Country name
conventional long form: none
conventional short form : Antarctica

Data code AY

Government type Antarctic Treaty Summary - The Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, establishes the legal frameworkfor the management of Antarctica. Administration is carried out through consultativemember meetings - the 18th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was in Japanin April 1993. Currently, there are 42 treaty member nations: 26 consultativeand 16 acceding. Consultative (voting) members include the seven nations thatclaim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and19 nonclaimant nations. The US and some other nations that have made no claimshave reserved the right to do so. The US does not recognize the claims ofothers. The year in parentheses indicates when an acceding nation was votedto full consultative (voting) status, while no date indicates the countrywas an original 1959 treaty signatory. Claimant nations are - Argentina, Australia,Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK. Nonclaimant consultative nationsare - Belgium, Brazil (1983), China (1985), Ecuador (1990), Finland (1989),Germany (1981), India (1983), Italy (1987), Japan, South Korea (1989), Netherlands(1990), Peru (1989), Poland (1977), South Africa, Spain (1988), Sweden (1988),Uruguay (1985), the US, and Russia. Acceding (nonvoting) members, with yearof accession in parentheses, are - Austria (1987), Bulgaria (1978), Canada(1988), Colombia (1988), Cuba (1984), Czech Republic (1993), Denmark (1965),Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), PapuaNew Guinea (1981), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1993), Switzerland (1990), andUkraine (1992). Article 1 - area to be used for peaceful purposes only; militaryactivity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military personnel andequipment may be used for scientific research or any other peaceful purpose;Article 2 - freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall continue;Article 3 - free exchange of information and personnel in cooperation withthe UN and other international agencies; Article 4 - does not recognize, dispute,or establish territorial claims and no new claims shall be asserted whilethe treaty is in force; Article 5 - prohibits nuclear explosions or disposalof radioactive wastes; Article 6 - includes under the treaty all land andice shelves south of 60 degrees 00 minutes south; Article 7 - treaty-stateobservers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area andmay inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance notice of all activities and of the introduction of military personnel must be given;Article 8 - allows for jurisdiction over observers and scientists by theirown states; Article 9 - frequent consultative meetings take place among membernations; Article 10 - treaty states will discourage activities by any countryin Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty; Article 11 - disputes to besettled peacefully by the parties concerned or, ultimately, by the ICJ; Articles12, 13, 14 - deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty amonginvolved nations; Other agreements - more than 170 recommendations adoptedat treaty consultative meetings and ratified by governments include - AgreedMeasures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora (1964); Conventionfor the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972); Convention on the Conservationof Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980); a mineral resources agreementwas signed in 1988 but was subsequently rejected; in 1991 the Protocol onEnvironmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed and awaits ratification;this agreement provides for the protection of the Antarctic environment throughfive specific annexes on marine pollution, fauna, and flora, environmentalimpact assessments, waste management, and protected areas; it also prohibitsall activities relating to mineral resources except scientific research; 21parties have ratified Protocol as of April 1996

Legal system US law, including certain criminal offenses by or against US nationals,such as murder, may apply to areas not under jurisdiction of other countries.Some US laws directly apply to Antarctica. For example, the Antarctic ConservationAct, 16 U.S.C. section 2401 et seq., provides civil and criminal penaltiesfor the following activities, unless authorized by regulation of statute:The taking of native mammals or birds; the introduction of nonindigenous plantsand animals; entry into specially protected or scientific areas; the dischargeor disposal of pollutants; and the importation into the US of certain itemsfrom Antarctica. Violation of the Antarctic Conservation Act carries penaltiesof up to $10,000 in fines and 1 year in prison. The Departments of Treasury,Commerce, Transportation, and Interior share enforcement responsibilities.Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, requires expeditionsfrom the US to Antarctica to notify, in advance, the Office of Oceans andPolar Affairs, Room 5801, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, whichreports such plans to other nations as required by the Antarctic Treaty. For more information contact Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs, NationalScience Foundation, Arlington, Virginia 22230 (703) 306-1031.

NOTE: The information regarding Antarctica on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Antarctica Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Antarctica Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.