Madam, - I am writing with regard to the Guardian Service report "Pro-whalers hope for hunting return", which appeared in your edition of June 20th.
This report claims that Japan has "been recruiting a large number of small nations to their cause. Fourteen of the 62 members of the commission are small developing countries which receive aid from Japan and vote the same way as their benefactor on the majority issues". This statement is totally without basis in fact, misleading your readers as to the true nature of Japanese Official Development Aid (ODA).
Japan has extended her ODA to assist developing countries throughout the world according to their own particular requirements. This aid is in no way tied to whether they are pro-whaling or not. In addition, we call your attention to the fact that Japan's ODA has also been continually provided to a number of developing countries which are against our position on whaling.
Furthermore, the member countries of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) which have taken the same position as Japan have formed their own stance independently and have based it on their own belief of what is the best way to support the sustainable use of marine living resources.
The suggestion that Japan unduly influences the votes of other IWC members through the medium of ODA is a spurious claim and one that offers an insult to the IWC members which share the same position with Japan on whaling as well as Japan's commitment to the developing world.
These kind of groundless insinuations were cited as a real problem by many IWC members, including anti-whaling nations, at the IWC annual meeting last year and they still share this view.
Moreover, Japan's ODA for developing countries in the area of fisheries targets necessary assistance to encourage their sustainable usage of marine living resources. Such assistance is compatible with the concept of "Sustainable Use of Living Resources" agreed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992 and reconfirmed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002. - Yours, etc,
TAKASHI NIINUMA, Embassy of Japan, Dublin 4.