Law-of-the-sea talks reopen

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34104, 17 March 1976, Page 21

Law-of-the-sea talks reopen

(N Z P A -Reuter—Copyright)

NEW YORK, March 16.

The third international conference on I the Law of the Sea has opened at the United Nations headquarters with a warning by the United Nations Secre-tary-General (Dr Waldheim) that its success or -failure will affect the I whole structure of 'global co-operation. “Success will be achieved only if all nations recognise that it is in the long-term interests of each one that we succeed in establishing a law of the sea that will be respected by all.” Dr Waldheim told delegates from more than 150 countries. The president of the con--1 ference, as at the previous ’ sessions in Caracas and Gen-

eva, is the Sri Lanka Ambassador (Mrs Shirley Amerasinghe), who will also become President of the United Nations General Assembly in September. Dr Waldheim, who has described this eight-week session as crucial — a word which many of the participants have also applied to it, said: “The hard realities of the formidable increase of the world’s population over the next 25 years provides us with the need to find, and to manage efficiently and equitably the immense resources of the sea.

“We are close to general agreement in certain key areas, such as the limits of the territorial sea and the economic zone, while recognising that problems still face those countries which do not benefit from the extension of national jurisdiction. The issue of unimpeded passage through straits must also be resolved.

"There is wide agreement, on a 12-nautical-mile territo-|l rial limit. The limit began as three miles, but has been extended by many countries i to 12 miles, and by some, now, to as much as 200 miles. ' “The conference is re- I ported to be approching agreement on a 200-nautical- i mile exclusive economic ’ zone, which would include some of the world’s most important fishing grounds as well as deposits of oil, gas, i and minerals.” Dr Waldheim welcomed ' the decision of last • year’s ' conference, in Geneva, to prepare a single negotiating text, on which delegates now will be working, largely in backstage bargaining. If - and when members agree on i a treaty this will be signed in Caracas; and it is hoped j that this may be possible next year. A further Law of the Sea Conference is expected to be held in Geneva later this year. .

“A wide measure of international agreement on this profoundly complex issue, which involves all nations, could have a most significant impact upon international co-operation and agreement in other areas,” Dr Waldheim said. “The establishment of a seabed authority presents, perhaps, the most difficult, but the most important, issue of all. Then, a satisfactory solution must be found to ensure the optimum use and protection of fish stocks, and we must meet and resolve the very important problem of the conduct of scientific research.” Dr Waldheim referred to the ui o ency of the problems and to “the potential for dispute and confrontation that will lie in a failure to find acceptable solutions to the issues before us.” “If the uses made of the sea are not subjected to

: orderly development for the | benefit of all,” he said, "we will have lost a unique opportunity, and one that may not occur again. “The Jaw of the sea must contribute to a more equitable global economic system.

“. . » There is a broad, growing public understanding and appreciation of the issues involved, and a successful outcome of this conference will have a substantial impact on the establishment and implementaion of a new international economic order.” About 5000 people are expected to take part in the proceedings, including observers from private interests concerned with the problem. Intepse security is in force in and around the United Nations. The Palestine Liberation Organisation is among the participant territories which also include such non-members of the Uniged Nations as the Holy See and tiny, landlocked Lichtenstein.