18/01/2005 - The Minister
for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, and
the Minister for the Environment and Heritage,
Senator Ian Campbell, have urged the newest
member of the International Whaling Commission,
Kiribati, to follow Australia's lead in
pursuing a permanent international ban on
whaling for commercial purposes.
At a time when the International Whaling
Commission is coming under increasing pressure
from pro-whaling nations for the resumption
of commercial whaling, we strongly urge
Kiribati to support Australia's stand.
The practice of whaling over many years
has contributed to the serious depletion
of many species.
Whaling practices are cruel, whales take
a long time to die and Australia believes
that animal welfare and whale killing methods
should be given priority consideration.
As Pacific neighbours, Kiribati and Australia
have strong regional Ties and have worked
together on a range of regional reform issues.
We would hope to work together to strengthen
the resolve of the IWC to ban commercial
whaling throughout the world.
We will encourage Kiribati to support Australia's
position for a permanent international ban
on commercial whaling and the worldwide
protection of all cetaceans.
Australia looks forward to working with
Kiribati within the IWC to ensure the global
conservation of whales and to facilitate
the recovery of whale populations.
Kiribati will now be eligible to vote on
a range of matters, including the conservation
and management of whale populations at the
57th annual meeting of the IWC in Ulsan,
Korea from June 20 to 24.
