STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR BURHAN GAFOOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS ON AGENDA ITEM 77, ON OCEANS AND THE LAW OF THE SEA, GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 5 DECEMBER 2017

Mr President,

1.             My delegation is pleased to address the General Assembly on agenda item 77, “Oceans and the law of the sea”.  We thank the Secretary-General for his comprehensive reports on this agenda item. We would also like to thank Mr. Thembile Joyini of South Africa and Mr. Andreas Kravik of Norway for their excellent work in coordinating the informal consultations on the draft resolutions on Oceans and the Law of the Sea and on Sustainable Fisheries respectively. We also wish to record our appreciation to the Director and staff of the Division for Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea for their assistance and support throughout these consultations.

Mr President,

2.             My delegation has for many years been a strong advocate for the oceans and seas, the importance of which cannot be overstated. The oceans provide livelihood for millions of people, sustain food security and maritime trade, regulate the climate, and are an important source of renewable energy. As a small island State, the oceans and seas are inextricably linked to our survival and our wellbeing. We are therefore heartened that there has been increased attention on ocean issues here at the United Nations over the past year. In particular, we welcome the landmark United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (“the Ocean Conference”). We are also pleased with the substantive and useful discussions at the third and fourth sessions of the Preparatory Committee (“Prep Com”) concerning the development of an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (“UNCLOS”) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (“BBNJ”).

3.             Today, I will focus my statement on three aspects: (a) the work of the International Seabed Authority (“ISA”), (b) the ongoing BBNJ process, and (c) the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (“SDG 14”).

(a)             The ISA

4.             On the ISA, Singapore has continued to participate actively in its work, including as a member of the Council.  We have submitted our candidature for re-election to Group E of the Council at elections to be held during the 24^th Session of the ISA in July 2018.  We will continue contributing to deliberations within the Council, in order to advance the work of the Authority in safeguarding the common heritage of mankind.

5.             We also wish to take this opportunity to commend Secretary-General Michael Lodge for building upon the strong foundation that had been laid by previous Secretaries-General.  In particular, we welcome the increased outreach by the Secretariat and efforts towards its restructuring in order to improve its efficiency.  Singapore expresses its appreciation to the Secretariat and the Legal and Technical Commission for maintaining the momentum in the development of the regulations for the exploitation of mineral resources in the Area, including the roadmap for their development and adoption by 2020.  We are pleased that stakeholders are being consulted on the draft regulations.  We had submitted our inputs in earlier rounds of consultations and we intend to submit further inputs in writing for the latest round of consultations. 

6.             Singapore also welcomes the revised schedule of meetings in 2018 and 2019, which was adopted by the Assembly during the 23^rd Session of the ISA.  We note that there has been a substantial increase in the volume and complexity of the work of the Authority, and the revised schedule will grant sufficient time for proper deliberations, and enhance coordination among its organs.  Moving forward, our view is that the Assembly should carefully assess the number of meetings to determine if the revised schedule needs to be further adjusted beyond 2019.  We look forward to participating constructively in the upcoming meeting in March 2018.

(b)             BBNJ Process

Mr President,

7.             With regard to the BBNJ process, we are pleased to note that the Prep Com completed its work in July this year. The report of the Prep Com was able to capture the rich discussions and exchange of views that took place over all four sessions of the Prep Com, and will be useful in informing the process going forward. We therefore join others in supporting the draft resolution in A/72/L.7 concerning the convening of an intergovernmental conference to elaborate the text of an international legally binding instrument under UNCLOS.

8.             We are well aware that the intergovernmental negotiations on this new instrument will not be straightforward. It concerns complex issues of law, science and policy.  Naturally, there will be different points of view and perspectives. But this should not preclude us from having an open and frank discussion on the issues. We should attempt to narrow differences in a transparent and inclusive process of negotiations and try to reach a substantive and consensual outcome that will take into account the views and concerns of every party. We therefore believe that a consensual approach is appropriate and indeed necessary in order to ensure that no one is left behind or left out. We learnt from the history of negotiating UNCLOS that such an approach, as embodied in the Gentleman’s Agreement, was integral to enabling UNCLOS to garner overwhelming support as reflected by the signatures of 117 States on the day UNCLOS opened for signature on 10 December 1982. We therefore fully support adopting, for the upcoming conference, the modality of exhausting every effort in good faith to reach agreement on substantive matters by consensus.

Mr President,

9.             My delegation has been an active participant in the BBNJ process. In particular, a member of our delegation, Mrs. Rena Lee, had the privilege of contributing as the facilitator for the informal working group on capacity building and the transfer of marine technology, which is an important issue for many developing countries. We remain committed to working constructively with all other delegations in the upcoming conference in order to arrive at a successful outcome.

(c)             SDG 14

Mr President,

10.             I now turn to the issue of SDG 14. We welcome the successful convening of the Ocean Conference, which was a significant milestone in the implementation of SDG 14. The Ocean Conference adopted a forward looking declaration in the form of a Call for Action, which reflects our collective will to take action to conserve and sustainably use our oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. It also garnered more than 1400 voluntary commitments by governments, international organisations and other stakeholders. There was also a rich exchange of views and ideas through the partnership dialogues held during the conference. 

11.             Through the Ocean Conference, we, the international community, have taken a critical step towards the implementation of SDG 14. It is now up to us to sustain the momentum that has been created. There is a need for all of us to take concrete action in order to achieve the targets set out in SDG 14. The oceans do not belong to any one of us. They belong to all of us. As such, there is a need for us to take concerted and collective action, through cooperation and coordination at the regional and international levels, in order to address the issues on a global scale.  

12.             Singapore is pleased to have been able to contribute in a small and modest way (together with Portugal) to the outcome document for the Ocean Conference.   We are also one of the many governments that have pledged commitments at the Ocean Conference.  We will continue, as Singapore, to play our part in the global effort to conserve and sustainably use our oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

Mr. President,

13.             I wish to conclude by reaffirming the view that UNCLOS sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out. At the time UNCLOS entered into force, it represented, in many ways, a new global order for the oceans and seas. It established the principles which would underpin the action of all users of the oceans and seas. These principles created a framework of rights and duties which enabled a balance to be achieved between the various competing uses, while striving to ensure the protection of the marine environment. Having achieved this delicate balance, the onus is on us today to preserve the unified character and integrity of UNCLOS, by adhering to the principles, rights and duties enshrined in UNCLOS, such as the freedom of navigation. Today, UNCLOS remains the overarching framework for governance of the world’s oceans and seas. For this reason, it is our firm belief that the universalisation and effective implementation of UNCLOS is not only pertinent but indeed absolutely critical for all activities in the oceans and seas, including those concerning the work of the ISA, the BBNJ process and the successful implementation of SDG 14. I would therefore end my statement by urging those who have yet to become parties to UNCLOS to do so as soon as possible.

14.             I thank you very much for your attention, Mr President.

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