24 ژوئن, 2008 - Published 11:01 GMT

International Whaling Commission convenes

Anti-whaling countries have been trying to browbeat Japan into dropping its whaling programmes for more than 20 years and it hasn't really worked. So now some, led by the US, are trying a new approach of engagement - looking for common interests where they exist, and seeking constructive solutions where they don't.

The end result could be a future deal where some commercial whaling is permitted in return for Japan dropping its Antarctic scientific hunt. Some anti-whaling governments have deep reservations about the new strategy. But conservation groups are divided. Some believe it's worth pursuing a compromise that could result in fewer whales being killed each year, whereas others argue that a total global ban is the only goal worth fighting for.

When the meeting opens, Chile's president Michelle Bachelet is due to announce the establishment of a whale sanctuary along the country's coast, and the wider Latin American group of countries wants a sanctuary throughout the entire south Atlantic. Pro-hunting nations have historically opposed the creation of whale sanctuaries; and the new mood of peace here may not survive the introduction of these key issues.

Richard Black, BBC News, Santiago

to browbeat
تهید کردن، نهیب زدن

dropping
در اینجا: صرفنظر کردن، کنار گذاشتن

commercial whaling
صید نهنگ برای استفاده تجارتی

in return for
در عوض.....، در ازای......

have deep reservations about
نسبت به .....تردید جدی دارند

conservation groups
گروه های طرفدار محیط زیست، در اینجا: گروه های مخالف صید نهنگ

pursuing a compromise
در جستجوی یک مصالحه هستند

is due to
قرار است، انتظار می رود

a whale sanctuary
پناهگاهی برای نهنگ ها، محل حفاظت شده ای برای نهنگ ها

opposed
have opposed مخالفت کرده اند