Russia opposes Britain's attempts to divide Antarctica

Moscow, Oct 31 (UNI) Russia is opposed to Britain's idea of dividing Antarctica on the basis of unilateral territorial claims, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement today.

Referring to the reports that Britain was planning to submit a proposal to the United Nations on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, Russia said, ''Being one of the nations that made the biggest contributions to the development of the 1959 Antarctic Treaty and studies of Antarctica, this country has consistently worked against the idea of dividing Antarctica on the basis of unilateral territorial claims and has not recognised them.'' ''As far as we understand, the British document may raise issues related to the status of the seabed adjacent to the coast of Antarctica. The British Foreign Office commentary stresses absolute adherence to the commitments made under the 1959 Antarctic Treaty,'' the statement said, adding so far it was premature to make any evaluation of the British move.

In any case, interested states would be able to do so after the relevant materials were received by the Commission, it noted.

UNI