Remarks at the 50th Anniversary of U.S.-New Zealand Antarctic CooperationPaula J. Dobriansky, Under Secretary for Democracy and Global AffairsRemarks at National Geographic Society Headquarters Washington, DC June 27, 2007 Thank you, Ambassador Ferguson, for that introduction, and thank you to the National Geographic Society for hosting us. Mr. Ambassador, Dr. Bement, Mr. Hargreaves, Assistant Secretary McMurray, guests, and friends, I am delighted to be here tonight at this celebration of the 50th anniversary of U.S.-New Zealand cooperation in Antarctica. This is an exciting occasion. Our two countries are committed to scientific inquiry and dedicated to international stewardship of the Antarctic continent. Our mutual support and efforts have been unwavering. And our collaboration reflects a strong and enduring partnership on scientific and environmental matters.
This evening, our observance of 50 years of U.S.-New Zealand cooperation in Antarctica occurs in the context of the International Polar Year, or IPY, which I had the pleasure of helping launch in the U.S. in February. Significantly, more than 60 nations are participating in the current IPY. The United States and New Zealand are individually and collectively working to ensure that the IPY expands our understanding of polar regions and conveys to a broad audience their relevance to natural processes affecting the entire globe. Through the substantive commitments and efforts of every U.S. science agency, we are engaged in the International Polar Year. We are working closely with New Zealand on several IPY-relevant projects, including the ANDRILL program in which, together with Italy and Germany, we are gaining key insights into Antarctica’s climatic history. Closely linked to 50 years of U.S.-New Zealand cooperation in Antarctica is the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty. We very much look forward to hosting the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting on that important anniversary, in 2009. The United States and New Zealand collaborate closely not only in the context of the Antarctic Treaty, but also in connection with the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Living Resources, where both of our delegations have had great success in promoting conservation of marine life in the region. We are proud to be close partners with New Zealand in these and many other efforts. And we share the common goal of keeping the Antarctic reserved for peace and science. Released on July 11, 2007 |
 | |||
|
