Australia, Japan leaders agree to disagree on whaling
The leaders of Japan and Australia on Thursday failed to resolve an emotionally charged row over whaling but agreed that the rift should not hurt the countries' alliance.
By Agencies |
TOKYO: The leaders of Japan and Australia on Thursday failed to resolve an emotionally charged row over whaling but agreed that the rift should not hurt the countries' alliance.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who has ramped up pressure against Japan's whaling in the Antarctic Ocean since taking over in December, said he and his Japanese counterpart Yasuo Fukuda wanted talks on the issue.
"Prime Minister Fukuda and I agreed that you can have disagreement between friends," Rudd told a joint news conference.
"We've also agreed that this disagreement would not undermine in any ways the strong and positive nature of our bilateral relationship. And we will be working in the period ahead diplomatically in search of a solution on this question," Rudd said.
Fukuda called for calm over whaling. "We agreed to engage in cool-headed discussions so that differences in our positions on this issue will not undermine good bilateral relations," Fukuda said.
Japan kills hundreds of whales each year in the Antarctic Ocean despite strong protests from Australia and New Zealand and harassment by animal-rights activists.
Japan argues that whaling is part of its culture and uses a loophole in a 1986 global moratorium on commercial hunting that allows "lethal research" on the ocean giants.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who has ramped up pressure against Japan's whaling in the Antarctic Ocean since taking over in December, said he and his Japanese counterpart Yasuo Fukuda wanted talks on the issue.
"Prime Minister Fukuda and I agreed that you can have disagreement between friends," Rudd told a joint news conference.
"We've also agreed that this disagreement would not undermine in any ways the strong and positive nature of our bilateral relationship. And we will be working in the period ahead diplomatically in search of a solution on this question," Rudd said.
Fukuda called for calm over whaling. "We agreed to engage in cool-headed discussions so that differences in our positions on this issue will not undermine good bilateral relations," Fukuda said.
Japan kills hundreds of whales each year in the Antarctic Ocean despite strong protests from Australia and New Zealand and harassment by animal-rights activists.
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Japan argues that whaling is part of its culture and uses a loophole in a 1986 global moratorium on commercial hunting that allows "lethal research" on the ocean giants.
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