やしの実通信 by Dr Rieko Hayakawa

太平洋を渡り歩いて35年。島と海を国際政治、開発、海洋法の視点で見ていきます。

太平洋島サミットと日本の原発政策(2)参考資料1 1991-1993

太平洋島サミットと日本の原発政策(2)参考資料1 1991-1993

TWENTY-SECOND SOUTH PACIFIC FORUM

Palikir, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia

29 - 30 July 1991

Dumping of Toxic and Hazardous Waste

20. Concern was expressed about the potential for the region to become a dumping ground for toxic and hazardous waste and chemicals and radioactive materials. In this regard, the Forum commended the London Dumping Convention (LDC) for its recent progressive stance on ocean dumping, and in particular for its 1990 decision to phase, out industrial waste dumping at sea. The Forum expressed support for Forum Island Country members who were seeking to codify these advances by amendment of LDC. The Forum noted its desire to culminate this procedure at the Fifteenth Consultative Meeting of the LDC in 1992 coincident with the UNCED Conference,

TWENTY-THIRD SOUTH PACIFIC FORUM

Honiara, Solomon Islands

8 - 9 July 1992

Ocean Dumping of Radioactive and Other Wastes

26. The Forum welcomed the decision of the Conference of the Parties of the London Dumping Convention to place the issue of an Amendment Conference on the agenda of its 1992 meeting. The Forum noted that the global moratorium on radioactive Waste dumping at sea could be drawing to an end, and reiterated its support for the objectives of theamendment proposed by Nauru and Kiribati to permanently prohibit the dumping of radioactive wastes at sea. The Forum encouraged all of its members to participate in the Conference of the Parties, because the decisions taken could be decisive for the future of the South Pacific Region.

Plutonian Shipments

27. Forum Leaders noted that the Japanese Government plans from later this year to ship plutonium from Europe to Japan and that such shipments would transit through the Pacificregion. They noted the risks inherent in such shipments from surface accidents and from possible loss of cargo at sea. They expressed their concern that the shipments be made in accordance with the highest international safety and security standards and in a manner which satisfactorily addresses all possible contingencies. The Forum urged Japan to consult fully with Forum countries regarding the proposed shipments.

Chemical Weapons

28. The Forum reaffirmed its abhorrence of chemical weapons and the need to rid them from the world through the early conclusion of a global convention banning for all time their development, production, stockpiling and use.

29. The Forum noted that after 20 years of negotiations in the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament (CD), a draft final text of a Chemical Weapons Convention had been tabled in the CD on 22 June 1992 by the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Chemical Weapons. The Forum urged countries involved in the CD negotiations to demonstrate their commitment to a chemical weapons free world by reaching agreement on a balanced and comprehensive Convention this year.

30. With regard to the region's continuing concern about the Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Destruction System, the Forum again stressed that one of the most important issues remained that of ensuring that it closes down permanently in line with United States' assurances, when the current programme of weapons destruction is completed. The Forum noted the report of the scientific mission to Johnston Atoll and stated that it would continue to monitor the JACADS programme.

TWENTY-FOURTH SOUTH PACIFIC FORUM

Nauru

10 - 11 August 1993

Ocean Dumping of Radioactive and Other Wastes

41. The Forum welcomed successful completion of studies carried out under the authority of the London Convention of 1972 (LC'72) on radioactive waste dumping at sea. The Forum urged those members party to the LC'72 to continue to support actively a total ban on dumping of radioactive wastes at sea when it adopts amendments this November. It also called upon its Post-Forum Dialogue Partners to support such a ban, and called upon Forum members to attend the November LC'72 meeting. The Forum expressed its grave concern over the dumping of Russian nuclear wastes into the North Pacific, called for its immediate cessation, and called for retrieval of those wastes if feasible and safe.

42. The Forum also welcomed progress of the Amendment Group of LC'72 and reiterated its support for the amendment process generally. In particular, the Forum supported the Annex Amendment procedure ("fast-track") at the next Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties as an interim step toward a comprehensive updating of the London Convention.

Plutonium Shipments

43. The Forum noted that Japan's first shipment of plutonium from Europe had transitted the Pacific region. It also noted that Japan had responded to the Forum concerns by providing briefings and some information relating to safety and security arrangements it made for the shipment. It nevertheless recalled that the Forum had expressed its concern about the shipment in its 1992 Communiqué and it reiterated the risks inherent in such shipments.

44. It again stressed that they must be made in accordance with the highest international safety and security standards, and in a manner satisfactorily addressing all possible contingencies. The Forum considered the drawing up of a draft code of practice for the transport of radioactive materials by sea which was negotiated by the IAEA/IMO Joint Working Group and which the IMO would consider adopting this year, represents a positive development. The Forum expressed the desire that its members continue to monitor, and where possible actively participate in, further discussions on ways in which the code might be strengthened where appropriate. The Forum reaffirmed the importance of Japan consulting fully with Forum countries regarding such shipments, and providing information on its plutonium use programme.

Chemical Weapons Issues

45. The Forum reaffirmed its abhorrence of chemical weapons and welcomed the opening for signature of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in January this year, noting that most members of the Forum had already signed the Convention. The Forum expressed its full support for the global ban on the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons which will come into place when the CWC enters into force.

46. The Forum urged all countries to take early action to ratify the CWC, with the aim of ensuring the entry into force of the Convention at the earliest possible date. It also urged those members of the international community which had yet to sign the CWC to do so as soon as possible.

47. The Forum drew attention to the region's continuing concerns about the Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Destruction System, reiterating that the facility should be permanently closed when the current programme of chemical weapons and agent destruction was completed. The Forum welcomed the United States' invitation to send another scientific mission to Johnston Atoll, which was accepted in principle, with the date of the visit to be determined later.

Movement and Management of Toxic and Hazardous Wastes

48. The Forum acknowledged the vulnerability of the region to environmental degradation, and expressed particular concern about the possible disastrous impact on the people and natural resources of the region of the importation into, and the uncontrolled and unregulated movement of wastes generated within the region.

49. In this context, the Forum noted that numerous approaches had been made to certain South Pacific Island countries by unscrupulous foreign waste dealers for the importation into, and the treatment within the region of, hazardous and other wastes produced in other countries. Mindful of their obligations resulting from the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21, as well as from the various treaties signed by Forum countries(including the Convention on Climate Change and the Biodiversity Convention), Forum members acknowledged that there was an urgent need to prohibit the importation into and regulate, control and manage, in an environmentally sound manner, those wastes generated within the region.

50. The Forum noted the report of the Technical Working Group and its assessment and evaluation of the Papua New Guinea proposal for a regional convention on the subject. The Forum endorsed the proposal and agreed that technical consultations and negotiations on a regional convention, complementary to the relevant global regimes commence by March 1994, with the aim of concluding them by the 1995 Forum.

51. The Forum also urged member governments which had not already done so to consider seriously acceding to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements to Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, as soon as possible, and recommended that assistance be sought from relevant international organisations in the negotiation of the regional convention or protocol.