COUNCIL OF INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY HOLDS FIRST MEETING APPOINTS WORKING GROUP TO REVIEW RULES OF PROCEDURE
Press Release
SEA/1521
COUNCIL OF INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY HOLDS FIRST MEETING APPOINTS WORKING GROUP TO REVIEW RULES OF PROCEDURE
19960807 KINGSTON, 6 August -- The 36-member Council of the International Seabed Authority, meeting here today for the first time, appointed an opened-ended working group headed by Mohamed Mouldi Marsit (Tunisia) to review its draft rules of procedure. The Assembly of the Authority began the second part of its second session on Monday, 5 August.The Council's decision followed a recommendation by its Acting President, Hasjim Djalal (Indonesia), based on consultations he held earlier today with the Chairmen of the regional groups. Mr. Djalal said he would continue his intensive consultations on the election of the President of the Council and on the composition of the Finance Committee.
The Convention on the Law of the Sea set up the International Seabed Authority to administer the resources of the deep seabed beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. The two main organs of the Authority are the Assembly, whose membership consists of all paries to the Convention, as well as all those States who have agreed to the provisional application of the 1994 Agreement on the implementation of the deep seabed mining provisions of the Convention. The other main organ is the Council, which consists of 36 members elected by the Assembly.
The Council is composed of five groups: Group A -- the United States, Russian Federation, Japan and the United Kingdom -- represents countries with a special interest in deep seabed mining either as the largest consumers or importers of minerals; Group B -- France, China, India and Germany -- is made up of large pioneer investors in deep seabed mining; Group C -- Australia, Chile, Indonesia and Zambia -- represents countries that are major exports of minerals from the deep seabed.
Group D -- Oman, Bangladesh, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Cameroon and Nigeria -- is composed of developing countries with special interests; Group E -- Republic of Korea, Philippines, Malaysia, Poland, Ukraine, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, Egypt, Sudan, South Africa, Senegal, Tunisia, Kenya,
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Namibia, Argentina, Paraguay and Cuba -- reflects the principle of equitable geographical distribution, as well as a balance between developed and developing States.
Although the Assembly is designated by the Convention as the supreme organ of the Authority, the Council has wide-ranging powers including direct control over the Authority's financial and budgetary arrangements. It will also review and approve contracts for the exploration and exploitation of the international seabed.
The Council will meet again at a date to be announced.
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