[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 21, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H3140-H3144]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE ON OCEANS AND SECURITY
(Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to address
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge that
we have just concluded one of, if not the largest ever, conferences on
the oceans here in Washington. This conference involved 3 days of
intensive dialogue between 200 delegates from over 30 nations including
large ministerial delegations, 15 ministers as well as parliamentary
leaders, large delegations from Russia and Norway, the European
continent, Africa, the Americas, as well as other nations, and it was
an extremely successful conference. We came under the auspices of the
Advisory Committee on Protection of the Seas as well as GLOBE and the
Council on Oceanographic Research and Education.
Vice President Gore spoke to our conference last evening in Statuary
Hall. Yesterday at lunch the Speaker, the gentleman from Georgia [Mr.
Gingrich], gave the keynote speech. The Secretary of Defense, Secretary
of Navy, senior leaders of the administration and a significant number
of Members of Congress, including my good friend, the gentleman from
California [Mr. Farr] who stayed for the entire conference, had the
chance to interact and put together a new comprehensive strategy for
the world on helping to cooperate in cleaning up our oceans and our
seas.
Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record the proceedings and the final
recommendations of this conference, and I thank those Members who
participated, and I thank all of those who made this conference so
successful.
Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea, Draft Report of the
Conference--Oceans and Security, U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, 19-21 May 1997
background
1. The international community's efforts to regulate the
world's oceans in order to protect and conserve their
resources and habitats, and to safeguard their potential for
economic development, spans several decades. However, it has
only been in recent years that a growing awareness of the
pervasiveness of environmental issues has found echo in all
fields of human activity. In particular, the role of
environmental problems as constitutive of security concerns,
in conjunction with the end of the Cold War and the
relentless processes of globalisation, has opened a broad
horizon for policy definition at both national and
multilateral levels that the international community has only
just begun to explore.
2. The Conference on Oceans and Security was organised by
the Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea (ACOPS) and
was undertaken with the assistance of the office of
Congressman Curt Weldon, Chairman of the Research and
Development Committee of the Security Committee of the
Congress of the United States of America and ACOPS' Vice-
President from the United States; Governments of the United
States, Canada and Norway; Commission of the European Union;
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW); Preston Gates,
Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds LLP; Consortium for Oceanographic
Research and Education (CORE); and Global Legislators
Organisation for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE). The meeting
was held in the United States House of Representatives,
Washington, D.C. from 19 to 21 May 1997.
participants
3. The Conference was attended by: the Vice-President of
the United States of America, Hon. Al Gore; Speaker of the
House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich; Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of National Defense of Portugal, Senhor
Antonio Vitorino;
[[Page H3141]]
Executive Director of the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), Ms Elizabeth Dowdeswell; Assistant
Secretary General of the United Nations, Dr. Nay Htun; 189
governmental and other participants from Australia, Belgium,
Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica,
Croatia, Denmark, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Mozambique,
Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Portugal,
Russian Federation, the Seychelles, South Africa, Sweden,
Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the United States of
America, including seven ministers; representatives of the
following intergovernmental organisations: United Nations;
UNEP; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); the World
Bank; the International Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of
UNESCO; the Organisation of American States (OAS); and the
Commission of the European Union; as well as members of the
European Parliament and legislatures from Brazil,
Philippines, and the United States; representatives of ACOPS
and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs); and
representatives of the scientific community and private
sector. A list of participants appears in this report as
Annex I.
messages
4. Messages in acknowledgement of the Conference's
contributions were received from four Heads of States from
the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe, as well as from ACOPS'
President, Lord Callaghan, and from ACOPS' Vice-President
from the USA, Congressman Curt Weldon.
5. President Bill Clinton of the United States of America
extended his best wishes for the success of the Conference
and praised the participants in their efforts to promote the
sustainable global development of marine resources whilst
protecting the marine and coastal environments. He pointed
out that this was important not only for our health and
quality of life but also for promoting international peace
and prosperity.
6. President Nelson Mandela of the Republic of South Africa
stated that the marine environment formed a very important
and integral part of our ecosystem, and that promotion of the
international exchange of information was critical to the
advancement of good environmental resource management. The
President extended his warmest greetings to the participants
and congratulated ACOPS on its initiative.
7. President Fidel Ramos of the Republic of the Philippines
welcomed participants to the meeting and drew attention to
the success of the ACOPS' Meeting of Environment Ministers of
South-East Asia which was held in Manila in December 1996
under his patronage.
8. President Jorge Sampaio of the Republic of Portugal
highlighted the contribution of oceans to the welfare and
survival of the human race. He added that the Washington
Conference and other global and regional programmes
consolidated ACOPS' role as a leading international NGO in
this field.
9. Lord Callaghan of Cardiff, ACOPS' President and a former
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, expressed his best
wishes for this global programme. He emphasised that never
before had such an illustrious group of top level policy
makers met to discuss vital issues as appeared on the agenda
of this Conference.
10. Congressman Curt Weldon of the United States, and
ACOPS' US Vice-President, expressed his pleasure at being
able to host the ACOPS' 1997 Global Conference on Oceans and
Security. He added that the USA had renewed its interest in,
and commitment to, the protection of the oceans, and that it
was now time to reach the international community to further
promote the importance of the world's oceans.
proceedings of the conference
A. Opening of the conference
11. At the opening ceremony, the participants heard the
following statements (Annex II contains speeches and
statements presented at the Conference):
12. Lord Clinton-Davis, outgoing Chairman of ACOPS, and
recently appointed Minister of State for Transport,
Department of Trade and Industry of the United Kingdom,
emphasised the recognition of the contribution of ACOPS to
global and regional ocean management issues at an
international level, and stressed the need to integrate
sustainability and environmental considerations into all
policy making, noting that the management of oceans
especially characterise the challenges posed by the goal of
sustainability. With reference to the upcoming UNGASS, which
should strengthen the oceans agenda, and to the 1998 Year of
the Oceans, during which Expo '98 would be held, Lord
Clinton-Davis underlined the timeliness of the Conference. He
also stressed the new Labour Government's commitment to
environmental and ocean issues, and said that as Minister for
Trade, he would be particularly keen to develop links between
trade and environmental issues which were intrinsically
linked.
13. Congressman Curt Weldon expressed his recognition of
the work undertaken by ACOPS and highlighted Lord Clinton-
Davis' contributions as Chairman. He also noted that the
Conference was sponsored by both ACOPS and GLOBE,
organisations committed to the goal of sustainable
development. Congressman Weldon added that the Republican
majority in Congress had enabled him to participate more
decisively in the definition of the agenda, which reflected
an increasing commitment to environmental concerns, and in
particular, to ocean issues. With reference to the need to
channel more funds into ocean research, he noted that the
recently adopted Oceans Partnership Act had established a
framework for greater coordination between federal agencies
with responsibilities in ocean research, and emphasised the
need to progress more aggressively in strengthening ocean
research, and to provide the scientific community with
greater access to previously classified technology. Military
and environmental concerns should be dovetailed and existing
capabilities united to enhance the capability for effective
ocean management. He urged participants to ensure that this
approach was replicated in other countries and said that each
participant should take back an agenda for working with
national parliamentary and ministerial leaders. Congressman
Weldon also said that it was crucial that this Conference
should establish a strong framework for follow up and
implementation, and that he was prepared to ensure that the
USA took a lead in advancing this initiative at a global
level. He ended by saying that by the Year 2000, a new
movement to protect oceans should be established, and in
particular, environmental awareness and education should
permeate every community, every activity and every country,
in order to leave a solid legacy of a clean ocean and a
stable global environment.
14. Ms. Elizabeth Dowdeswell registered her gratitude as
Executive Director of UNEP for the very significant
contributions of ACOPS to the development of UNEP's Ocean and
Seas programmes. She said that the Conference should provide
a new vision of the oceans that incorporated such elements as
equitable participation and technological change.
15. Ms. Dowdeswell underscored her concerns. First, that
the oceans could be considered as the last frontier in that
there was much mankind still did not know. Secondly, she said
that the oceans provided crucial concepts, such as keystone
species, and fundamental contributions to the world
environment, such as their role in climate change. However,
the human race did not treat the oceans with due respect, and
the utilisation of the world's oceans as waste receptacles
constituted a biological timebomb, while declining fish
catches demonstrated the perils of the excessive exploitation
of resources. She added that in the latter case, it was
developed, and not developing countries, that were largely
responsible. Thirdly, Ms. Dowdeswell stressed the links
between oceans and freshwater drainage basins, and the
negative repercussions on marine ecosystems land activities.
She emphasised that protection of marine ecosystems could not
be sacrificed to development and economic imperatives, and
therefore mankind faced an immense challenge to develop
effective coordination mechanisms between ocean and
freshwater management. In this context, she highlighted the
importance of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) as
the means of incorporating diverse factors and needs, of
achieving integrated policies that went beyond sectoral,
fragmented approaches. She noted that UNEP had moved in this
direction with its Integrated Water Management Programme, and
through the Global Programme of Action, which recognised a
link between oceans and chemical management, and which
symbolised a clear commitment with the stated objectives.
16. Dr. Nay Htun, Assistant Secretary General of the United
Nations and Assistant Administrator of UNDP, also noted the
importance and potential of the Conference, and highlighted
various considerations. He referred to the political, social
and economic consequences of increasing demographic pressure
on coastal areas and noted that according to the 1997 Human
Development Report, poverty remained pervasive. He stressed
that since the problem of poverty was central both to the
sustainability of oceans and to security, it played a central
part in countries' policies on oceans. However, with regard
to the critical and strategic role of coastal zones, he said
that there was a clear need to improve governments' responses
to ensure the identification and implementation of effective,
efficient and relevant measures. Mr. Htun pointed out that to
improve the knowledge base and integrate it into economic and
developmental policies interactions between land, oceans and
atmosphere still required greater research, and made
reference to UNDP's role in the promotion of sustainable and
equitable development. Stressing once again the inseparable
link of life, water, security, oceans, and homo sapiens, he
expressed the hope that this timely and significant
conference would send a strong political message of paramount
importance regarding oceans and security.
17. Dr. Kantathi Suphamongkhon presented the speech of Her
Royal Highness Princess Professor Dr. Chulabhorn Mahidol of
Thailand, Vice-President of ACOPS, and conveyed her apologies
for her absence due to official duties.
18. Dr. Suphamongkhon then proceeded to present the
Princess' remarks on what she emphasized was a landmark
conference since it addressed all sectors of society. She
remarked that it was a notable achievement to have brought
together policy makers with different ministerial portfolios
from many countries and regions. Princess Chulabhorn also
referred to objectives and programmes in Thailand, which
centre on raising environmental awareness and information
dissemination on environmental issues and concerns. She noted
that presently Thailand was experiencing rapid economic and
industrial
[[Page H3142]]
growth, and there was a need to ensure that such progress was
sustainable, and therefore the Conference should highlight
the importance of united economic and environmental security
concerns. She stated that remedial measures for environmental
protection were more costly than preventive measures, which
argued for a holistic approach to managing the planet. The
wide range of interests represented in the Conference should
enable it to chart new routes for ocean management.
B. Scope and objectives of the conference
19. The Conference was convened at the initiative of
Congressman Curt Weldon, and Lord Clinton-Davis. The purpose
of the conference was to discuss the issues of environmental,
food, and economic security, and related research and defense
issues using a multi-sectoral approach to identify problems
and propose solutions. With a view towards fulfilling these
goals, a broad spectrum of highest-ranking officials
representing different government departments were invited to
participate. It was hoped that the informal manner in which
ACOPS' global and regional conferences traditionally unfold
would enable participants to explore solutions to problems in
a more comprehensive and independent manner than is customary
for diplomatic conferences.
C. Introduction of the main themes of the conference
20. During the last part of the morning session, the four
resource persons introduced the main themes of the
Conference: economic security, environmental security, food
security, and research and defence issues.
Economic security
21. Mr. Andrew Steer, Director of Environment, World Bank,
stated in his paper that economic security and the
environment were inextricably linked: poverty and market
failures drove over-exploitation of natural resources, while
rapid economic growth in the absence of sound economic
policies and regulatory frameworks led to severe
environmental degradation. Erosion of the natural resource
base and its productive capacity resulted in economic loss,
social conflict and growing political insecurity. Nowhere was
this more apparent than in the coastal zone, where two thirds
of the world population was concentrated.
22. Mr. Steer went on to say that global dependency on
coastal and marine ecosystems for food and livelihoods,
coupled with increasing vulnerability of human settlements
and investments to human-induced shifts in ocean processes
such as climate change and sea level rise, required that
appropriate environmental management frameworks and economic
policies be put in place to secure sustainable development of
marine and coastal resources. Among the most important
priorities for the international community to engage in were
to: (1) invest in human knowledge; (2) reform economic
policies that undermine sustainable use of marine resources;
(3) invest directly in marine conservation; (4) ensure
adequate funding (e.g. through the GEF, bilateral and multi-
lateral programmes); and (5) coordinate efforts regionally.
Mr. Steer ended by saying that the World Bank, in partnership
with UNDP, UNEP and other international players, was
committed to supporting these objectives.
Environmental security
23. The presentation of Dr. Laurence Mee, Coordinator of
the GEF Programme for Environmental Management and Protection
of the Black Sea and Chairman of ACOPS' Advisory Board on
Oceans and Coastal Areas Management, examined the concept of
environmental security with particular emphasis on the case
of international waters. Feelings of insecurity were
themselves driven by uncertainty and unempowerment (a
perceived inability to improve the situation). It was
suggested that understanding and addressing the root causes
of environmental problems could improve individual and
collective security. The causes were considered to be market
failures, failures in information and understanding, and
failures in governance. Dr. Mee said that if mankind was to
avoid a serious deterioration in human security in the 21st
century, a change in many aspects of lifestyle would be
required in order to reduce waste, eliminate over-consumption
and to improve the protection of natural habitats and
landscapes. He added that in the aquatic environment,
particularly urgent action was required to mitigate
environmental security hot spots but that actions should not
be limited to conflict resolution. An understanding of the
root causes of environmental degradation, coupled with
individual and collective commitment to take action to
address them would inevitably lead to an improvement in long-
term security. Work should begin immediately.
Food security
24. Dr. Scott Parsons, Assistant Deputy Minister, Science,
Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada, stated that food
security from world fisheries and aquaculture would depend on
implementation of new integrated approaches to resource
conservation and management. Production from world fisheries
was leveling off after increasing by a factor of five over
the past fifty years. Technological innovations and
development of a world market in fish products had combined
with activities unrelated to fishing to place unprecedented
strains on world fish resources, including overfishing,
habitat loss due to pollution and physical degradation, and
changes in the marine climate. National and international
jurisdictional arrangements favoured piecemeal approaches to
ocean management. While the problems of world fisheries had
become the stuff of headlines, innovative solutions to these
were being developed and applied, many involving fundamental
shifts in approach. Knowledge of how fish stocks function in
an ecosystem context was increasing, thanks to advances in
science. New marine management models such as integrated
management of marine regions and increasing use of protected
areas were being developed. The widespread implementation of
property rights in fisheries in the form of individual
transferable quotas (ITQs) over the past ten years showed
that movement from theoretical model to implementation of a
fundamentally new approach could be rapid. New jurisdictional
arrangements at national and international levels were coming
into place, which would allow an integrated approach to ocean
resource management. Perhaps the most promising recent
development was widespread recognition of the need for a
precautionary approach to conservation, under which
conservation comes first and lack of certainty could not be
taken as an excuse for inaction.
Research and defence
25. Admiral Paul Gaffney, Chief of Naval Research, Office
of Naval Research, USA, stated that it was readily apparent
that environmental issues were being considered more and more
in the formulation of national foreign and defence policy.
His presentation dealt with two important issues related to
environmental security, defence concerns and military
scientific efforts. A modern military must be concerned with
environmental issues beyond its borders. Environmental
degradation, scarcity, and related conditions such as
increased population growth, urbanisation, migration, and the
spread of infectious diseases had contributed to world
instability and many times led to conflicts drawing
neighbours and allies into regional turmoil. Modern military
establishments were developing preventive defence, which
required understanding what conditions had the potential of
leading to instability and conflict in the future, and what
was needed to address those conditions early enough to make a
difference. In the framework of the US military scientific
efforts, the US Navy had invested billions of dollars in
research that responds to military requirements and needs.
This research also served to address issues of great
environmental concern. The US Military had a wealth of
experience and expertise it could share with the militaries
of other nations. US defence environmental programmes were
becoming an important tool in which to engage the militaries
of new democracies. All must understand such environmental
conditions which may generate conflict, in order that
conditions for peace may be developed in their place.
D. Panel on oceans and seas of the Americas
26. The co-moderators, Mr. James Baker, Administrator of
the National Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
and Mr. Arsenio Rodriguez, Director of the Regional Office
for Latin American and the Caribbean, UNEP, introduced the
subject to be discussed in the Panel. Mr. Baker reminded
participants that oceans played a key role in sustainable
development, and that mankind was dependent on them for
economic growth, food security, marine transport, tourism,
and aquaculture, among others. He underlined that the
Americas were endowed with unique and valuable marine
resources. He then discussed important factors that were
influenced by the oceans, such as climate variability, as
exemplified by the El Nino phenomenon, which contributed to
national security. As the world emerged from the Cold War,
Mr. Baker said that there was a need to ensure civilian
applications for military technology.
27. Mr. Rodriguez noted that during the last 20 years,
great progress had been made in the identification and
conceptualisation of the problems and issues relevant to
environmental and ocean management. He also stated that the
challenge facing the conference was to further integrated
management responses based on international cooperation,
given the inability of resolving all problems exclusively
through national responses. However, he queried the
effectiveness of existing international cooperation and
management schemes, and said that the problem nowadays was
implementation. Moreover, there was a need to ensure that
other sectors of society participate, not just governments.
28. The panellists were: Dr. Otis Brown, MEDEA, Dean,
Rosentiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science,
University of Miami; Dr. Gordon Eaton, Director, US
Geological Survey; Congressman Sam Farr, House Agriculture
Committee, California; Congressman Wayne Gilchrest, Resources
Committee, Maryland; Hon Suwit Khunkitti, Minister for
Justice, Thailand; Dr. David Lavigne, Executive Director,
International Marine Mammal Association; Mr. Victor
Lichtinger, Executive Director, Commission for Environmental
Cooperation; Mr. Jose Vicente Mogollon, Former Minister of
Environment, Colombia; Mr. Peter Mokaba, Deputy Minister of
Environment and Tourism, South Africa; Congressman Frank
Pallone, House Commerce and Resources Committee, New Jersey,
USA; Senhor Carlos Pimenta, Memer of the European Parliament,
President of GLOBE EU; Senor Manuel Rodriguez, Colombia,
ACOPS' Vice President from the Wider Caribbean; Dr. Eduardo
Verano De La
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Rosa, Minister of Environment, Colombia; Congresswoman Telma
de Souza, Member of the Executive Committee of the Labour
Party (PT), Former Mayor of Santos, Brazil; Mr. Ulf Svensson,
Assistant Under-Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and
Fisheries, Sweden; Congressman Curt Weldon, Chairman, Sub-
Committee of Research and Development of the Committee on
National Security, House of Representative, Congress of
the USA, and ACOPS' Vice-President from the USA.
29. Minister Khunkitti stressed the interrelation of marine
resources and problems and informed participants that
Thailand had established national structures to address these
issues in the Thai seas.
30. Mr. Eaton spoke of work carried out by the U.S.
Geological Survey and said that these activities were of
great relevance for addressing diverse concerns related to
ocean management.
31. Congressman Farr celebrated the presence of
representatives from so many governments and sectors,
although lamented the absence of press and media. He noted
that this was indicative of the need to involve more people
in environmental issues, as well as to bring politics to the
local level. Moreover, given the present downsizing tendency
and the increasing competition for scarce funds, it was
necessary to define measurable goals.
32. Congressman Gilchrest highlighted the need to exchange
information, and to ensure that it is disseminated to elected
politicians and communities around the globe. He added that
population growth was not matched by a parallel increase in
natural resources.
33. Mr. Lavigne declared that a gulf existed in fisheries
management between theory and practice. Management should
take into account not only scientific considerations, but
also public opinion, political realities, and cultural and
economic considerations. Moreover, there was a need to give
scientists greater independence so that their advice and work
was not compromised by political decisions. He strongly urged
the implementation of the precautionary approach and that
priority was given to conservation goals.
34. Mr. Lichtinger stressed that the issues of freshwater
and of shared water resources would be of the greatest
importance in the next century. Mankind faced great problems
of scarcity, yet no attempts had been made to deal with the
issue. Water should be used in a more efficient and wise
manner, and water consumption should therefore be measured.
This objective also depended on active public participation.
35. Mr. Mogollon affirmed that sweeping generalisations
could not be made in the environmental sphere, as illustrated
by a successful programme adopted in Colombia which led to an
increase in mangrove acreage. He went on to refer to the need
for greater financing of environmental conservation schemes.
36. Mr. Mokaba began by stating that environmental
management was about change, and added that attention should
be paid to the linkage between land activities and oceans. He
stated that it was important to generate a sense of ownership
and participation in people in order to achieve good resource
management. However, he reiterated that sustainable economic
development depended on good environmental management. In the
context of trade, he said that the third world finds itself
excluded from trade arrangements and relegated to the
periphery, and stated that an African renaissance depended on
greater opportunities for commerce. Economic security would
also be strengthened by developing interregional trade
between Africa and South America. He called for ACOPS to
convene a Conference on the problems faced by Africa.
37. Mr. Pimenta called on governments to agree to further
emissions reductions within the framework of the Climate
Change Convention given that the relationship between climate
and oceans was crucial. He added that sources of pollution
and sea degradation required permanent international action,
and cited as an example tanker washing just beyond EEZ
boundaries. Greater enforcement was generally needed.
38. Mr. Manuel Rodriguez considered that the major problem
concerns implementation of existing instruments and
declarations, and that the major obstacle is one of political
will. Moreover there was a need to increase public awareness.
He went on to speak about the conflicts of interest that
existed between stakeholders and users of land and marine
resources, which should be addressed. Resolution of such
conflicts required consensus at the national level.
39. Mr. Verano affirmed that the lack of financial
resources was not the only factor leading to a lack of
progress and action, given the need for a clear definition of
issues and for greater consensus building between scientists
and politicians. He also addressed the need to internalise
environmental externalities which affect marine and coastal
resources. however, financial agreements between north and
south were needed.
40. Congresswoman Telma de Souza presented a detailed
description for the programme for beach recovery implemented
in the city of Santos, which had received international
recognition. As a concrete example what political will could
achieve, she affirmed that such will should also be
globalised.
41. Mr. Svensson manifested Europe's interest in the oceans
of the Americas, and noted that issues such as food security
were affecting all regions alike, in many cases leading to
open conflicts. He suggested that the year of the Ocean be
one of full cooperation between regional fisheries
organisations. He also addressed the issue of the lack of
scientific data, which could limit the possibility of
applying the precautionary approach to fisheries. He noted
that the release of military data had doubled the amount of
information available. He affirmed that there was a need to
focus on the consequences of environmental degradation as
well as on the links between fisheries and the marine
environment, and concerns such as direct habitat destruction.
He noted that mankind had before it a series of necessary
institutional reforms.
42. Mr. Brown presented a description of the Medea Mission
for releasing previously classified data. He noted that one
of its objectives was to provide advice on use for data
derived from natural security systems, in order to attain a
greater understanding of the environment, and especially to
oceanography.
43. At the conclusion of the Panel, Congressman Weldon
noted with satisfaction that the Conference had begun very
successfully, with the endorsement of four heads of state. He
asserted that the suggestion of holding a combined ACOPS and
GLOBE conference, with ministerial and parliamentary
participation was excellent. Equally, a conference should be
held, as suggested by Mr. Mokaba, to showcase environmental
issues in Africa. He added that the bipartisan support
evidenced for this conference showed there was a will for
forging ahead on these issues, and that he was interested in
proposing to NATO allies and other countries that their
military data also be declassified and shared with the
international community.
E. Panel on the Pacific Ocean
44. The co-moderators, Dr. Eduardo Verano de la Rosa,
Minister of the Environment of Colombia and Mr. Geoffrey
Holland, Chairman of OIC of UNESCO and Chairman of ACOPS'
Advisory Board on Marine Natural Resources Management chaired
this session of the Panel on the Pacific Ocean.
45. Dr. Verano described the varied nature of the geography
of the Pacific Ocean, the richness of its resources, the
diversity of its culture and the dynamism of its economies.
Nearly 20 of the world's largest cities are located on the
Pacific coasts which are threatened by population growth
pollution, loss of valuable habitat and deterioration of the
coastal environment. Mr. Holland recalled several of the
points made in the previous day's discussions that would be
important to pursue for the Pacific. In particular, the size
of the Pacific emphasized the need for cooperation and
resources for ocean observation, addressing poverty must be
an essential part of environmental solutions, a precautionary
approach must be adopted for fisheries and a preventative
policy for industrial and agricultural policies.
46. The panelists were: Hon. Senator Heherson Alvarez.
Phillippine Senate and ACOPS' Vice President from East Asia;
Mr. Jong Hwa Choe, Counsellor, Embassy of Korea; Ambassador
John Fraser, Environment Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and International Trade, Canada and ACOPS' Vice
President; Mr. Joemari D. Gerochi, Under-Secretary, Chief
Executive and Legislative Liaison Officer, Department of
Agriculture, Republic of the Philippines; Mr. Ian Kiernan,
Chairman, Clean up the World and ACOPS' Vice-President from
Australia; Dr. Mok Mareth, Minister of Environment, Kingdom
of Cambodia; Mr. Tsuyoshi Maruyama, Director of Ocean and
Earth Division at the Science and Technology Agency (STA),
Japan; Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, House Science Committee,
California, USA; and Mr. R. Tucker Scully, Director, Office
of Ocean Affairs, US Department of State.
47. Congressman Rohrabacher highlighted the need to utilize
military technology in the fight for the environment and
quality of life. He saw an equally valuable opportunity in
the application of space technology for the resolution of
ocean problems. Senator Alvarez, commented that the security
of a maritime nation such as the Philippines was dependent on
the security of its adjacent oceans. Cooperation in the
region is important and ACOPS had great value in promoting
communications. An unfortunate situation existed in the South
China Seas where disputes over the sovereignty of several
small islands was leading to military interventions by the
disputing parties, and was hampering joint efforts and
actually harming the environment.
48. Ambassador Fraser reminded the meeting that although
participation is such a high level gathering was a privilege
it also carried a responsibility. Actions were required. The
Ambassador challenged the concepts that job creation and
environmental protection were alternative choices. On the
contrary, in the long term, addressing environmental problems
would conserve economies and prosperity.
49. Senator Gerochi reiterated the importance of the ocean
to the Philippines, in particular to the fisheries. The
Philippine Government had introduced legislation that had
sustainable development as an operating principle. Many
mechanisms for fisheries management were being adopted at all
jurisdictions of government down to local level.
50. Mr. Kiernan brought the concept of people power to the
debate. He explained that to bring the environment to the
highest priority, one had a empower the public. His own
initiative of ``Clean up the World'' had been taken in 110
countries and involved 40 million people.
[[Page H3144]]
51. Mr. Mareth spoke of the problems in Cambodia that his
country was trying to address as quickly as possible. A
strategy had been adopted to tackle coastal zone issues.
52. Mr. Maruyama brought the perspective of a developed
country to the table. He spoke of the high priority Japan
accords ocean research, technology and observations. Japan is
also supporting the cooperation between the space-based and
in situ ocean measurements.
53. Mr. Scully reminded the meeting of the
intergovernmental agreements that had been motioned since the
Rio Conference. In his opinion, the UN Convention on the Law
of the Sea (UNCLOS), which came into force in 1994, formed
the basis for subsequent agreements. In particular, the
several fisheries agreements, signed and awaiting
ratification, were a direct follow-up of the UNCLOS
provisions. Regional agreements on fisheries and other
environmental issues were an important adjunct to global
conventions
54. Finally, Mr. Choe, described the situation in Korea,
which had a huge 10% of its economy related to the marine
environment. Environmental security was an obvious priority
of his country.
55. In summing up, the moderators agreed on the following
highlights from the discussion and recommended actions:
Disputes amongst countries are an obstacle to environmental
cooperation and their resolution is therefore important to
the resolution of regional environmental problems.
ACOPS was seen as a valuable mechanism to enhance
cooperation and communication amongst nations. Both
technology and research are required to address environmental
problems so that knowledge and capability are used together.
Global fisheries agreements are now in place awaiting
ratification, setting the agenda for future work. More needs
to be done to protect pelagia and fish habitat.
Regional agreements are an effective way for nations to
cooperate on environmental issues. Governments need to
harmonise their policies to ensure the effective interaction
of the respective agreements.
Governments need to act now and will need much public
pressure to initiate appropriate actions.
F. Panel on the Indian Ocean
56. Mr. Peter Mokaba, Deputy Minister of Environment and
Tourism of South Africa and Mr. Terry Jones, Director of
Multilateral Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Planning and Environment of Seychelles chaired this session
of the Panel on the Indian Ocean.
57. The panellists were: Prof. Dr. Khosla Ashok, President,
Development Alternatives, India; Mr. Joseph Belmont, Minister
for Administration and Manpower, First Minister Designate,
Seychelles; Dr. Robert Corell, Head of Geoscience
Directorate, National Science Foundation, USA; Mr. Bernardo
Ferraz, Minister for the Coordination of Environmental
Affairs, Mozambique; Congressman Peter King, House Foreign
Affairs Committee, New York, USA; Dr. Mok Mareth, Minister of
Environment, Kingdom of Cambodia; Mr. Philip Reynolds,
Manager, Strategic Initiative for Ocean & Coastal Management,
UNDP; Congressman Chris Smith, House Foreign Affairs
Committee, New Jersey, USA; and Dr. Plodprasop Suraswadi,
Director General of the Fisheries Department, Ministry of
Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand.
58. The panel discussed ------
G. Panel on oceans and the Russian Federation
Dr. Alexander Solovyanov, Deputy Chairman of the State
Committee on the Protection of the Environment of the Russian
Federation and Senior Policy Adviser to ACOPS, Prof. Vladimir
Tetelmin, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Ecology of the
State Duma, Russian Federation, and Coordinator for ACOPS'
Russian Programme, and Prof. Vitaly Lystsov, Chairman of
ACOPS' Arctic Working Group chaired this session of the Panel
on Oceans and the Russian Federation.
The panellists were: Dr. James Baker, Administrator,
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
USA; Mrs. Siri Bjerke, State Secretary of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Norway; Mr. Mikhail Faleev, Deputy Minister
of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and
the Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters
(EMERCOM); Ms. Sherri Goodman, Deputy Under Secretary of
Defence (Environmental Security), USA; Dr. Ljubomir Jeftic,
Chairman, ACOPS' Advisory Board on Pollution Control and
Prevention; Prof. Dr. Willem J Kakebeeke, Assistant Director
General for the Environment, Ministry of Housing, Physical
Planning and Environment, The Netherlands; Admiral Igor
Kasatonov, First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian
Navy and Chairman of Section No. 2 on Sea and Ocean Studies
in the Russian Federation Committee on Science and
Technology; Dr. Laurence Mee, Coordinator, GEF Programme for
Environmental Management and Protection of the Black Sea, and
Chairman, ACOPS Advisory Board on Oceans and Coastal Areas
Management and Policy; Mr. R. Tucker Scully, Director, Office
of Ocean Affairs, Department of State, USA; Mr. Vitaly
Sevastianov, Member of the State Duma, President of GLOBE,
Russia; Colonel Viktor Sheremetyev, Ministry of Defence,
Russian Federation; Senator Ted Stevens, Senate
Appropriations Committee Chairman, Alaska, USA; Congressman
Curt Weldon, Chairman, Sub-Committee of Research and
Development of the Committee on National Security, House of
Representatives, Congress of the USA, and ACOPS' Vice
President from the USA; Dr. Leslie Whitby, Director of
Environment and Renewable Resources in the Northern Affairs
Programme, Canada; and Congressman Don Young, House Resources
Chairman, Alaska, USA.
The panel discussed ------
H. Presentation of recommendations and the Potomac
Declaration
Congressman Curt Weldon, Dr. Jeftic, Prof. Per Wramner, and
Dr. Sebek chaired this session which was devoted to the
presentation of the draft recommendations. The
Recommendations are attached to this report as Annex II.
The draft of the Potomac Declaration was prepared on the
basis of presentations and statements made during the meeting
and on the basis of position papers distributed at the
Conference and other relevant materials.
The draft of the Potomac Declaration was discussed in
detail and numerous amendments were agreed upon. The Potomac
Declaration is presented in Annex IV of this report.
H. Closing of the conference
The closing session, at which short statements were made by
------, was chaired by ------.
It was agreed that the Conference was a great success and
that it was not important to implement the recommendations
contained in the Potomac Declaration.
____________________