Alle diplomatieke wegen worden door Australië bewandeld om einde te maken aan Japanse walvisjacht

Diplomacy will stop Japanese whaling - Stephen

Smith

14-12-2009 By Aleisha Preedy, The Herald Sun, Australia


AUSTRALIA will exhaust all diplomatic efforts to stop Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean before resorting to legal action, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says.

Mr Smith said whaling would inevitably come up during Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's visit to Japan tomorrow.

While diplomatic talks had so far failed to stop Japan's scientific whaling program, Mr Smith said it was in Australia's best interests to keep the conversation going.

"My colleague (Environment Minister) Peter Garrett and his officials continue to be actively engaged through the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and we continue to press Japan for a diplomatic solution to this," Mr Smith said.

"But as Mr Garrett and I, and the Prime Minister, have recently made clear, if we can't effect a diplomatic solution, then we will continue to hold open the option of international legal action before the international court of justice or the international tribunal for the law of the sea.

"A lot of work has occurred diplomatically, both on the bilateral front but also on the multilateral front through the IWC.

"We continue to believe that Australia's national interests are best pursued through diplomatic measures, and that the best prospect of Japan ending whaling in the Great Southern Ocean is through continued diplomatic efforts by Australia and others."

(Bron: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/)