INTRODUCTION

Co-operation in the South Atlantic Ocean, between the South African and Argentine Navies is not new. We have been working together for a period of years, and it can be said that we are very close friends. However, there is now a new situation, which will act as a catalyst for our relationship. As the Chief of the Navy often says - "to show the flag"; and the South African Navy has already started to show the flag, sending its ships to foreign countries, including Argentina and Uruguay on friendly and professional missions.

Around the conference table we are now trying to achieve co-operation in the maritime affairs of all the countries which have an interest in the Southern Oceans. However, we are conscious that our knowledge of this huge area of water is very limited. The ocean is the most difficult place to work. Our trade depends on the sea. We are islands in the southern hemisphere. Our merchant ships are continually crossing the seas to connect our ports with the world. We live and survive as countries because of these connections, and we need to protect our ships. The current situation demand that, this protection ranges from the control of shipping in peace time to the provision of information for safe sailing and of the security of an efficient search and rescue organization, including the regulation of operations in war.

TASKS REQUIRING CO-OPERATION

The control and protection of shipping is an international effort. Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina are linked in the South Atlantic Maritime Area Organisation (AMAS), included in the regulation of the Interamerican Treaty for Reciprocal Assistance (TIAR), which provides our countries with the necessary information in the area, and connects them with other similar organisations. Co-operation between AMAS and the Southern African Navies is necessary to control and protect maritime traffic in the South Atlantic, and to contribute to the work that other organisations are doing in the other oceans of the world.

Even during peace time, we must cover the entire ocean with the information necessary for safe passage and for effective search and rescue operations. For this, international co-operation is absolutely necessary. No country can explore the ocean on its own.

Most of the countries facing the South Atlantic may have the ability to conduct their own hydrographic and cartographic work, according to the regulations of the International Maritime Organisation and the International Hydrographic bureau. But none of them are able to conduct complete oceanographic or meterologic research.

In oceanographic and meteorologic terms, everything is dynamic and connected. The same samples of water passing to the south of Argentina will later be reaching the shores of Southern Africa, the Caribbean sea northern Europe. The cold water formed in the ice shells of the Weddell sea, will reach the Mediterranean, at the end of a long trip following the depths of the Atlantic. This means that seemingly insignificant pollution introduced into the water, will have a contaminating result in unexpected places in the world oceans. This is another international problem connected with marine research.

A change in the surface conditions of the sea, in remote locations such as the coast of Peru, for example, could have a dramatic effect in the evolution of the rainy seasons of Southern Africa. What can we expect if the change is going on in the middle of the Atlantic!

As well as the physical conditions, the fish-life at sea is also moving. We can draw lines on a chart, but it is not possible to build a fence in the water to materialise international borders. That means that if we fail to protect our resources, we will affect not only our economy but also the economies of our neighbours and, perhaps, even the resources of far distant countries.

We need to co-operate in maritime research not only because of the interrelation between the oceanographic and meteorologic parameters, but also because if we work together, we can do the things better and cheaper.

CO-OPERATION

The Argentine Navy has much experience in this kind of co-operation. For more than forty years we have been co-operating with not only the US Navy and other navies in America, but also with governmental and non-governmental organisations such as the National Science Foundation, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, and the Universities of Scrips, Columbia and Paris. Sometimes with our ships working together, but mostly sharing vessels, personnel, instruments or the costs of the operations. Obviously, this co-operation yielded a lot of information about the western Atlantic and the northern Antarctic Oceans, information that would be much more difficult and expensive to get alone. At the moment, for example, we are working together with Chile and the United States on projects of geophysical research, with aircraft in the Weddell Sea and in the determination of the concentration of ozone in the Antarctic atmosphere; problems which are affecting South America as well as Southern Africa.

We are one of the few countries which can say that, to the south, we have nothing but the Antarctic. And that means that we have a special responsibility in this matter. Argentina, in only one decade, will have been doing continuous research in this area equivalent to one century, mostly in co-operation with other countries while offering them technical and logistical support as a result of its geographical situation.

The same points I have mentioned relating to the Atlantic Ocean are applicable to the Antarctic Ocean and continent, but the conditions of work are poorer and co-operation is greatly needed. If we recognize that our knowledge about the Atlantic is poor, we must accept that we know nothing about the Antarctic Ocean.

In strategic and geopolitical terms, each country has its own policy and navies are instruments of this policy. For my Government, the South Atlantic must be a area of "co-operative security". To reach this co-operative security, it is necessary to show the complete transparency in military activities, and for that we have the navies, and we need co-operation between them.

RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM

The conditions in the South Atlantic Ocean are much better than they were during the eighties, and that there exists a regime of communications and confidence built up by the Governments of the United Kingdom and Argentina. Also, the diplomatic relations between both countries have been rebuilt in a very professional way, and we also again have in our Embassy in London a representative in the International Maritime Organisation.

The Argentine Government believes that the resumption of diplomatic, economic and military links with the United Kingdom has led to improved stability in the South West Atlantic.

Understandings have been reached under the protection of the formula on sovereignty - commonly known as 'Umbrela' - in several areas, such as fisheries, search and rescue and confidence building measures. Of course, there are areas where agreement seems, for the time being, to be more elusive, but we should not give up hope.

However, the central question of the sovereignty dispute over the Malvinas Islands, the South Georgias and South Sandwich Islands, remains unresolved. The Argentine Republic's sovereignty rights over the Malvines Islands, the South Georgias and the South Sandwach Islands and the surrounding maritime areas, are based on solid, historical and legal foundations. The sovereignty dispute has been formally and expressly recognised by the United Kingdom itself, the United Nations and other international organisations. Various United National General Assembly resolutions, particularly Resolutions 2065 (XX) of 16 December 1965, 3160 (XXVIII) of 14 December 1973 and 37/9 of 4 November 1982, recognised that there was a sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom, and established that it must be resolved by negotiations, taking into account the interest of the population of the islands. Argentina considers that the dispute must be resolved in conformity with paragraph 6 of General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, which granted pre-eminence to the principle of territorial integrity in the decolonisation of territories that belonged to a state. It is worth recalling that, prior to 1833, the islands were an integral part of Argentina.

As stated previously since 1990, we have seen constructive developments occurring in the South West Atlantic. The position of the Argentine Government in this regard has been based on a firm and clear commitment to achieve the peaceful resolution of all differences with the United Kingdom concerning the sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands. In the joint statement issued in Madrid on 19 October 1989 by Argentina and the United Kingdom, both Governments agreed on a formula for sovereignty which protects 6the parties' position with regard to sovereignty or territorial and maritime jurisdiction over the Malvinas Islands, South Georgias and the South Sandwich Islands, and the surrounding maritime areas. Notwithstanding the dispute and under the protection of the formula mentioned, both countries continued paving the way for bilateral co-operation in the South Atlantic.

In the Argentine-British joint statement of the conservation of fisheries of 28 November 1990, the two Governments agreed to open the way for co-operation in this field on an ad-hoc basis, by means of the establishment of the South Atlantic Fisheries Commission.



In December 1992, a scientific sub-committee was created with the brief to advise the commission on fisheries stock assessments, concerning the most relevant off-shore species. Simultaneously, as a gesture of good will and for the sake of conservation, Argentina decided to restrict itself to issue only 45 fishing permits for foreign chartered fishing vessels, instead of the large number orginally envisaged.



Subsequently, in 1993, the Argentine and British Governments reached understandings concerning levels of catches in the area. They also developed an early-warning scheme in order to identify potential problems regarding stocks conservation. This is a further example of co-operation on concrete issues.



Furthermore, representatives of both Governments at the eighth meeting of the Commission (London, 6 and 7 June 1994) agreed to continue co-operation to curtail illegal activities of fishing vessels in the area, and confirm their commitment to conserve the fisheries on the basis for the best available scientific data. To that effect, Argentine and British scientists are currently involved in providing technical advise to the Fisheries Commission. Joint scientific cruised and data exchange take place on a regular basis.



Both countries are at present considereing alternatives for a longer term fisheries understanding.



In the sphere of hydrocarbons, the Argentine Republic has stated that it cannot accept any unilateral action on oil exploration and exploitation in the area under dispute, which can have a bearing on the sovereignty dispute. Talks between the United Kingdom and Argentina were held last July. The delegations had a full exchange of information on the respective governments' legislatively measures and proposals, and agreed to reflect further on other proposals and suggestions of co-operation made by both sides. It was agreed that they would hold an additional meeting in September 1994.



Argentina has insisted on maintaining conservation policies in the Antarctic areas, in confirmity with the relevant international instruments applicable such as the convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Maritime Living Resources. On 7 May 1993, the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom had agreed, under the 'umbrella' of sovereignty, to renew their conservation efforts within the framework of the above-named convention.

In contrast with these positive trends, the existence of a British military base in Malvinas is a reminder of the past that ignores the new regional and international security context. However, the need to progress towards military normalisation in the South Atlantic has encouraged Argentina and the United Kingdom to seek interim understanding and design confidence building measures in the military sphere. Starting with the joint declaration issued in Madrid on 15 February 1990, both countries have made progress in this filed with a view to the complete normalisation of the security and military situation in the South West Atlantic. Recently, the South Atlantic Working Group met in Buenos Aires on 18 July 1994 and agreed to further advance in this process.

The General Assembly resolutions on the Zone of Peace and Co-operation of the South Atlantic, call upon all states to co-operate in the promotion of peace and co-operation established in the declaration of the zone and to refrain from any action inconsistent with those objectives. The establishment of the Zone of Peace and Co-operation in the South Atlantic is an important development with concerns all the states of the region. With a view to its implementation member states are currently engaged in preparing the third ministerial meeting, to be held in Brussels on 21 and 22 September 1994. Among the issues under consideration, will be that of co-operation in maritime security. In this regard, existent mechanisms like CAMAS, which links Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay in the promotion of safe navigation, could be strengthened. It must be recalled that the establishment of a fully co-operative environment, as envisaged by UNGA Resolution 46/11, requires a constructive approach free from controversial elements which would run counter and inhibit the full coming into being of the zone.

Some of the points just mentioned suggest the emergence of an improved atmosphere between Argentina and the United Kingdom in the South West Atlantic. Other developments still hinder this process, and they could not be easily reconciled with the objectives of the Zone of Peace and Co-operation in the South Atlantic.

It is to be hoped that new positive signs may emerge in the South Atlantic agenda, so as to bring closer the prospect of a maritime area where confidence and prosperity will prevail for the benefit of all the actors involved.

CONCLUSION

Finally, all the countries in the South Atlantic Area are members of the United Nations Organisation, and it means another responsibility for the Navies. We must always be prepared to take part in international peacekeeping, observation or humanitarian operations. Our crew must be specifically trained to work with crews of other countries. To reach, and to maintain this goal, the co-operation involved in international exercises such as those which the Argentine Navy regularly carries out with the Navies of the United States, Brazil, Uruguay and now South Africa, is especially helpful.

In conclusion our navies can do much of benefit to our respective countries:

Co-operating in the Maritime Traffic Control and in search and rescue, as we are doing, with the exchange of information and personnel, because we know that it will benefit the security in the area, our trade, the protection of life at sea.



Working together, or helping each other, to intensify the research of the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the ocean and its nearest atmospheric layers, to the benefit of our naval operations and of the economic interest of our countries, including the prevention of weather calamities.



Exchanging students or members of our navies, improving relations between all ranks of our personnel in their careers, and transferring our experiences.



Controlling the pollution in our areas of responsibility and exchanging information and experience in this matter.



Protecting the resources of our Economic Exclusive Zones, insuring their rational and lawful exploitation and avoiding this exploitation from affecting the ecosystem globally.



Creating and maintaining a climate of confidence in the area, showing the highest transparency in our military activities.



Finally, acting in communication, in order to co-ordinate the execution of dispositions establishment by international organisations such as the Maritime International Organisation or the International Hydrographic Bureau, to make sailing in the South Atlantic a safer activity day by day.