Saturday, January 4, 2013 
President Piñera inaugurates Joint Polar Research Station "Union Glacier" at Antarctic Circle
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The President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, accompanied by the ministers of Foreign Affairs, Alfredo Moreno; Defense, Rodrigo Hinzpeter; and the Secretary General of Government, Cecilia Pérez, inaugurated today at the Antarctic Circle the new Joint Polar Research Station "Union Glacier," as part of the Bicentennial Legacy Program promoted by the Government.

In this regard, the Head of State noted, "We have come here today to open this new base, which lies in the Antarctic Circle together with the U.S. Amundsen-Scott and China's Kunlun stations, the only three bases within the Antarctic Circle."

The new facility —composed of human and material resources from the Army, Navy and Air Force— aims at having an effective presence, conducting advanced scientific research and exploring the white continent.

During his visit, President Piñera said:"We are also here to sign the Draft Antarctic Bill, which has tree objectives. Firstly, to strengthen the presence and sovereignty of our country in this continent; secondly, to strengthen the exercise of our rights and the fulfillment of our duties in the framework of the so-called Antarctic System and the Antarctic Treaty, of which Chile forms a part and thirdly, to update and modernize our Antarctic legislation, which dates back to 1955, in order to have a set of laws enabling us to fully exercise our vocation for Antarctica."

In the same vein, he ensured that Chile has to "look toward this continent of the future, and this is why we are here today to take a very important step by opening this Chilean Joint Research Base."He then added, "I just want to share with you that this is a very moving and significant moment for us, as Chile, fulfilling its historical duty and its vocation for the future, upholds its sovereignty and presence on this white continent."

Similarly, the Head of State emphasized, "We are the country with the greatest geographic proximity to Antarctica, moreover, the South American and Antarctic continents have converging platforms, which establishes Chilean sovereignty and rights over this continent."

He recalled that Chile is "the only country that has had legal title over this continent, granted in the time of King Charles V, and it is therefore a country with a permanent presence on this continent; it is no coincidence that we have five permanent bases, two summer bases and we are adding today this base at Union Glacier."

Finally, President Piñera expressed his sincere thanks to the staff of this Chilean Joint Base and asked them to continue to fulfill for the rest of the season "your duties, uphold our sovereignty and ensure that Chile's historical, legal and occupation rights over this continent are duly safeguarded."