Foreign Ministers Susana Malcorra and Heraldo Muñoz, following up on the process initiated in 2016 through joint inspections in six foreign Antarctic refuges and stations. Inspections enable increased Argentine and Chilean presence and leadership in Antarctic territory, and strengthen both countries' commitment to the Antarctic Treaty System. Also, they further consolidate the ties of cooperation and the privileged relationship with regard to Antarctic matters maintained by Argentina and the Republic of Chile.
The delegations were headed by the National Director of Antarctic Foreign Policy of the Argentine Foreign Ministry, Minister Máximo Gowland, and the Director for Antarctica of the Chilean Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Francisco Berguño. The team of inspectors had logistics support from Argentine Air Force aircraft, operated from the Marambio Station.
Press release No. 049/17.
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