Diplomacy expected to trump confrontation at International Whaling Commission meeting

[Judi Lynn]

Source: International Herald Tribune/Associated Press

Diplomacy expected to trump confrontation at International Whaling Commission meeting

The Associated Press
Sunday, June 22, 2008

SANTIAGO, Chile: The International Whaling Commission opens its annual conference in Chile on Monday amid hope that group infighting over countries that continue whaling despite a 20-year commercial ban can be resolved by compromise.

In a retreat from what some call the "strident acrimony" on the commission in recent years, including threats of taking Japan to international court for its whaling practices, members say this time they're looking to diplomacy for a solution.

"For years members have been divided and meetings have been characterized by confrontation," said Steve Chadwick, who is leading the anti-whaling New Zealand delegation to the 60th commission meeting. "If we are to achieve protection for the world's whales, it is vital that the commission ... break the existing deadlock between pro- and anti-whaling countries."

Japan and other nations have continued to hunt hundreds of whales every year under a provision that allows the killing of some whales for scientific research.



Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/22/america/LA-GEN-Chile-Whaling.php