Turkey attends Antarctic research meeting in Prague

By Dilara Zengin

ANKARA (AA) - Months after sending an expedition to the Antarctic, Turkish scientists and officials attended a meeting in the Czech Republic to share information about their polar research.

Attending the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Prague earlier this month were Burcu Ozsoy, the leader of Turkey's Antarctica team, Muhammet Bilal Macit of Turkey’s Industry and Technology Ministry, and representatives of the Environment and Urban Planning Ministry, Istanbul Technical University, and PolRec, Turkey's first polar research center.

At the meeting, representatives of international groups carrying out polar research also exchanged information and views on implementation of the 1959 Antarctic Treaty.

Turkey’s observer status was also discussed during the meeting, and international support was sought as well as the memberships in the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP).

Turkey currently holds observer status, but hopes to see this raised to consultative status.

The Turkish Embassy to Prague also held a reception on Turkey's Antarctic research featuring a film by Anadolu Agency on the expedition this February and March.

Turkey and the Czech Republic also signed a pact on cooperating on polar research in such issues as logistical support, environmental protection, and information sharing.

This February, a Turkish team traveled to Antarctica as part of a research expedition and spent 30 days on the frozen continent.

During the expedition, Anadolu Agency covered the team’s scientific efforts in Antarctica.

Antarctica, the coldest continent on earth, has served as a scientific research zone since the signing of the 1959 treaty.

*Writing by Erdogan Cagatay Zontur