Antartica

Question 1

Antarctic treaty, Art. 4

Answer 1

1. Nothing in the present Treaty shall be interpreted as:
   a. a renunciation by any Contracting Party of presviously asserted rights of or claims to territorial sovereignity in Antartica;
   b. a renunciation of diminuition by any Contracting Party of any basis of claim to territorial sovereignity in Antartica;
   c. prejudicing the position of any Contracting Party as regards its recognition or non-recognition of any other State’s right of or claim or basis of claim to territorial sovereignity in Antartica
2. 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 sovereignity in Antartica or create any rights of sovereignity in Antartica.

Question 2

Antarctic Treaty, Art. 1, 2, 5, 7 + Protocol on Environmental Protection

Answer 2

Antartica shall be used for peaceful purposes only. There shall be prohibited, inter alia, any measures of a military nature, such as the establishment of military bases and fortifications, the carrying out of military bases and fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, as well as the testing of any type of weapons.

Art. 2: freedom of scientific investigation in Antartica and cooperation to that end

Art. 5: any nuclear explosions in Antartica and the disposal there of redioactive waste material shall be prohibited.

Art. 7: any activity relating to mineral resources, other than scientific research, shall be prohibited– possibility of review after 50 years

Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
Art. 2: Antartica designtated as “a natural reserve”, devoted to peace and science.

Consultative Parties– normative powers, inspections