Uruguayan Navy Ship Poised to Take Venezuelan Scientific Expedition to Antarctica

By The Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela: Venezuelan scientists will depart on their first Antarctic expedition in an Uruguayan navy research ship under a proposal expected to be approved in Uruguay this week. President Hugo Chavez introduced the scientists on his Sunday radio and television program, saying the 15 experts would embark shortly on the 45-day expedition. The naval research vessel Oyarvide will leave Saturday if approved by Uruguayan legislators, who are expected to vote by midweek. Uruguay has a base in Antarctica, where the Chavez government also hopes to establish a research station. Uruguayan opponents charged that the ruling leftist Broad Front coalition would be overstepping political boundaries by allowing Venezuelans on what is essentially an Antarctic military mission.

"It sets a risky precedent when Venezuela tries to enter Antarctica on an Uruguayan navy ship when they could go there on their own ships," House deputy Javier Garcia charged. Aides to Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez called the trip a mere gesture of friendship between two leftist allies. The scientists will study a range of subjects, including the effects of climate change in Antarctica, Venezuelan Science and Technology Minister Hector Navarro said. "What we hope is to be able to build a base ... a permanent Venezuelan scientific station on the Antarctic continent," Navarro said on Chavez' program, where the scientists stood up one-by-one to introduce themselves.

Chavez, whose country is South America's top oil exporter, often speaks of the threat of global warming and blames heavy U.S. energy consumption as one of the main causes. Antarctica is governed by the Antarctic Treaty System and designated as a natural reserve dedicated to peace and science. Research stations are operated by 28 nations on the continent and nearby islands. But no single nation has control over any section of the continent.

To be continue in other article...

(Jakarta, Kamis 21 February 2008, 07.39 pagi)

Re-publish by Jacob Paradox from link (www.routers.com),(www.iht.com), (www.routers.com), (www.nytimes.com)