INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY OPENS SEVENTH SESSION; ASSEMBLY ELECTS PRESIDENT, ADOPTS AGENDA

INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY OPENS SEVENTH SESSION;

ASSEMBLY ELECTS PRESIDENT, ADOPTS AGENDA

(Received from the International Seabed Authority.)

KINGSTON, 2 July -- The Assembly of the International Seabed Authority opened the Authority’s seventh session in Kingston this morning with the election of its President by consensus and the adoption of an 11-item agenda for this year’s two-week session, running from 2 to 13 July.

The new President of the 135-member Assembly, nominated by China on behalf of the Asian group, is Peter D. Donigi of Papua New Guinea, his country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and the head of its delegation to the Authority.  (A biographical note appears in Press Release BIO/3370-SEA/1713 issued 3 July.)

The major task before the Authority at this session is to begin consideration of the rules, regulations and procedures for prospecting and exploration for polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich crusts in the international seabed area.  Last July, the Authority approved the set of Regulations on Prospecting and Exploration for Polymetallic Nodules in the international seabed area, known as the Mining Code.  These regulations, the first piece of legislation passed by the Authority, govern all relevant activities in the international seabed area, as set out in standard contracts issued to private and public entities, national and international.

The consideration of regulations on polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich crusts comes as a result of a request from the Russian Federation in 1998.  The Authority held a workshop on these resources in June 2000.  After consultations before today’s meeting among regional group chairmen, the "Group of 77" developing countries and the Secretary General, the relevant agenda item was revised to

read, "Consideration relating to the rules ...", rather than "Consideration of

the rules ...".  Responding to a query by Egypt about the change, the Jamaican representative said its purpose was to reflect the "preliminary nature" of the approach to this examination.

The Assembly took note of an issue raised by Japan this morning relating to the ceiling rate of the Authority’s scale of assessments. [The ceiling rate is the highest contribution paid by any State to the regular budget of the Authority, and Japan is currently assessed at this rate.]  The Japanese representative pointed out that the ceiling for the United Nations regular budget had been lowered last

December from 25 per cent to 22 per cent, effective in 2001.  As the Authority’s scale was based on that of the United Nations, its ceiling should be reduced accordingly.  He noted that this adjustment had been made at other organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).  In the spirit of compromise, since the Authority had already set its ceiling for 2001-2002 at 25 per cent (when adopting last July its budget for the biennium), Japan was willing to defer its request for an adjustment until next year, when the Authority would be discussing the budget for 2003-2004.

The Assembly’s agenda for the 2001 session (document ISBA/7/A/L.1) also includes the election of vice-presidents to represent each regional group, the election of Finance Committee members, the annual report of the Secretary-General and the approval of the staff regulations of the Authority.  The election of vice-presidents was postponed to allow regional groups time to select their candidates.

The organizational meeting of the Council scheduled for today was also postponed, until 10 a.m. tomorrow, 3 July.

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