STATEMENT BY HER EXCELLENCY KAREN TAN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS ON THE COMMEMORATION OF THE TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE 1982 UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA AND OBSERVANCE OF WORLD OCEAN DAY TWENTY-FOURTH MEETING OF THE STATE PARTIES TO THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA 9 JUNE 2014

Mr President,

1                 Twenty years ago, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) entered into force, twelve months after the 60th state ratified it.  Today, we have almost tripled that number, with a total of 166 states that are party to the Convention.  This is heartening news indeed.  Nevertheless, we continue to encourage member states which have not acceded to the Convention to do so. 

2                 Given the Convention’s universal and unified character, it has become the constitution for the oceans and seas.  It sets out the authoritative legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out.  As such, the Convention is an important contribution to the maintenance of peace, justice and progress for all peoples of the world as it established a stable maritime legal order.  

3                 The Convention struck a balance between increasing the jurisdictional claims of coastal states over adjacent sea areas and preserving the important rights of the international community in areas claimed by coastal states, including the freedom of navigation.  The Convention also entrenched the concept of the “common heritage of mankind” in international law, which safeguarded the collective rights of nations over parts of the oceans that were beyond claims that coastal states could legitimately make.  Just as important, the Convention established a comprehensive set of dispute settlement mechanisms which enabled states to resolve their differences peacefully through bilateral negotiations, arbitration or third-party adjudication.

4                 In this connection, the Convention established three organs - the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA).  Significantly, this year also marks the 20th anniversary of the 1994 Agreement Relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the Convention, which operationalized the establishment of ISA.

Mr President,

5                 In the future, the Convention will only continue to grow increasingly important, as marine issues take on additional significance to global interests.  Matters such as the marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, and the sustainable development of oceans and the seas should be discussed at length.  In deciding how to best strike a balance between environmental concerns, social inclusion, and economic interests, we must look to the Convention.  Although these may be new challenges, Singapore believes that the Convention holds the fundamental set of principles that will help us address these issues in a holistic manner.  To this end, we must remain committed to respecting the integrity of the Convention and applying its principles in its entirety.

6                 Singapore is wholeheartedly committed to the full and complete implementation of the Convention.  We are a small island developing state strategically located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, along the Straits of Malacca.  Our trade volume is three times that of our GDP, making us highly reliant on maritime trade for our economic survival.  As such, “freedoms” enshrined in the Convention, such as the freedom of navigation, are essential for us.  Accordingly, Singapore is deeply appreciative of the work that the Convention and its organs have done.

7                 Moving forward, as the international community acts to address both recurring and unprecedented challenges, we should continue to be guided by the Convention.  In this manner, we can continue to exemplify the spirit of co-operation and consensus in working towards our collective good.

8                 Thank you.

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