SEABED COUNCIL FILLS LEGAL AND TECHNICAL COMMISSION SEAT

Press Release
SEA/1686

SEABED COUNCIL FILLS LEGAL AND TECHNICAL COMMISSION SEAT

(Received from a UN Information Officer.)

KINGSTON, 4 July -- The Council of the International Seabed Authority, meeting in Kingston this morning, unanimously elected Mohammed M. Gomaa (Egypt) to the Legal and Technical Commission. Mr. Gomaa, who is the Legal Advisor of the Mission of Egypt to the United Nations, and delegate since 1998 to the Sixth Committee (Legal) of the General Assembly, fills the vacancy left by Wagui Hanafi, who resigned on 10 April.

Mr. Gomaa assumes that position in accordance with article 163 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and rule 80 of the rules of procedure of the Council, which state that in the event of death, incapacity or resignation of a member of the Commission prior to the expiration of the five-year term of office, the Council shall elect for the remainder of the term a member from the same geographical region or area of interest. He will serve until the end of 2001, when the term of all current members will expire.

The 22-member Commission, composed of experts elected in their personal capacity, provides technical advice to the Council. It is meeting in closed session this week in Kingston to develop guidelines for assessing the possible environmental impacts resulting from exploration for polymetallic nodules in the international seabed area.

After its formal meeting this morning, the Council resumed in closed session to continue work on draft regulations for prospecting and exploration for polymetallic nodules. It is expected to continue in closed session until Friday, 7 July, when it will meet formally to consider two proposed rules of procedure of the Commission, concerning the participation of member States in its meetings.

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