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New York UN

STATEMENT BY MR NATHANIEL KHNG, COUNSELLOR (LEGAL), PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, AT THE THIRTY-SECOND MEETING OF STATES PARTIES TO THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA, ON AGENDA ITEM 8, REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL FOR THE LAW OF THE SEA TO THE MEETING OF STATES PARTIES (SPLOS/32/2), NEW YORK, 13 JUNE 2022

13 June 2022

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1 My delegation congratulates you on your election as President of the Thirty-Second Meeting of States Parties to the Convention and assures you and your bureau of our full support.


2 We thank the President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, Judge Albert Hoffmann, for the Tribunal’s report on activities in 2021 and his presentation of the report. 


3 Singapore congratulates the Tribunal on the celebration of its 25th anniversary.  The creation of the Tribunal, a new, specialized judicial body, was one of the great achievements of the Convention.  Its inaugural meeting in October 1996 was a key milestone in the legal order for the ocean that was established by the Convention. 


4 Since its inaugural meeting, the Tribunal has faithfully and competently discharged its mandate in the peaceful settlement of disputes over the application and interpretation of the Convention.  In so doing, it has contributed to the upholding of the rule of law in the oceans and seas and the maintenance of peaceful relations between States.  Its jurisprudence has provided clarity in key areas, such as maritime boundary delimitation and freedom of navigation.  It has also made strong contributions in capacity building for developing countries in the area of the law of the sea.


5 My delegation would like to take this opportunity, as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the adoption and opening for signature of the Convention, to reaffirm Singapore’s full support for the Tribunal.  In 2020, Singapore adopted a model agreement with the Tribunal for the provision of facilities for hearings.  We were delighted to be the first country with whom the Tribunal has adopted such an agreement.  The agreement demonstrates Singapore’s strong support for the international rule of law and the Convention as setting out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out.  Singapore stands ready to contribute to the Tribunal’s important work in upholding the Convention, including through the hosting of hearings in Singapore.


6 My delegation is confident that the Tribunal will continue to make important contributions to the peaceful and sustainable use of the oceans and seas under the legal framework provided by the Convention.


7 Thank you very much for your attention. 


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