UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION

JOINT COMMUNIQUE ON RADIOACTIVE WASTE SHIPMENT ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENTS OF ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, CHILE AND URUGUAY

THE GOVERNMENTS OF ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, CHILE AND URUGUAY, IN VIEW OF A NEW RADIOACTIVE WASTE SHIPMENT THROUGH BOTH SOUTHERN ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC OCEANS, REITERATE THEIR CONCERN EXPRESSED IN PREVIOUS OPPORTUNITIES TO THE GOVERNMENTS OF FRANCE, JAPAN AND THE UNITED KINGDOM THAT THESE SHIPMENTS TAKE THE CAPE HORN ROUTE, IN PARTICULAR DUE TO THE RISKS WHICH REPRESENT TO NAVIGATION, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ITS PHYSICAL AND METEOROLOGICAL FEATURES, AS WELL AS THE VULNERABILITY OF THE ANTARCTIC AND SUBANTARCTIC ECO-SYSTEMS.

IT IS ALSO OF THE GOVERNMENTS' CONCERN NOT ONLY THE DAMAGING EFFECTS WHICH THIS SHIPMENT MIGHT HAVE IN COASTAL POPULATIONS' HEALTH, BUT THE PRESERVATION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT OF THE REGION WHERE THIS TRANSIT WILL TAKE PLACE, DUE TO THE INTRINSIC DANGEROUS NATURE OF THIS CARGO AS WELL.

THE GOVERNMENTS RECALL THAT THE INTERNATIONAL LAW IN FORCE, ESPECIALLY THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEAS OF 1982, RECOGNIZES SOVEREIGNTY TO COASTAL STATES IN THEIR TERRITORIAL SEAS AND JURISDICTION ON THE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR RESPECTIVE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONES. THE FULFILLMENT OF THOSE RESPONSABIUTIES MUST COUNT ON THE COOPERATION OF OTHER STATES IN EXERCISING A STRICT CONTROL ON THE SHIPS USING THEIR FLAGS THAT NAVIGATE ON THE ADJACENCIES OF JURISDICTIONAL WATERS, AIMED AT PREVENTING THE RISKS OF POLLUTION.

THIS SHIPMENT CONFIRMS THE NEED TO CONTINUE WORKING WITHIN THE COMPETENT INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TOWARDS THE STRENGTHENING OF REGULATIONS ON THE SAFETY OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL SHIPMENTS. SUCH EFFORT SHOULD CONSIDER, INTER ALIA, WARRANTIES OVER THE NON CONTAMINATION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT, THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION ON SELECTED ROUTES, THE COMMUNICATION OF EMERGENCY PLANS IN CASE OF ACCIDENT, THE COMPROMISE TO RECOVER THE RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS IN CASE OF ACCIDENT OF THE TRANSPORTING SHIPS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING AVAILABLE AND EFFECTIVE MECHANISMS OF CURRENT RESPONSIBILITY.

THE GOVERNMENTS OF ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, CHILE AND URUGUAY DEEM APPROPIATE TO REMIND AND REITERATE THE TERMS STATED IN THE DECLARATION ISSUED BY URUGUAY ON BEHALF OF THE MERCOSUR COUNTRIES IN THE FIRST COMMITTEE OF THE 54th SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN OCTOBER OF 1999.

MONTEVIDEO, DECEMBER 21^ST, 2000