[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 176 (Tuesday, December 1, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S12072]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 365--RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING 
                        OF THE ANTARCTIC TREATY

  Mr. DURBIN submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 365

       Whereas the Antarctic Treaty was signed by 12 nations in 
     Washington, DC, on December 1, 1959, ``with the interests of 
     science and the progress of all mankind'';
       Whereas the Antarctic Treaty was established to continue 
     and develop international ``cooperation on the basis of 
     freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica as applied 
     during the International Geophysical Year'';
       Whereas the Antarctic Treaty came into force on June 23, 
     1961, after its unanimous ratification by the seven countries 
     (Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, 
     and the United Kingdom) with territorial claims in the region 
     and five other countries (Belgium, Japan, South Africa, the 
     Soviet Union, and the United States), which had collaborated 
     in Antarctic research activities during the International 
     Geophysical Year from July 1, 1957, through December 31, 
     1958;
       Whereas the Antarctic Treaty now has 47 nations as 
     signatories that together represent nearly 90 percent of 
     humanity;
       Whereas Article IV of the Antarctic Treaty states that ``no 
     acts or activities taking place while the present Treaty is 
     in force shall constitute a basis for asserting, supporting 
     or denying a claim to territorial sovereignty in 
     Antarctica'';
       Whereas the 14 articles of the Antarctic Treaty have 
     provided a lasting foundation for maintaining the region 
     south of 60 degrees south latitude, nearly 10 percent of the 
     Earth's surface, ``for peaceful purposes only'';
       Whereas the Antarctic Treaty prohibits ``any measure of a 
     military nature'';
       Whereas the Antarctic Treaty has promoted international 
     nuclear cooperation by prohibiting ``any nuclear explosions 
     in Antarctica and the disposal there of radioactive waste 
     material'';
       Whereas the Antarctic Treaty provides a framework for the 
     signatories to continue to meet ``for the purpose of 
     exchanging information, consulting together on matters of 
     common interest pertaining to Antarctica, and formulating and 
     considering, and recommending to their Governments, measures 
     in furtherance of the principles and objectives of the 
     Treaty'';
       Whereas common interests among the Antarctic Treaty nations 
     facilitated the development and ratification of the 
     Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living 
     Resources;
       Whereas the international cooperation represented by the 
     Antarctic Treaty offers humankind a precedent for the 
     peaceful governance of international spaces;
       Whereas in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 
     International Geophysical Year, the Antarctic Treaty Parties 
     in their Edinburgh Declaration recognized the current 
     International Polar Year for its contributions to science 
     worldwide and to international cooperation; and
       Whereas the International Polar Year program has endorsed 
     the Antarctic Treaty Summit that will convene in Washington, 
     DC, at the Smithsonian Institution on the 50th anniversary of 
     the Antarctic Treaty: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes that the Antarctic Treaty has greatly 
     contributed to science and science cooperation worldwide and 
     successfully ensured the ``use of Antarctica for peaceful 
     purposes only and the continuance of international harmony'' 
     for the past half century; and
       (2) encourages international and interdisciplinary 
     collaboration in the Antarctic Treaty Summit to identify 
     lessons from 50 years of international cooperation under the 
     Antarctic Treaty that have legacy value for humankind.

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