UNITED
NATIONS
Resolution A/50/23
LAW OF THE SEA
(5
December 1995)
The
General Assembly,
Emphasizing
the universal character of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea1/
and its fundamental importance for the maintenance and strengthening of
international peace and security, as well as for the sustainable use and
development of the seas and oceans and their resources,
Considering
that, in its resolution 2749(XXV) of 17 December 1970, it proclaimed that the
seabed and ocean floor, and the subsoil thereof, beyond the limits of national
jurisdiction (hereinafter referred to as "the Area"), as well as the
resources of the Area, are the common heritage of mankind, and considering also
that the Convention, together with the Agreement relating to the implementation
of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10
December 1982,2/ provides the regime to be applied to the Area and
its resources,
___________________________
1/ Official Records of the Third
United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, vol. XVII (United Nations
publication, Sales No. E.84.V.3), document A/CONF.62/122.
2/ Resolution 48/263, annex.
Recalling
its resolution 49/28 of 6 December 1994 on the law of the sea, adopted
consequent to the entry into force of the Convention on 16 November 1994,
Aware
of the importance of the effective implementation of the Convention and its
uniform and consistent application, as well as of the growing need to promote
and facilitate international cooperation on the law of the sea and ocean
affairs at the global, regional and subregional levels,
Conscious
of the strategic importance of the Convention as a framework for national,
regional and global action in the marine sector, as recognized also by the
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in chapter 17 of
Agenda 21,3/
Recognizing
the impact on States of the entry into force of the Convention and the
increasing need, particularly of developing States, for advice and assistance
in its implementation in order to benefit thereunder,
Noting
the responsibilities of the Secretary-General and competent international
organizations under the Convention, in particular pursuant to its entry into
force and as required by resolution 49/28,
Reaffirming
the importance of the annual consideration and review by the General Assembly
of the overall developments pertaining to the implementation of the Convention,
as well as of other developments relating to the law of the sea and ocean
affairs,
Noting
the decisions taken by States parties to the Convention to convene meetings of
States parties to deal with the initial budget and organizational and other
related matters of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in
preparation for its establishment and the election of its members,4/ as
well as to prepare for and organize the election of the members of the
Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf,
Noting
also that the Assembly of the International Seabed Authority has concluded its
first session and has scheduled two meetings of the Authority for 1996, from 11
March for up to three weeks, if necessary, and from 5 August for up to two
weeks, in Kingston,5/
Noting
further that the Assembly of the Authority requested arrangements for the
interim secretariat of the Authority, authorizing the Secretary-General to
administer the interim secretariat until the Secretary-General of the Authority
is able to assume effectively the responsibility of the Authority’s
secretariat,6/
_____________________________
3/ Report of the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992
(A/CONF.151/26/Rev.1 (Vol. I and Vol. I/Corr.1, Vol. II, Vol. III and Vol.
III/Corr.1)) (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda),
Vol. I: Resolutions Adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II.
4/ See SPLOS/4, para. 38.
5/ See ISBA/A/L.7/Rev.1, para.
35.
6/ See ISBA/A/L.5 and
ISBA/A/L.7/Rev.1, para. 33.
Recalling
that the Agreement relating to the implementation of Part XI of the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 provides that the
institutions established by the Convention shall be cost-effective,7/ and
recalling also that the meeting of States parties to the Convention decided
that this principle would apply to all aspects of the work of the Tribunal,8/
Emphasizing
the importance of making adequate provisions for the efficient functioning of
the institutions established by the Convention,
1.
Calls upon all States that have not done so to become parties to the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and to ratify, confirm formally or
accede to the Agreement relating to the implementation of Part XI of the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 in order to achieve
the goal of universal participation;
2.
Calls upon States to harmonize their national legislation with the provisions
of the Convention and to ensure the consistent application of those provisions;
3. Reaffirms the unified
character of the Convention;
4.
Recalls its decision to fund the budget for the administrative expenses of the
International Seabed Authority initially from the regular budget of the United
Nations, in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement;9/
5.
Approves the provision by the Secretary-General of such services as may be
required for the two meetings of the Authority to be held in 1996, from 11 to
22 March and from 5 to 16 August;
6.
Approves also the request of the Assembly of the Authority to continue the
staff and facilities previously available to the Kingston Office for the Law of
the Sea as the interim secretariat of the Authority, and authorizes the
Secretary-General to administer the interim secretariat until the
Secretary-General of the Authority is able to assume effectively the
responsibility of the Authority’s secretariat;
7.
Requests the Secretary-General to convene the meetings of States parties to the
Convention from 4 to 8 March, from 6 to 10 May and from 29 July to 2 August
1996;
8.
Notes with appreciation the progress made in practical arrangements for the
establishment of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and in
preparations for the establishment of the Commission on the Limits of the
Continental Shelf;
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7/ See resolution 48/263, annex:
Annex to the Agreement, sect. 1, para. 2.
8/ See SPLOS/4, para. 25 (e).
9/ See resolution 48/263, para.
8; and ibid., annex: Annex to the Agreement, sect. 1, para. 14.
9.
Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the annual
comprehensive report on the law of the sea10/ and the activities of
the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal
Affairs of the Secretariat, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention
and the mandate set forth in resolution 49/28;
______________
10/ A/50/713.