Ministers concerned over nuclear testing
Ministers concerned over nuclear testing
JAKARTA (JP): Environment ministers attending a United Nations meeting here yesterday added concern over nuclear testing to the draft statement of the conference.
The final draft of the Jakarta Ministerial Statement on the Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity, scheduled for completion yesterday evening, now calls for the assessment of the harmful effects of nuclear testing before such activity takes place.
The document had previously not included the issue. It was later amended to accommodate the demands of several ministers to the Second Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity, which will conclude tomorrow, to address nuclear testing.
Another issue which may prove to be contentious at the final stage of this meeting is that of funding. The latest draft of the statement makes no mention of funding.
Controversies mostly revolve around the availability of funds for developing countries to enable them to set up conservation programs in relation to their natural resources.
An earlier draft had included "the provision of new and additional financial resources" to developing countries.
This is in line with an article in the Convention, which was issued at the 1992 Earth Summit in Brazil.
A source said debates may be resolved by including in the final statement a reference to "the creativity of countries to find new sources" of funding.
A delegate from Malaysia quoted Southeast Asian ministers who said they should not rely on developed nations.
Aca Sugandhy, the head of the Indonesian delegation, told reporters that the Jakarta statement is a step forward from the first conference in the Bahamas.
"This statement reflects the beginning of the implementation stage of the Convention," he said.
One crucial point is the agreement on the need of "a protocol on the safe transfer, handling and use of any living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology" that may be ecologically harmful.
Another point is the need for government efforts to promote education on biodiversity, in order to correct widespread ignorance among both the public and government officials.
The ministers also "encourage" better links between the Convention and other international conventions. This includes the need to make agreements consistent with one another, such as the Convention on International Trafficking of Endangered Species, world trade agreements and intellectual property rights. (anr)