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Whaling ban to remain in force after summit blocks Iceland

Richard Lloyd Parry
Tuesday 21 May 2002 00:00 BST
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Japan's campaign to resume large-scale commercial whaling suffered a severe setback yesterday with defeats in two important votes at an international conference.

The International Whaling Commission in the Japanese port of Shimonoseki rejected both proposals by pro-whaling nations, that Iceland be admitted as a full member, and that the group's decisions be made by secret ballot. The results, hailed by anti-whaling nations, including Britain, America, Australia and New Zealand, almost guarantee there will be no end soon to the world ban on commercial whaling.

Stefan Asmundsson, head of Iceland's delegation, said: "Countries that want us out are going to great lengths to keep us out. We are a whaling nation [and] we want to use the resources we have." Japan, which kills 560 whales every year for "scientific research", has been trying to overthrow the IWC's ban on commercial whaling since it started in 1986. Yesterday's votes were crucial because of the delicate balance of power in the IWC. Six new members have been admitted, including Benin, Gabon, Mongolia, and Palau, whom anti-whaling activists accuse of being paid stooges of Japan.

Iceland remains an observer member because it "expresses a reservation", meaning it insists on the right to whale. A three-quarters majority would be required to lift the ban but if the Icelanders had been admitted, pro-whaling nations would have been close to an IWC majority, which would allow them to enact more rule changes.

Among these would be the move from a public show of hands to secret ballot. Japan insists this is necessary to protect members from "coercion and reprisals". Opponents say it is to disguise how Japan uses its overseas aid budget to buy the votes of developing countries. As it was, Iceland was excluded by 25 votes to 20, and secret ballots by 25 to 19.

Elliot Morley, UK fisheries minister, said: "It's a major blow [to] the pro-whaling lobby. Japan denies vote-buying and, as one government we have to respect the position of another. We don't dispute what Japan says, although the allegations are very persistent. And you do wonder what Mongolia's sudden interest is in commercial whaling."

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