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New York UN

STATEMENT BY MR NATHANIEL KHNG, COUNSELLOR (LEGAL), PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK, AT THE TWENTY-SEVENTH SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY, SPECIAL EVENT TO COMMEMORATE THE FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADOPTION AND OPENING FOR SIGNATURE OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA, KINGSTON, JAMAICA, 1 AUGUST 2022

1 August 2022

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1 Singapore thanks the Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority and the Government of Jamaica for this meeting to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the adoption and opening for signature of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the constitution for the oceans.  On this occasion, which celebrates critical milestones for multilateralism and the rule of law in the oceans and seas, I wish to make three points.  


2 First, Singapore reaffirms our commitment to the Convention.  Singapore’s position is, and always will be, that the Convention sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out.  As a small island nation, the full and effective implementation of the Convention has been, and will continue to be, critical for our survival.  All maritime claims must be in accordance with the relevant rules of the Convention, which are comprehensive, and all freedoms, rights and obligations set out in the Convention must be respected and adhered to. 


3 Second, Singapore also reaffirms our full support for the International Seabed Authority, which has been a key pillar of the legal order for the ocean that was established by the Convention.  The Authority’s work continues to be instrumental to the orderly conduct of deep-seabed mineral resource-related activities in the Area—including with respect to the effective protection of the marine environment from harmful effects from such activities, which for my delegation is critical.  It has also contributed to the international community’s efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda.  We also express our appreciation to the Authority’s Secretariat for their diligence and efforts in advancing the Authority’s mandate.


4 Finally, Singapore expresses our deep gratitude to the Government and people of Jamaica for their warmth and hospitality, and their role in the success of the Convention as host country of the Authority and the signing ceremony for the Convention in Montego Bay in 1982.  These are clear examples of how small island States have contributed, and continue to contribute, to the strengthening of the rules-based multilateral system founded upon international law.  We also take this opportunity to congratulate Jamaica on the 60th anniversary of its independence.


5 To conclude, my delegation is unwavering in our conviction of the importance of the Convention and that its role will only increase in the decades to come.  The principles enshrined in the Convention are universal and have sufficient flexibility and scope to address emerging challenges relating to the ocean.  We urge all countries that have yet to become a party to the Convention to do so as soon as possible.


6 Thank you. 


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