General Assembly Session 58 meeting 63

The President

Members will recall that at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 19 September 2003, the General Assembly decided that, as part of its consideration of this agenda item, the Assembly would review the recommendations by the Committee for Programme and Coordination contained in chapter III, section C.2 of document A/58/16 and that all relevant comments regarding these recommendations would be transmitted to the Fifth Committee prior to the Committee's consideration of the proposed medium-term plan and the consideration of the recommendations contained in the report of the Committee for Programme and Coordination.

I give the floor to the representative of the United States of America to introduce draft resolution A/58/L.18.

Mr. Gilman (United States)

I should like to announce, first of all, that, since the publication of the draft resolution, the following nations have become sponsors of the text contained in document A/58/L.18: Australia, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine and South Africa.

My delegation has the honour to sponsor the draft resolution entitled "Oceans and the Law of the Sea" (A/58/L.19).

We also have the honour of sponsoring and introducing, on behalf of the other sponsors, the draft resolution entitled "Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments" (A/58/L.18).

The United States would like to express its gratitude to all of the delegations that worked in a spirit of cooperation to achieve the balanced texts of both these draft resolutions. We particularly appreciate the assistance given to Colin McIff, the United States delegate who coordinated the negotiation of the fisheries draft resolution this year. Equally, we would like to note our sincere appreciation for the efforts of Elena Geddis, our distinguished New Zealand colleague, who so ably chaired and led the drafting of the oceans draft resolution. We would, of course, be remiss if we did not acknowledge the Secretariat's Division for Oceans Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) for its hard work. We understand that Mrs. Annick De Marffy, the Director of DOALOS, will be retiring before we take up this subject again next year. We wish her best wishes and success in all of her future endeavours. She will be missed by all of us.

The United States welcomes this year's successful integration of two formerly separate fisheries resolutions. We believe the combined draft resolution we have before us today significantly advances our efforts to achieve sustainable fisheries in a number of key areas while still reflecting the diversity of perspectives represented within the United Nations community.

A central theme of this year's draft resolution is implementing international fisheries commitments. These commitments include the 1995 United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement, the 1993 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas, and the 1995 Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. We applaud the establishment, through this fisheries draft resolution, of a voluntary trust fund that will assist developing countries in fulfilling their obligations to conserve and manage straddling and highly migratory fish stocks under the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement. Since we believe that this trust fund represents a significant step forward towards supporting implementation of the fish stocks agreement, our nation has made an initial contribution of $200,000 to that fund. We urge other States to contribute as well.

This year's fisheries draft resolution also contains significant language calling for implementation at all levels of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, including international plans of action on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, so-called "IUU fishing", fishing overcapacity, shark conservation and management and seabird by-catch avoidance. We welcome the particular emphasis provided in this draft resolution for efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and to address the serious problem of overcapacity in the world's fishing fleet. We are pleased that the emerging work in these areas is appropriately highlighted.

In that vein, we note that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing appears on the agenda of the FAO Governing Conference, a meeting that will take place in December of this year. This is a welcome indication that the international community is demanding action on this problem.

We are also pleased to note that this fisheries draft resolution is explicitly taking up the issue of shark conservation and management. The United States is concerned that many shark species are currently vulnerable to overexploitation due to a combination of their unique biology and a lack of effective management. Regrettably, progress in implementing the 1999 FAO International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks has been extremely disappointing. Although we would have preferred stronger language in this draft resolution concerning the wasteful and unsustainable practice of harvesting shark fins at sea, we are encouraged by the constructive nature of the debate on this issue during the negotiations, as well as the ultimate approach to shark conservation and management reflected in the draft resolution. In the coming months, we look forward to working with all interested parties to find meaningful ways to implement this year's language on sharks at the FAO and through relevant regional fisheries management organizations.

Within the oceans draft resolution, we are particularly pleased to welcome the continued support and further development of the Global Marine Assessment launched at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) as a concept for a regular process for the global reporting and assessment of the state of the world's oceans. We look forward to working together with the nations of the world to make certain that the Global Marine Assessment is able to develop a comprehensive information collection process, carried out over time, of reliable physical, chemical and biological data. From this data we will be able to assess the impact of human activities on marine systems. We hope that these assessments will provide a scientific basis for decisions by policy makers, as well as valuable information for integrated management and sustainable development strategies for coastal and marine areas.

Designing and implementing a successful Global Marine Assessment is clearly an ambitious undertaking, but one that we believe the United Nations community can accomplish by working together. We look forward to further developing this critical tool in June. We appreciate the Government of Iceland's generous offer to host an intergovernmental meeting later in the year to help launch this important initiative.

We note that the draft resolution on oceans asks the Secretary-General to cooperate and liaise with relevant global and regional bodies in order to describe the threats and risks to vulnerable marine ecosystems and biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. The draft resolution also asks the Secretary-General to detail the conservation and management measures in place that address such issues. We look forward to the outcome of all this work, and we hope that the sharing of a successful strategy developed in one place will enable successful applications in other places as well.

One of the issues on which the United States would particularly like to help develop effective strategies concerns marine debris. In January of next year, we will host a seminar, under the auspices of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Fisheries Working Group, on derelict fishing gear and related marine debris. We hope that many of the countries represented here today will also choose to participate in that seminar.

The oceans draft resolution also encourages member States of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to accelerate the development of a voluntary model audit scheme. This scheme will provide an independent review and analysis by a team of IMO experts of a State's compliance with its treaty obligations, including as a flag State, coastal State and port State. Constructive confidential recommendations will be made by the audit team to the audited State on actions to address problems or deficiencies.

The United States fully supports the accelerated development of the model audit scheme as an important mechanism to deal with substandard shipping and to enhance maritime safety, security and marine environmental protection. While we appreciate that the model audit scheme is currently being developed as a voluntary programme, we firmly believe that its effectiveness and impact will be significantly improved by making it mandatory at the earliest opportunity. We hope that delegations represented here will join with us in that effort at the IMO.

Next June, we will come together to informally learn about and discuss new sustainable uses of the oceans. We look forward to that exchange of ideas as an opportunity to enrich our collective thinking on what additional roles the oceans might play in our future. We believe that specific examples of how to cooperatively safeguard the oceans' unique biodiversity, particularly fishery resources, will be useful.

In closing, let me simply note the importance of oceans to the United States. A recent study found that more than half of our United States population now lives in coastal counties. Tens of thousands of United States jobs in fishing, recreation and tourism depend on coastal ecosystems. I suspect that these findings mirror the situation in many coastal nations throughout the world.

This year is an auspicious one for Americans concerned with oceans issues. The United States Commission on Ocean Policy, created by our Congress and with members appointed by our President, was tasked three years ago with establishing findings and making recommendations for a coordinated and comprehensive national ocean policy. The Commission has held hearings in every part of our nation and gathered testimony and input from all sectors of American society. It is now nearing the completion of its work and we expect its report recommendations to be made public in early 2004. We also expect its findings and recommendations to be influential within the United States for many years to come.

One interim recommendation from the Commission that was already publicly released is that the United States become a party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Since the release of that recommendation, our Senate has held two hearings on the issue, in which administration witnesses and others have expressed strong support for United States accession to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Ocean issues are inherently international issues. It is our hope that, as the United States heightens its internal focus on the challenges and rewards of addressing marine and coastal issues, we will be able to work internationally with renewed vigour and purpose on many of these same concerns. We look forward to a sound and productive working relationship on the law of the sea based on these two draft resolutions before us today.

The President

I now give the floor to the representative of New Zealand, on behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum, to introduce draft resolution A/58/L.19.

Mr. Mackay (New Zealand)

As the current chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the members who are represented at the United Nations, namely, Australia, Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and my own country, New Zealand.

As our group has often stated, we are a region blessed with a rich diversity of States, ranging from the least-developed to developing and developed. Yet this diversity is bridged by a common geography and vast interlocking ocean spaces woven together by exclusive economic zones. As joint custodians of these zones and the oceans beyond, we are well aware of the rights and duties that arise and of ensuring that its resources are conserved and managed in a sustainable manner.

As ocean States, therefore, we remain interested in the ongoing developments in ocean affairs and the law of the sea. We consider the annual debate under this agenda item -- and its consequent resolutions -- as part of an ongoing strengthening of the governance of the oceans. Both draft resolutions enable the General Assembly, as a collective body, to take stock of, and reflect on, the events that have taken place during the course of the year in a variety of forums, both within the United Nations system and beyond.

In that respect, our group has again endeavoured to contribute actively and constructively to the elaboration of these two draft resolutions. We commend both coordinators for the excellent manner in which they conducted the negotiations, and the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) for their able support and organization.

Our group has continued to value the primacy of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as the constitutional framework of the oceans and seas. It is gratifying to witness the evolution and successful functioning of its subsidiary bodies, especially the work and decisions this year of the Meeting of States Parties, as well as critical work of the International Seabed Authority and the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.

The increasing number, this year, of new States parties to the Convention and its related instruments serves as a reminder of the Convention's relevance, maturity and growing universality. We support all continuing efforts by this organization to encourage member States to join the Convention and its related agreements.

We continue to strongly support the work and role of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (UNICPOLOS). Its fresh term, complete with new co-chairs, has built on its already strong foundation and continues an energetic tradition of innovative and interactive dialogue on oceans issues of importance. The recommendations from UNICPOLOS are well reflected in both resolutions, underscoring the significant contribution the Process has made to focussing and expediting debate and negotiation under this item.

We also look forward to the operation of the newly established interagency coordination mechanism, as a vehicle for drawing together the various threads of the work of the agencies and institutions involved in oceans and law of the sea issues. We similarly support the Secretary-General's proposal for periodic informal consultations among treaty institutions on substantive issues of cross-cutting interest. Such consultations could well fit either in the margins of UNICPOLOS or the Meeting of States Parties.

Our group is also pleased with the progress made at the second informal meeting of States parties to the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement, held in July, which elaborated a framework to enable the concrete implementation of Part VII of the Agreement, with particular emphasis on small island developing States and their fisheries aspirations. The assistance fund established by the fisheries draft resolution is a boon to these aspirations and we invite Member States to consider contributing generously to this fund.

Within this context, we are happy to note, as our Pacific Island Forum leaders did in Auckland this year, the progress of preparations, in our region, for giving effect to the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. We are pleased that the entry into force of this Convention appears to be imminent and are hopeful that the General Assembly will reflect that happy occasion at its next session. With the growing support for this Convention, we continue to urge the distant water fishing nations with a real fisheries interest in our region to make every effort to become a party to this Convention.

The Pacific Islands Forum regional oceans policy, which our leaders approved in 2002 and which was consequently noted by the General Assembly that year, elaborated some guiding principles to serve as a template for members within our group to consider as a basis for developing national ocean policies. Further elaboration of those principles will take place during the Pacific Islands Regional Oceans Forum, presently scheduled for early February 2004.

Our group considers the review of the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, to be held in Mauritius next year, to be a fresh opportunity to consider the appropriate management approaches and tools to conserve, manage and protect our oceans resources within the context of small island developing States. In that regard, while ongoing regional initiatives may continue to evolve, as a continuing expression of the Type II initiatives from Johannesburg, new ones may also emerge. We therefore look forward to continuing to give effect to the oceans and commitments related to small island developing States in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, reflected in Chapters IV and VI.

Finally, I have the additional honour in my national capacity to introduce draft resolution A/58/L.19, entitled "Oceans and the Law of the Sea", which was coordinated this year by the delegation of New Zealand. I would like at the outset to announce that since the publication of the draft resolution, the following countries have become sponsors of the draft in document A/58/L.19: Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Indonesia, Madagascar, Romania, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine and South Africa.

The draft resolution follows the well-established pattern of previous years. Its structure, and indeed its length, reflect a coordinated approach to the interlinked issues relating to the oceans and the law of the sea.

The preamble and section I of the draft resolution set out the fundamental principles enshrined in the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea, which govern all activities in the oceans and seas. Operative paragraph 1 reiterates the General Assembly's call to all States that have not done so to become parties to the Convention and the associated Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI in order to achieve the goal of universal participation.

Sections II, III, IV, V and VI recognize the institutional framework that underpins the Convention, including the meeting of States parties; the provisions for the settlement of disputes and the particular contribution of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to that end; the work of the International Seabed Authority; and the role of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.

It is appropriate that the first substantive section of the draft resolution, section VII, addresses the overarching issue of capacity-building, as resource and capacity issues remain a significant impediment to the full implementation of the Convention in many areas. Section XVI highlights the number of trust funds and fellowships available within the United Nations system for the assistance of developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States. Importantly, operative paragraph 76 amends the terms of reference for the Trust Fund for preparation of submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in order to facilitate the provision of funding to those States that require such assistance.

Similarly, section XI sets out the fundamental importance of regional cooperation and takes note that there have been a number of initiatives at the regional level, in various regions, to further the implementation of the Convention.

Sections VIII, on safety of navigation and flag State implementation, IX, on capacity-building for the production of nautical charts, and X, on marine environment, marine resources and protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems, reflect the discussions and recommendations made to the Assembly this year by the fourth meeting of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea. Those sections of the draft resolution express the Assembly's views on particular topical issues and problems, and provide guidance on steps and future work to address them. The negotiation of those paragraphs was immeasurably assisted by the expert-level consideration given to those issues during the Consultative Process itself.

The focus of next year's fifth meeting of the Consultative Process, set out in section XIII of the draft resolution, will be "New sustainable uses of the oceans, including the conservation and management of the biological diversity of the seabed in areas beyond national jurisdiction". That topic will provide an opportunity to look ahead to new and emerging issues. In addition, an international workshop will be convened in conjunction with the fifth meeting of the Consultative Process to further preparations of the regular process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects, which the General Assembly agreed to establish in resolution 56/12. That process will be formally established at the end of 2004 by a special intergovernmental meeting, which the Government of Iceland has generously offered to host in Reykjavik.

It is appropriate that the draft resolution conclude by expressing the Assembly's appreciation to the Secretary-General for the comprehensive report on oceans and the law of the sea (A/58/65 and Add.1), prepared by the Division for Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea, as well as for the other activities of the Division. There is no doubt that Member States are extremely well served by the professionalism and commitment of the Division's staff. In particular, in our role as coordinator, we were greatly assisted by both the technical support and wise guidance provided by the members of the Division, and most especially by its Director, Mrs. De Marffy. I would like to add in my personal capacity that, as I understand this will be the last Assembly to benefit from Mrs. De Marffy's input, I would like to express my appreciation on behalf of all of us for the huge contribution that she has made on law of the sea issues, going back a great many years to the negotiation of the Convention itself. I wish her very well in the future. I have no doubt that we will not completely lose her input on law of the sea issues. I thank her, once again.

As always, the draft resolution reflects the outcome of considerable negotiation and compromise. The number of sponsors reflects that the compromises reached have attracted a broad consensus. All delegations are to be thanked for their assistance and cooperation in the preparation of the draft resolution, and I have the great honour to commend it to the Assembly for adoption.

Mr. Balarezo (Peru)

It is my honour to speak on behalf of the 19 countries of the Rio Group: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela and my own country, Peru.

Agenda item 52, entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea", covers many complex subjects that are of great interest to the Rio Group. We would like to comment, in particular, on some of the issues that are most important to our region among those that are before the General Assembly for consideration.

The Rio Group welcomes the successful conclusion of the fourth meeting of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea last June. Indeed, the Process has become a mature, informal mechanism for consultations that provides an annual review of all incidents related to ocean affairs -- with special emphasis on determining those areas in which intergovernmental and international coordination and cooperation must be improved -- so that all Member States, whether or not they are parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, can participate in the debates of that important forum on subjects of the highest priority for the sustainable development and food security of our countries.

The success of the Consultative Process is also due to a considerable extent to the annual report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea (A/58/65 and Add.1), as well as his report on fisheries (A/58/215), and to the work that is accomplished by the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea, and we would like to express our appreciation to them.

The members of the Rio Group which are parties to the Convention reaffirm that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea establishes the fundamental legal framework for activities conducted in the oceans and seas and their sustainable development, and that its provisions reflect international customary law. We therefore welcome Canada's recent ratification of the Convention, which is an important decision both for our hemisphere and for the universalization of the Convention.

Likewise, we are pleased that the General Assembly is taking note of the report of the last meeting of the States Parties to the Convention and we hope that, at the annual meeting of the Parties, dialogue will be promoted and enriched with a view to considering substantive items related to the Convention. The importance of the Convention today warrants such consideration.

We note with satisfaction that in two draft resolutions before us on sub-items 52 (a) and 52 (b), there are specific sections on regional and subregional cooperation in different environments and sectors in which several of those initiatives are briefly outlined. In that context, it should be noted that the jurisdictional areas of several member countries of the Rio Group cover considerable expanses of maritime space. Our geographical proximity -- and in some cases our maritime borders -- create a range of shared interests. We believe that the best way to handle those shared interests is through regional and subregional cooperation initiatives for the integrated management and sustainable development of the coastal areas and the oceans, the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems and capacity-building, including through technical assistance for the implementation of the provisions of the Convention.

In that regard, we take note of the holding of the Second Plenary Meeting of the Conference on Maritime Delimitation in the Caribbean, held in Mexico City last October, and of the work and activities of its Assistance Fund.

The Rio Group believes that capacity-building is essential so that the developing countries, including landlocked developing countries, can benefit from the sustainable use of the oceans and seas and in order to effectively implement the law of the sea. For that reason, we consider it a positive thing that both draft resolutions contain sections on capacity-building and make an appeal to donors and financial institutions to provide developing countries with the resources needed to implement them. Likewise, such efforts are vital to meet the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals, the Johannesburg Plan of Action and the Monterrey Consensus and are also necessary for the realization of some of the reports to be made to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.

The design and preparation of reliable nautical charts is indispensable in promoting safe maritime navigation and the protection of marine environment, including vulnerable ecosystems such as coral reefs and seamounts. We appreciate that that has been dealt with in a joint and integrated way at the fourth meeting of the Open-ended Informal Consultative Process, and that it is duly reflected in the draft resolution on sub-item 52 (a). In that regard, we feel the coordination of work between the International Maritime Organization and the International Hydrographic Organization is essential in order to promote a transition to electronic nautical charts -- for which several of the countries of our region already have the existing capacity.

Fishing is one of the main economic activities in our countries. Nevertheless, the regular course of that activity is currently threatened by the growing presence on the high seas off our coasts of fishing fleets from overseas -- often subsidized and uncontrolled -- which come in search of the highly migratory and straddling fish stocks that exist both within our 200-mile national maritime jurisdictions as well as on the high seas. That activity seriously impacts the sustainability of our own fisheries.

Everyone is aware of the adverse impact on marine ecosystems and of the depletion of certain fishstocks resulting from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and that is reflected in detail in the draft resolution on sustainable fisheries. The members of the Rio Group are convinced of the importance of the actions recommended in that draft resolution, including regional and subregional cooperation, and we consider that those recommendations should be implemented in accordance with the international plan of action of the Food Agriculture Organization to prevent, suppress and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

Similarly, we are pleased at the entry into force of the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas -- an event of significance as that instrument is also one of the cornerstones of international efforts to attain sustainable marine fisheries.

The Rio Group encourages the International Seabed Authority to regulate prospecting and exploration for polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich crusts. Likewise, we emphasize the competence of the Authority to protect the flora and fauna of the seabed, as provided for in article 145 of the Convention on the Law of the Sea.

In that regard, we welcome the initiative to consider new sustainable uses of the oceans at the next meeting of the Consultative Process, including the conservation and management of the biodiversity of the international seabed -- mankind's common heritage. Such consideration is consonant with the importance of maintaining the biodiversity of the deep seas, owing to their vulnerability and biotechnological potential, and with the review on questions related to marine biodiversity that will be conducted in other forums. Undoubtedly, that will foster a fruitful international dialogue on that subject.

The countries of the Rio Group consider that the maritime transportation of radioactive material and hazardous waste require effective liability regulations that can provide sufficient guarantees to coastal States. We are particularly concerned at the use of the oceans and seas along our coasts as routes for the transport of radioactive waste. For that reason, we regret the attitude of certain shipping countries that do not share appropriate and timely information on those shipments and their routes. For that reason, we would like to emphasize that the draft resolution on item 52 (a) welcomes the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on maritime transport of radioactive materials and encourages the development of the Plan of Action recommended by that Agency. We trust that that Plan of Action will be presented on March 2004, as provided for in IAEA resolution GC(47)/RES/7.

Finally, the Rio Group wishes to reiterate how important it is that the Secretary-General establish a mechanism of inter-institutional coordination in respect of ocean and coastal issues and that such a mechanism strictly meet the requirements of effectiveness, transparency and consistency. That is fundamental since, as the General Assembly itself has recognized, ocean affairs issues are closely interrelated and must be examined with an integrated, interdisciplinary and intersectorial approach.

Mr. Medrek (Morocco)

It is an honour for me to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on the agenda item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea".

The States Parties to the Convention that are members of the Group of 77 and China believe that the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea nine years ago -- specifically, on 16 of November 1994 -- represented a decisive milestone in the establishment of a comprehensive international legal framework governing the oceans. The Group of 77 and China, fully conscious that the unique nature of the marine environment calls for the global and integrated approach of the Convention, have been involved in the codification of the law of the sea from the start.

We note with satisfaction that the institutions established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea -- namely, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the International Seabed Authority and the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf -- are functioning well.

The Group of 77 and China wish to thank the Secretary-General for his exhaustive and relevant report on the oceans and the law of the sea. We also wish to extend thanks to the Division for Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea (DOALOS) and, in particular, to Mrs. De Marffy, Director of DOALOS, for her contribution and constant dedication to the success of our work.

The Group of 77 and China remain concerned about the growing deterioration of the marine environment and the overexploitation of living marine resources. With respect to protection of the marine environment, it is clearly urgent today to put an end to the degradation of the marine environment from both land-based activities and shipping. This phenomenon is detrimental to human health, to combating poverty, to food security and to industry.

The Group of 77 and China support the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities which, through its practical guidelines provides direction to national and regional authorities in elaborating and applying measures aimed at preventing, reducing and eliminating the degradation of the marine environment.

With regard to pollution from ships, the accident of the oil tanker Prestige focused attention on the important role played by the International Maritime Organization in elaborating international rules and regulations to prevent pollution of the marine environment from ships. In this respect, the Group of 77 and China associate themselves with this normative effort to prevent the recurrence of this kind of disaster.

Marine biological diversity is increasingly threatened by a variety of human activities. The effective protection and sustainable exploitation of marine and coastal biological diversity must henceforth be a matter of urgency for the States and international organizations concerned.

In accordance with the Plan of Implementation of the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development, the Group of 77 and China invites the international community to take every measure necessary to maintain or restore stocks at a level that would enable them to obtain a constant maximum yield by the year 2015 at the latest.

Likewise, the Group of 77 and China support the recommendations of the meeting of the Consultative Process regarding the biological diversity of marine areas, including in areas outside national jurisdiction.

The Group of 77 and China consider that international coordination and cooperation remain a prerequisite for the effective management of the oceans and seas. Within the framework of the United Nations, we believe in establishing machinery for notification and evaluation of the state of the marine environment.

With the assistance of all organizations and institutions concerned, such machinery will provide a solid scientific basis for States and regional organizations to take decisions on questions concerning the oceans.

Aware of the close interconnection among the various components of the oceans and seas, the General Assembly established an Informal Consultative Process for the integrated review of maritime affairs based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Agenda 21.

The Group of 77 and China attach particular importance to this Process, which represents a forum for discussion open to all, where trends in maritime affairs and the means of strengthening cooperation can be examined in the most constructive and comprehensive manner. By reviewing in depth the many aspects of the variety of questions relating to the oceans, the Process has enabled a revitalization of the debate on oceans and the law of the sea.

In this respect, the Informal Consultative Process, which held its fourth session from 2 to 6 June 2003, once again perfectly fulfilled its mandate by facilitating a better understanding of the oceans. At this meeting of the Consultative Process, the Group of 77 and China highlighted some of their views.

The Group of 77 and China consider the chosen themes -- navigation, including strengthening the capacity to produce nautical charts and the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems -- which were the focus of our debate, to be questions of great importance.

The Group of 77 and China consider that the various aspects of navigation safety are the subject of an important body of international rules and regulations. To reinforce the safety of navigation, we believe it necessary to ensure the implementation of the existing rules. We are convinced that the majority of accidents at sea result from the insufficient implementation and enforcement measures.

The Group of 77 and China consider hydrographic surveys and nautical charting are being essential for the safety of navigation and the protection of human life at sea, as well as environmental protection, including vulnerable marine ecosystems. The increased utilization of electronic marine charting will not only enable navigation security but will also provide valuable data and information.

In this regard, the Group of 77 and China encourage intensified efforts to build capacity in developing countries in order to improve hydrographic services and the produce nautical charts, including the mobilization of resources and capacity-building, with support from international financial institutions and from donors.

Concerning the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems, the Group of 77 and China consider that it is necessary first of all to manage effectively the threats to, and impacts on, those ecosystems. To achieve that, it is urgent to improve the implementation of existing international agreements, as well as coordination and cooperation among organizations having related mandates.

The Group of 77 and China support the suggestions and recommendations contained in the final report of the Fourth Meeting of the Informal Consultative Process. We consider that these conclusions have contributed to the improvement of the content of this year's draft resolution on oceans and the law of the sea. Our Group is party to the consensus that has emerged on this draft resolution.

In conclusion, the Group of 77 and China fully endorse the remarkable work of our Organization to establish an order for the oceans which preserves global equilibrium while responding in an equitable way to the concerns of all members of the international community. Let me take this opportunity to assure you that the Group of 77 and China will continue its active and constructive participation to enrich future deliberations on this agenda item.

Mr. Palsson (Iceland)

I would like at the outset to commend the Secretariat, in particular the very able staff of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, for their comprehensive report on oceans and the law of the sea. Allow me also to congratulate the coordinators, Ms. Elana Geddis of New Zealand and Mr. Colin McIff of the United States, for their professional conduct of the informal consultations on the two draft resolutions.

Last year we commemorated the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Iceland welcomes the fact that in the last 12 months the Convention has been ratified by seven States, bringing the total number of States parties up to 145. It urges those States that still have not ratified the Convention to do so in order to achieve the ultimate goal of universal participation. The Law of the Sea Convention provides the legal framework for all our deliberations on ocean affairs. It is imperative that the Convention be fully implemented and its integrity preserved.

We note with satisfaction that the three institutions established under the Law of the Sea Convention are functioning well. The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf has already received and dealt with the first submission from a coastal State regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles. Iceland is now in the process of preparing its submission to the Commission and follows its work with special interest.

In that context, I am pleased to report that last June the Law of the Sea Institute of Iceland and the Center for Oceans Law and Policy of the University of Virginia law school co-hosted in Reykjavik a Conference on Legal and Scientific Aspects of Continental Shelf Limits. It is our sincere hope that this Conference, attended by 170 legal and scientific experts from 50 countries, has contributed to a deeper understanding of some of the key issues arising from the application of article 76 of the Convention.

The Agreement on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks is of paramount importance, as it provides the framework for conservation and management of those stocks by regional fisheries management organizations; however, the effectiveness of the Agreement depends on its wide ratification and implementation, and we encourage those States that have not ratified the Agreement to do so.

Ocean issues continue to be the subject of growing attention in the General Assembly, as witnessed, for example, by the Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea. This is hardly surprising, as we have increasingly come to appreciate that the ocean is the very cornerstone of our life-support system on this planet.

The World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg confirmed the global importance of the marine environment. The section on oceans and coasts in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation illustrates how far the international community has come in dealing with this issue. We are pleased to note that the Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts and Islands, set up in Johannesburg to mobilize support for oceanic issues at the Johannesburg Summit, concluded in Paris earlier this month a most successful conference on how best to facilitate and promote the implementation of commitments made.

Through the Johannesburg Plan, we have been given an important policy direction, including objectives and targets for sustainable fisheries, application of the ecosystem approach, reduction of land-based pollution and the improvement of scientific understanding and assessment of marine and coastal ecosystems as a basis for sound decision-making.

Following the Reykjavik Declaration on the ecosystem approach, my Government has begun to integrate this approach into the management of Iceland's living marine resources. Also, we are actively taking part in efforts, spearheaded by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), to contain and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. We are furthermore actively supporting endeavours to diminish the overcapacity of the world's fishing fleets, a principal contributor of overexploitation and depletion of fish stocks in many regions.

The world community does not lack the tools to ensure conservation and sustainable management of living marine resources. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Agreement on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, chapter 17 of Agenda 21, the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the Convention on Biological Diversity all exemplify such tools, providing countries of the world with the means to develop their fisheries management systems in a sustainable manner. While global instruments are often called for, we should bear in mind that the responsible management of the living resources of the sea is best carried out at the local and regional level, in partnership with those who are closest to and depend on the resources for their livelihood.

In the context of the regional implementation of the Johannesburg commitments, allow me to speak for a few moments in my capacity as Chairman of the Senior Arctic Officials of the Arctic Council, where Iceland currently holds the Chairmanship.

The Arctic is predominantly a marine environment as the Arctic oceans cover approximately 20,000 square kilometres -- making them eight times bigger than the Mediterranean, for example.

As a regional organization, the Arctic Council can have an important role to play in the implementation of the commitments of the Johannesburg Summit. The Council provides, for example, regional coordination and cooperation to protect the Arctic marine environment from both land-and sea-based activities, through, among other things, the implementation at the regional level of the United Nations Environment Programme's Global Programme of Action. We are encouraged that the Commission on Sustainable Development has acknowledged the importance of regional bodies in the implementation of the Johannesburg Plan.

In the context of the Johannesburg commitments, I would like to draw particular attention to the Arctic Council's strategic plan for the protection of the Arctic marine environment, launched by ministers one year ago. The new strategy is based on an integrated approach to sustainable ocean management and we are confident that this plan will contribute significantly to the fulfilment of targets set by the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

A three-day workshop, hosted in Reykjavik last month, under the auspices of the Arctic Council, was an important milestone in this regard. The objective of the workshop was to provide a forum for exchanging information and ideas on the drivers of change and trends in ocean management.

The main drivers of change identified at the workshop include climate change and increased economic activity. Both call for an integrated, holistic approach. There was broad consensus that the ecosystem approach should be central to the Arctic marine strategy. At the same time, it was recognized that more work was needed to define how an ecosystem approach is to be implemented, given that this is a relatively new concept in natural resource management.

Climate change is the subject of a major study being conducted by the Arctic Council, the so-called Arctic Climate Impact Assessment. This will be the first comprehensive regionally based study of climate change to be published since the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The study, scheduled to be completed by next fall, will provide an overview and make possible an assessment of the future impact of climate change on the environment and its living resources, on human health and social and economic activities, in addition to guiding possible policy responses.

The sometimes daunting implications of climate change have begun to emerge. Some preliminary key findings of the study reveal, for example, rising sea levels. This will in turn affect coastal communities, islands, river deltas and harbours. Sea ice reduction will also affect climate feedbacks, species migration and, in turn, subsistence lifestyles and human health. Furthermore, changes in the hydrological cycle may impact, for example, river flow, leading, in certain cases, to higher floods or more severe droughts.

Climate change in the Arctic is not of local or regional nature only. It concerns the global community, including, in particular, small island developing States that will bear some of the severest consequences of rising sea levels. Climatic and marine environmental issues must be viewed through a global prism. Through its work in those areas, the Arctic Council is confident that it can contribute to a better understanding of and a more effective response to some of the most demanding marine environmental challenges confronting the international community.

Iceland has actively encouraged and taken part in an open discussion on marine pollution, an issue of international concern. Pollution respects no boundaries and cannot be tackled successfully in the absence of global coordination. It has long been recognized that one of the most serious and extensive threats to the health of the marine ecosystem is pollution from land-based sources.

As the implementation of the Global Programme of Action to Protect the Marine Environment from Land-Based Sources has fallen short of expectations, national or regional action plans should play a leading role in redressing this issue. Only a few countries have as yet finalized such action plans. More efforts are needed and Iceland strongly urges Governments that have not done so to develop their own plans of action based on sound scientific advice.

Efforts to strengthen international action to protect the oceans from land-based pollution and other man-induced threats have been hampered by the lack of information, readily accessible to policy makers, on the state of the marine environment. The lack of a comprehensive overview is arguably one of the main reasons why measures to protect the marine environment have not been focusing on the real priority issues. Regular assessments, including socio-economic aspects, are needed as a basis for responsible decision-making.

We are therefore delighted that the General Assembly, following the recommendation of the Johannesburg Summit, decided in its omnibus resolution last year, 57/141, to establish by 2004 a regular process under the United Nations for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects. The decision to establish this regular process acknowledges that international action is needed to protect the marine environment from land-based pollution or other activity that causes pollution or the physical degradation of the ocean.

The Government of Iceland has accepted the invitation to host the intergovernmental meeting to formally establish the regular process, as spelled out in operative paragraph 65 of this year's proposed omnibus resolution. The decision bears testimony to the great importance my Government attaches to this issue. A preliminary date for the intergovernmental meeting is 20 to 22 October 2004.

By way of conclusion, allow me for a moment to focus on the big picture: We are told that life began in the oceans some 2 to 3 billion years ago. We are also informed that the Earth is unique in our solar system, as no other planet has liquid water. This allows us to frame the subject of the agenda item before us, "Oceans and the law of the sea", in a helpful perspective. The oceans we have been given in trust are a precious gift and possibly exceptional in the universe as we know it. Let us therefore take care of them. As a former judge at the International Court of Justice once put it: "Good planets are hard to find".

Mr. Nesi (Italy)

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The acceding countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, and the associated countries Bulgaria and Romania, align themselves with this statement.

The draft resolution on "Oceans and the law of the sea" (A/58/L.19), negotiated during this session of the General Assembly, addresses a wide range of issues. Oceans and the law of the sea is an item on which several developments have taken place in recent times. In order to consider such developments, increased attention should be paid not only to the traditional aspects of the law of the sea but also to new situations, with the aim of identifying the most effective measures concerning management of the sea and coastal issues.

In light of recent negotiations and the debate that took place during the Informal Consultative Process last June, the European Union would like to dwell in particular on two topics that are of crucial importance and to which two chapters of the draft resolution are devoted -- first, safety of navigation and flag State implementation; and secondly, the marine environment, considered not only in the context of the sea but also with regard to the impact on coasts.

As regards safety of navigation, among the different initiatives recently taken, the European Union would like to draw attention first of all to the one regarding the necessity of progressively phasing out the use of single-hull oil carriers. Following the oil tanker Prestige accident in November 2002, the European Commission launched a number of initiatives in accordance with its communication on improving safety at sea. The Commission has invited member States to endeavour to ensure that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopts similar measures and that an appropriate inspection scheme is introduced for double-hull oil tankers over 15 years old.

In this respect, a new European Commission regulation which came into force in October 2003 has banned the transport of heavy fuel oil in single-hull carriers to and from the European Union member States ports, while speeding up the timetable for the withdrawal of single-hull oil tankers. It is also worth mentioning that on 14 November 2003 the European Commission published the first list of ships definitively banned from European Union ports, together with an additional list of vessels which will be banned in the near future if they are detained one more time on safety grounds.

Furthermore, turning now to the draft resolution which we expect to adopt as soon as possible, the European Union welcomes the decision to invite the relevant competent international organizations to study, examine and clarify the role of the genuine link in relation to the duty of flag States to exercise jurisdiction and effective control over ships flying their flag, including fishing vessels. The Secretary-General is asked to prepare and disseminate to States a comprehensive elaboration on the duties and obligations of flag States, including the potential consequences for non-compliance with these obligations prescribed in the relevant international instruments.

In this context, the European Union endorses the ongoing work of the IMO in elaborating a code for the implementation of IMO instruments and the introduction of an IMO Model Audit Scheme, which should be introduced first on a voluntary basis, and then mandatory, once it has been tried and tested.

We also acknowledge the importance of finalizing the Convention on Wreck Removal as a priority issue in the IMO.

The European Union is also concerned with an old phenomenon that has recently acquired a more troubling dimension: the perpetration of unlawful acts, including terrorist acts, which seriously threaten the safety of navigation. In this connection, the European Union strongly supports the efforts under way in the IMO to strengthen the 1998 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Marine Navigation, as well as its related Protocol, as articulated by the IMO during last October's session. This initiative seeks to prevent and suppress unlawful acts at sea, armed attacks and terrorism activities.

With regard to the marine environment, the European Union would like to focus on regional and subregional cooperation by making specific reference to three particular sea areas in Europe: the Mediterranean Sea, the North-East Atlantic, including the North Sea, and the Baltic Sea region. Since the beginning of the 1970s, the Barcelona process, the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment in the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR Convention), the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM), and the North Sea conferences, have provided useful frameworks for cooperation.

In addition to environmental agreements, the special configuration of the Mediterranean Sea and the Baltic Sea, in particular, have also given rise to other agreements concluded with the objective of consolidating friendly relations among respective coastal States, thereby influencing the political developments of those regions.

Furthermore, the creation of maritime protected areas such as the Baltic Sea Protected Areas, introduced in 1994, and the 1999 Mediterranean sanctuary for marine mammals constitute good examples of regional cooperation. Similarly useful legal instruments could be adopted in other areas of the world, taking into account local and specific needs, as well as the relevant provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

On the subject of marine protected areas, we would like to make an observation concerning the so-called "Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas", an issue on which the European Union wishes to maintain an ongoing dialogue with the IMO and its various bodies. Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas is the international designation for the highest level of environmental protection available through the IMO. A number of European Union member States have successfully submitted proposals for such areas in recent years, while others are in the process of elaborating such proposals. In this connection, the European Union welcomes the designation in principle by the IMO of the Western European Atlantic Coast and the English Channel as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area.

These initiatives can provide, if developed in accordance with the procedures and guidelines that govern the IMO process for the designation of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas, and in cooperation between the coastal States affected, an extremely valuable system of defence for States' vulnerable seas and coasts against the threats that may be posed by international shipping. Of significance, Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas, in their associated protective measures as approved by the IMO, perform this protective function within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and provide a safeguard for the fundamental navigational rights and freedoms which are contained in that Convention.

Mr. Nesi (Italy)

In conclusion, the European Union would like to commend the work of Mrs. Annick De Marffy, who heads the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, as well as that of her entire team. It is with sadness that we would note her approaching departure. We take this opportunity to convey to her our sincere gratitude and appreciation for her excellent work over these last years. We will miss her.

Mr. Neil (Jamaica)

I have the honour to make this statement this morning on behalf of the 14 member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) that are Members of the United Nations.

We associate ourselves with the statement made this morning by the representative of Morocco, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

In December last year we commemorated the 20th Anniversary of the opening for signature of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Special tribute was paid to those who made significant contributions to applying the principle of the common heritage of mankind in relation to ocean resources beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, as well as the overall negotiation of the Convention on the Law of the Sea.

I make special mention of one of those persons, Judge Lennox Ballah, of Trinidad and Tobago, who was present with us at the commemorative session but who sadly, passed away earlier this year. We honour his memory today and recall his outstanding contribution. We also take the opportunity to congratulate Mr. Anthony Lucky, an accomplished jurist, who was elected as a judge on the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and we wish for him a successful term of office.

CARICOM member States welcome the opportunity to underscore the importance of this Convention as the overall legal framework governing ocean activities. We are encouraged by the progress towards universal adherence to the Convention, and we are pleased to note that since we last met in December, eight countries have ratified the Convention, increasing the number of States parties to 145.

We thank the Secretary-General for his reports (A/58/65 and Add.1, A/58/243) which provide a comprehensive overview of activities relating to oceans and the law of the sea. We also take this opportunity to commend the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea for its work in providing guidance and support to Member States in implementing provisions of the Convention.

We are satisfied that the three institutions created by the Convention are carrying out their mandate effectively. Good progress is being made by the International Seabed Authority in developing the framework for cooperation in seabed resources. Important steps were taken at the ninth annual session of the Assembly of the Authority in relation to advancing discussions on regulations for prospecting and exploration of polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich crusts in the international seabed area, as well as in relation to conservation of biodiversity in the area. We commend the Authority for its continuing role in providing training through annual workshops on the scientific and technical aspects of deep seabed mining and in the critical area of protection and preservation of the marine environment.

In relation to the work of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, no new submission regarding the outer limits of the continental shelf was received from a coastal State. However, the Commission is still in the process of reviewing the submission previously made and has also undertaken a review of its internal procedures to facilitate the process of dealing with future submissions. The guidelines developed by the Commission to facilitate States making their submissions are now being used, through the collaborative efforts of the Commission and the United Nations Secretariat, to prepare a training manual to assist States in developing the technical capacity for the preparation of their submissions. We would also wish to make special mention of the Trust Fund for submission and participation and express our hope that it will continue to receive generous donations.

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea has continued to receive submissions from States from various regions for the settlement of disputes relating to various provisions of the Convention. The Tribunal's record in dealing with such cases in an efficient and timely manner is now established. The range of cases for which judgement is sought is also an indication of growing confidence in the competence of the Tribunal.

It seems clear from the deliberations and outcome of the fourth meeting of the Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea that the General Assembly's renewal of the mandate of the Process for another three years is justified. We are pleased to see that its deliberations have become more focused, giving greater scope for implementation of its recommendations.

We have studied the Secretary-General's report on developments relating to the safety of navigation, protection of maritime environment and the issue of international coordination and cooperation. These are matters of prime importance to Caribbean Member States from the standpoint of economic and security interests. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) consists of island and coastal States that have a vital and continuing interest in our shared patrimony in the Caribbean Sea.

The Governments of the region continue to express their concern over the transport of hazardous materials through the Caribbean Sea and the potential risk of serious harm to its fragile ecosystems and marine resources, on which a large percentage of the population depend for a livelihood. Of special concern is the transportation of nuclear waste materials, which has been consistently opposed by Caribbean Governments. This activity exposes the region to unacceptable risks and we continue to urge the parties concerned to refrain from use of the Caribbean Sea as a transit route for such shipments.

Taking into account the semi-enclosed nature of the Caribbean Sea, Caribbean Governments have sought the cooperation of the international community so as to expand on the current designation of the Wider Caribbean Region as a Special Area under the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter in order to address wider concerns affecting development and environmental protection.

We welcome the recent adoption of a resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency on measures to strengthen maritime transport safety. We also strongly urge the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to continue elaborating regulations to improve the safety standards for ships and for an effective compensation regime in the event of accidents.

A regional approach to the protection and preservation of the marine environment has certain definite advantages and we take this opportunity to express appreciation for the United Nations Development Programme/IMO project for the upgrading of the maritime legal and administrative regimes of CARICOM member States. The work of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the United Nations Environment Programme Regional Seas Programme in facilitating this approach is also achieving some success in the region.

There is greater awareness of such issues as the impact of land-based sources of marine pollution, which is estimated to account for 80 per cent of all pollution entering the oceans. The concept of marine protected areas is also gaining greater understanding and support.

The CARICOM Fisheries Resource Assessment and Management Programme, supported by the Canadian International Development Agency, has contributed significantly to the improvement of fisheries management capacity in the region. However, we must mention that there is still concern over the persistence of illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing in Caribbean waters, which is undermining the effectiveness of conservation management and in some areas is damaging the ecological systems in the Caribbean Sea.

While CARICOM member States have all demonstrated their commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea by their ratification, their ability to effectively implement the provisions of the Convention is constrained by inadequate resources. In this context, we welcome the recommendation of the Consultative Process that the International Hydrographic Organization intensify its efforts to build capacity in developing countries for the production of electronic nautical charts and to provide data and information that can be used for fisheries activities and for other uses such as delimitation of maritime boundaries.

With so many delimitation negotiations of great complexity to be undertaken and completed in the region, we welcome the convening of the second Conference on Maritime Delimitation in the Caribbean, hosted by the Government of Mexico. We hope that, in collaboration with the United Nations Secretariat and with the cooperation of our partners and pertinent institutions contributing to the Trust Fund, the necessary technical assistance can be made available and the political will found to conclude agreements to the mutual benefit of the respective States. We continue to support this initiative as a means of advancing delimitation negotiations through cooperation within a regional framework.

We also wish to emphasize the importance of ensuring cooperation in interdiction and the tightening of security to restrict illegal activities in the Caribbean Sea. This should not be confined to concerns about drug trafficking and weapons of mass destruction, but should also extend to the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons, which constitutes a danger to stability in the region.

Next year will be the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention and, although there is much work ahead of us in terms of international coordination and cooperation, important steps have been taken. This can be taken further through the creation of an effective inter-agency coordinating mechanism for issues relating to oceans and seas within the United Nations system. This proposal is contained in draft resolution A/58/L.19 before us and we give it our support.

At the same time, we recognize that, for international cooperation to be effective, it has to be matched by corresponding efforts at the national level. Caribbean Community member States are doing their part and are continuing to develop coordinating mechanisms for the effective implementation of the Convention.