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Home / Defend the sovereignty
All nations must respect “Oceans and the law of the sea”
By Tuan Minh 16:05, 2016/12/09
The UN General Assembly yesterday convened a plenary meeting at the UN’s headquarters in New York, the US with a focus on Agenda Item 73, themed “Oceans and the law of the sea”.
Attending the plenum of the UN General Assembly, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga has said that all countries, regardless of big or small, must have goodwill and responsibility to comply with regulations in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS).

Participants in the event included representatives of UN member states, the International Seabed Authority (ISA), and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). They discussed the UN General Assembly’s draft resolutions on oceans and the law of the sea, sustainable fisheries, and the World Tuna Day. They also looked into reports by the UN Secretary-General on issues pertaining to oceans and the law of the sea.
 
Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga
Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga
In her speech, Ambassador Nga, head of Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to the UN, lauded recent efforts by the UN General Assembly and subordinate agencies, especially those to attain the outcomes of the 17th meeting of the UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea, the 26th meeting of States Parties to the UNCLOS, and meetings of the preparatory committee on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Vietnam also highly values the success of the ISA’s 22nd session, efforts to consider reports of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, and activities of the ITLOS and other dispute settlement mechanisms to interpret and apply the 1982 UNCLOS, she noted.

She affirmed that this Convention is the most important legal document stipulating all ocean and sea-related activities, and is also a comprehensive and effective framework to peacefully resolve disputes. It contributes to peace and security while ensuring safety, security and freedom of navigation and overflight at sea.

Nga also expressed concern over the recent complicated developments in the East Sea, particularly large-scale construction and upgrade that changes the nature of several structures in the East Sea, as well as militarised actions that erode trust, exacerbate tension and seriously impact peace, stability and security in the region. 

Disputes in the East Sea must be resolved by peaceful means in line with international law, including the UNCLOS, she said, adding that parties concerned need to fully and effectively realise the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and work towards a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC). 

During discussions, the Vietnamese delegation spoke highly of the operations of agencies established under the UNCLOS and lauded the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for its rulings and suggestions last year, contributing to the explanation and application of the UNCLOS terms. 

As one of the first nations to sign and ratify the UNCLOS, Vietnam has continually adhered to the Convention’s regulations, respected rights and legitimate interests of other countries, and actively engaged in activities held within the Convention’s framework, Nga added.

Regarding complex developments in the East Sea, the diplomat stressed that Vietnam calls on all relevant parties to exercise self-restraint, settle disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including UNCLOS, respect diplomatic and legal processes, implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and expeditiously finalise a Code of Conduct (COC) in the waters.
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