Statement Ministry of the Environment 19 October 2006
Andreas Carlgren, Minister for the Environment

Statement by Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren on the Icelandic government's decision to resume commercial whali

"The Icelandic government's decision to resume commercial whaling is extremely regrettable. The Swedish Government urges Iceland not to implement its decision. Sweden has never recognised Iceland's reservation against the ban on commercial whaling. In Sweden's view, Iceland therefore has an obligation to Sweden not to break the international moratorium on commercial whaling imposed by the International Whaling Commission (IWC)."

"Iceland's decision on commercial whaling is even more regrettable since in recent years Iceland has made a constructive attempt to contribute to improved relations within the IWC. Yesterday's decision is a serious challenge to all IWC member nations working to restore the world's whale populations and to develop a new management plan to ensure the achievement of this objective. The decision undermines the role of the IWC as a global organisation for the conservation and sustainable use of the world's whales."

"The Swedish Government therefore deeply regrets the Icelandic government's decision and will actively work with other countries to ensure the decision is not implemented."

"Sweden's position is that all decisions concerning commercial whaling must be taken within the framework of the IWC based on the recommendations of the scientific advisers. An individual country must not make such a decision unilaterally," says Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren.