Plenary

STATEMENT BY NATHANIEL KHNG, COUNSELLOR (LEGAL), PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, AT THE THIRTY-FIRST MEETING OF STATES PARTIES TO THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA, ON AGENDA ITEM 9, INFORMATION REPORTED BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY, 21 JUNE 2021

21 Jun 2021

1                 My delegation thanks the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority, Mr Michael Lodge, for the update he has provided on the activities carried out by the Authority since the thirtieth Meeting of States Parties. My delegation wishes to make three points.

2                 First, Singapore notes with appreciation that the work of the Assembly and the Council of the Authority has continued, despite our inability to meet physically at the seat of the Authority due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this regard, we thank the President of the Assembly, Ambassador Denys Wibaux of France, and the President of the Council, Rear Admiral (Retd) Md Khurshed Alam of Bangladesh, for their leadership during this period.  Important decisions have been adopted by the Assembly and the Council, including decisions pertaining to the election of members of the Council, the election of the Secretary-General, the budget of the Authority, and the approach of the Authority to capacity development. 

3                 Second, we welcome the progress that continues to be made on the regime for the exploitation of mineral resources in the Area that is currently being developed by the Authority. Although the Council has been unable to meet to discuss the draft exploitation regulations, the Legal and Technical Commission prepared drafts of standards and guidelines for stakeholder consultations in August last year and April this year. We look forward to the expeditious finalisation of the regulations, so that contractors have the certainty that they need as they prepare to move to exploitation. 

4                 Third, Singapore welcomes the Authority’s work in capacity-building activities.  In this regard, we note that the Assembly in December 2020 endorsed a programmatic approach to better meet the capacity-building needs of developing States.  We have full confidence that the Authority will continue to deliver programmes and initiatives that are meaningful and effective for States.

5                 We look forward to the time when we are able to meet again in Jamaica.

6                 Thank you very much for your attention.

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