The annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission is getting underway in Santiago, with pro- and anti-whaling countries pledging to work together in a spirit of compromise. But as Richard Black reports, divisions remain as wide as ever:

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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

Listen to the words

to browbeat
to try to force someone to do something by threatening them or using strong, often unfair persuasion

dropping
no longer doing something; stopping

commercial whaling
hunting and processing whales with the purpose of selling their meat

in return for
provided; as an exchange for

have deep reservations about
seriously doubt

conservation groups
here, anti-whaling organisations

pursuing a compromise
seeking an agreement (in an argument) in which the people involved reduce their demands or change their opinion in order to agree

is due to
is expected to

a whale sanctuary
a place where whales can live and be protected from hunters and dangerous conditions

opposed
been against

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