PattersonPRIME MINISTER P.J Patterson formally opened the special session of the assembly to mark the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston, on Tuesday.
During his address, he hailed the adoption in 2000 of the first set of regulations on prospecting and exploration for polymetallic nodules in the deep seabed area beyond national jurisdiction, which had "enabled the authority, for the first time, to finally enter into legally binding contracts with pioneer investors".
"The ISA has made an indelible mark on the way we conduct affairs with respect to resources of the world's oceans," he said.
A NEXUS CREATED
"In so doing, it has created the bedrock for co-operation between the developed and developing countries and a nexus between the countries of the industrialised North and those of the developing South."
The commemoration of the authority's 10th anniversary, which falls on November 16, had been brought forward to coincide with its 10th annual session. The authority, with a current membership of 145, was established on November 16, 1994 following the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The convention was opened for signature in Montego Bay, St. James.
"Mr. Chairman, ten years ago, we were all parties to a memorable achievement. Today, we commemorate the perpetuation of that vision, ensuring that the future must continue to serve the interests of mankind as a whole," Patterson said.
ACHIEVEMENTS
The session included panel discussions on the authority's achievements and future directions and prospects. The annual session, which continues today, will have a full agenda, including consideration of the report of the authority's secretary-general, which reviews the inter-governmental organisation's work for the last 10 years and its future direction.
During the upcoming session, the ISA will elect half of its executive council and a secretary-general, to guide its operations for the next four years. It will also consider the organisation's 2005/2006 biennial budget.
Ralph Zacklin, assistant secretary-general for legal affairs, delivered an address on behalf of Kofi Anan, Secretary-General of the United Nations. "Oceans affairs continue to be a critical part of the world's quest to achieve sustainable development. On this occasion, I would like to congratulate the ISA for its diligent and inspiring work over the past decade, and for showing that multilateral approaches to global challenges can be effective, equitable and enduring," Zacklin said.
