4. ADOPTION OF AGENDA

(from "Chairman's Report of the Fifty-Second Annual Meeting")


The Chairman outlined the order of business he intended to follow, and proposed adoption of the revised agenda, including items added by Japan after the 60-day notification period due to delays resulting from the Golden Week Holiday (i.e. a proposed amendment to the Rules of Procedure regarding secret ballots, and proposed Schedule amendments relating to Agenda Items 5.1, 7.4.2 and 12.2). Japan appreciated the Chairman's suggestion and indicated that at this meeting it would not pursue its proposal for secret ballots, although these had been adopted by other similar organisations. It would submit its proposal on this matter again next year. The agenda was adopted.

Japan requested the Commission to withdraw the credentials of Greenpeace as observers to the Meeting. It believed that this would be consistent with previous actions of the Commission. It noted that last year the Commission had withdrawn the credentials of an NGO following a demonstration at the IWC headquarters in the UK. Previously, the Commission had also withdrawn the observer credentials of another NGO for its illegal actions against whaling vessels. Japan claimed that the Greenpeace campaign against its research programme in the Antarctic earlier this year involved illegal and violent actions that caused a collision with a Japanese research vessel and risked the lives of scientists and crew. It argued that the campaign of violence against a programme of scientific research carried out under the Convention should be strongly condemned by the Commission.

The USA noted that there were conflicting accounts of the incident, which was still under review, and that CITES had taken no action in response to a similar request. New Zealand and the Netherlands believed this was a legitimate, robust but peaceful protest and opposed the suggestion. Sweden, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Monaco, Austria, Spain, Finland, Australia, Mexico and Denmark held similar views.

Norway supported Japan, recalling the harassment of one of its vessels in the North Sea, resulting in an arrest and subsequent sentence by the courts. Antigua and Barbuda voiced its concern over such actions as well as attempted economic terrorism by NGOs and supported Japan, a position shared by St Lucia and St Kitts and Nevis.

The Chairman concluded that there was no consensus or clear majority for the Japanese proposal, but its views were noted.

In response to a request from Japan, the Chairman appointed a Credentials Committee comprising Australia, Japan and the Secretary.

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