seven nations are meeting in Paris to determine the fate of Antarctica . An AP correspondent who has been to the disputed continent reports on what is at stake. They will review the 1959 Antarctica treaty that expires in 1988 , but more importantly, the 1988 Antarctica Minerals Convention that would have allowed controlled mining and oil exploration there. The Convention was not ratified by Paris , one of seven claimant nations with veto power. None holds title; seven nations fly flags there. Antarctica hoards unknown quantities of strategic metals along with oil estimated to be in the billions of gallons . Many nations are pressing for controlled exploitation of the continent, others argue for it to remain unspoiled.
seven nations are meeting in Paris to determine the fate of Antarctica . They will review the 1959 Antarctica treaty that expires in 1988 , but more importantly, the 1988 Antarctica Minerals Convention that would have allowed controlled mining and oil exploration there. The Convention was not ratified by Paris , one of seven claimant nations with veto power. None holds title; seven nations fly flags there. Antarctica hoards unknown quantities of strategic metals along with oil estimated to be in the billions of gallons . Many nations are pressing for controlled exploitation of the continent, others argue for it to remain unspoiled.