22. PARTICIPATION OF NON-MEMBER WHALING NATIONS
(from "Chairman's Report of the Twenty-Seventh Meeting")
The Chairman reported that in accordance with the resolution passed at the
previous meeting he had written again to the Secretary General of the United
Nations and the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme,
to address those nations engaged in whaling activities that are not members of
the Commission requesting that they adhere to the Convention.
He had had acknowledgements of his letters but had received no further
information from either organisation.
The Chairman said that he had taken the opportunity of discussing the
possibility of Portugal participating with Dr M. Ruivo, Secretary of State for
Fisheries when attending the FAO COFI meeting and this had been followed up in
correspondence.
He had also written to the Ambassador for South Korea in London and his
invitation to his being represented by an observer at this meeting had been
accepted.
Dr Curry-Lindahl said that there had been some delay in UNEP taking action
because or misunderstanding in communication but he was able to report that an
approach had been made to those countries but no replies had so far been
received.
The Chairman was urged to continue with his efforts to obtain the adherence
of other nations and the Commissioner for the United States stressed the
importance of persuading non-whaling non-member countries to join the
Commission and suggested that the subject should be placed on the agenda for
the next meeting.
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