SEABED AUTHORITY BEGINS SIXTH SESSION; ELECTS PRESIDENT, ADOPTS AGENDA
Press Release
SEA/1656
SEABED AUTHORITY BEGINS SIXTH SESSION; ELECTS PRESIDENT, ADOPTS AGENDA
20000320 biographical note(Received from the International Seabed Authority.)
KINGSTON, 20 March -- The Assembly of the International Seabed Authority opened its sixth session in Kingston this morning, with the election of its President and the adoption of an 11-item agenda for both parts of this years session.
The new President, elected by acclamation, is Liesbeth Lijnzaad (Netherlands), who was nominated by Australia on behalf of the Group of Western European and Other States. Ms. Lijnzaad is the Deputy Head of the International Law Division of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and head of her countrys delegation to the Authority. (A biographical note will be issued separately.) She succeeds José Luis Vallarta-Marron (Mexico), who chaired the Assembly last year and opened todays meeting.
The Assembly agreed without discussion to elect Jamaica as one of its four vice-presidents for the year, on the nomination of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States. The African, Asian and Eastern European groups will announce their candidates after consultations within their groups.
As agreed last August, most of the time at this first part of the sixth session will be devoted to meetings of the Council, to facilitate its work on the draft regulations for prospecting and exploration for polymetallic nodules in the international seabed area, also known as the mining code. The agenda items to be covered by the Assembly over the next two weeks include the appointment of the Credentials Committee, adoption of the financial regulations of the Authority and the filling of a vacancy on the Finance Committee. The latter two items are to be taken up at the Assemblys next meeting, on Thursday morning, 23 March.
The Assembly also agreed to devote part of Thursdays meeting to tributes to former United States Attorney General Elliot L. Richardson, who for many years was head of his countrys delegation to the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea.
With regard to the election of a Secretary-General of the Authority, which is scheduled to take place during the 2000 session, the President said she expected more information on the matter during the course of this week. The four-year term of Satya N. Nandan expires this year.
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The President suggested that delegations consult during the next two weeks about the complicated issue of membership of the Council. Eighteen of the 36 members are to be elected in July.
This years session of the Authority, during which both the Assembly and Council will meet, is divided into two parts, both in Kingston, from 20 to 31 March and from 3 to 14 July.
The Council of the Authority will hold its first meeting at 3 p.m. today to elect its President and begin the sessions work on the mining code.
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