waste treaty

Base for waste treaty formed

PACIFIC Forum countries at a meeting in Suva last month reached broad agreement on a proposed treaty banning the importation of hazardous and toxic wastes into the South Pacific, as well as, the control trans boundry movement of these wastes.

The proposal was prepared by Papua New Guinea in response to a Forum directive. The Forum has directed that a possible regional convention be ready for signing by the 1995 South Pacific Forum meeting.

The chairman of the meeting, Federated States of Micronesia Exter nal Affairs Secretary, Resio Moses, said he was happy with the proceed ings of the two-day meeting.

He said despite the technical details of the draft treaty, broad agreements have been reached on many of the substantive issues covered in the document.

He said progress had been made in many difficult areas and the ground work for a regional convention is now in place. Moses said further meetings will be held between now and the Forum meeting next year.

The Suva meeting was attended by delegates from Australia, the Cook Islands, FSM, Fiji, Nauru, New Zealand, PNG, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Western Samoa. The South Pacific Regional Environment Programme also attended.

The environment group Green peace and the Pacific Conference of Churches attended as observers. □