Bulgaria successfully completed the Chairmanship of the XXXVIII Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
10 June 2015 News
The XXXVIII Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and the XVIII Meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) was closed on June 10th. The international forum was held in Bulgaria from June 1 to June 10 under the patronage of the President Rosen Plevneliev.
A workshop on Education and promotion of the activities related to the work of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings was held within the ХХХVІІІ ATCM at the initiative of Brazil, Belgium, Bulgaria, Portugal and the United Kingdom. Bulgaria’s proposal to establish a Contact group to work on the creation of mechanisms for the exchange of information, ideas and experience on the subject was accepted. The group will be led by Bulgaria.
Over 400 participants from more than 60 countries - the Antarctic Treaty Parties, observers and representatives of international expert organizations attended the Meeting with the common goal to reaffirm their commitment to preserve the uniqueness of Antarctica as a natural reserve devoted to peace, scientific research and international cooperation.
They discussed legal and institutional matters related to the functioning of the Antarctic Treaty system, environmental protection, cooperation and exchange of information, logistical support for the polar activities, tourism in Antarctica, etc.
The first Bulgarian building on Livingston Island - "Lame dog hut" was recognized as a historical monument. It is set in 1988 during the first Bulgarian Antarctic expedition. Currently the building is a post office of "Bulgarian Posts".
The Meeting welcomed Mongolia and Kazakhstan as parties to the Antarctic Treaty taking to 52 the number of Parties and the accession of Portugal and Venezuela to the Protocol for Environmental Protection bringing the number of Parties to 37.
The next ХХХІХ ATCM and XIX CEP Annual Meeting in 2016 will be hosted by Chile. At the last plenary meeting the Head of the Chilean delegation confirmed the Chairmanship and officially invited the parties to participate. The participants agreed upon a preliminary program for the forum, planned for the period 6 - 15 June 2016 in the capital Santiago. A short film about the cultural, historical and natural sights of Chile was broadcasted at the Meeting.
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