Protest tegen Japanse walvisjacht bij ambassade Japan in Canberra (Australië) - Conflict over walvisjacht tussen beide landen sleept zich voort

Japan still seeking diplomacy on whaling

20-02-2010 MILES GODFREY, The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia


Japan is still seeking a diplomatic solution to its disagreement with Australia over whaling, despite fresh threats of legal action by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it does not fully understand Mr Rudd's intentions after the prime minister said Australia could take Japan to the International Court of Justice.

Mr Rudd said that if diplomacy on whaling failed and Japan refused to reduce to zero its so-called "scientific whaling" quota in the Southern Ocean, legal action would begin before the start of the next whaling season in November.

"In light of the importance of Australia-Japan relations ... we intend, we hope that the two countries will confirm it is imperative to reach a diplomatic solution," Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Hidenobu Sobashima told reporters in Sydney on Saturday.

Mr Sobashima said Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Katsuya Okada had read a story quoting Mr Rudd in The Weekend Australian newspaper but did not understand the prime minister's intentions.
He said the minister would seek clarification during a scheduled meeting with Mr Rudd on Saturday.

Mr Okada is meeting with the prime minister and Defence Minister John Faulkner in Sydney.
He then flies to Perth on Sunday for talks with Foreign Minister Stephen Smith.

Japan would seek "co-operation from Australia regarding the Sea Shepherd", Mr Sobashima said, referring to the anti-whaling organisation.

There have been numerous, increasingly fiery clashes between Sea Shepherd vessels and Japanese whaling vessels in recent months.
The protest ship Ady Gil was holed and sunk in a collision on February 3. A hole was torn in the hull of the Bob Barker protest vessel on February 6.

Sea Shepherd protester Pete Bethune, a New Zealander, boarded a Japanese whaling vessel, Shonan Maru 2, on February 15 to attempt a citizen's arrest of its skipper over the sinking of the Ady Gil.

A Japanese Foreign Ministry official would not confirm if Japan was willing to negotiate over whaling.

Other issues on the agenda for Mr Okada's visit are security co-operation, North Korea, Japan's desire for a stable supply of natural resources from Australia, climate change and the strengthening of economic ties.

Anti-whaling protesters gathered outside the Japanese Embassy in Canberra on Saturday, demanding an end to the slaughter of whales in the Southern Ocean.
More than 30 people assembled outside the gates of the embassy, holding signs and chanting slogans calling for an end to the practice.

(Bron: http://news.smh.com.au/)