Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Paris (VNA) - The United NationsConvention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), also known as the Montego BayConvention that made its way in the world on December 10, 1982, was a great step towards maintaining the freedom of navigation and has served as a basis for the development of marine activitiesand ocean conservation, said former Vice Admiral of the French Navy PatrickHebrard.
Talking with the Vietnam NewsAgency (VNA)'s resident reporter in Paris, Hebrard, who is also an associate research fellow at the Foundation for Strategic Research, said one of the biggest advantages of the 1982 UNCLOS is the establishment of a balance between sovereignty claims of the coastal states and ensuring the freedom of navigation at sea.
According to the 1982 UNCLOS, theinternational seabed is considered a heritage of humanity. The InternationalSeabed Authority (ISA) is developing a Mining Code to regulate exploration,search and extraction of ores in the international seabed. The 1982 UNCLOS alsomentions the conservation of seas, including international waters or those withinthe jurisdiction of states. Its Article 192 stipulates that “States have theobligation to protect and preserve the marine environment”. Through theprinciple of binding responsibility, the Convention establishes a continuumbetween national heritage and human heritage, he said.
Hebrard added that there shouldbe supplements to the 1982 UNCLOS, at least in three areas, including maritimesafety and combating threats and smuggling in international waters; sustainabledevelopment concepts in environmental protection; and regulations on territorial waters which have different interpretations leading to disputes among countries.
Though the 1982 UNCLOS needs tobe perfected, it is still the basis for the development of marine activitiesand ocean conservation and should be respected by all member states, he said.
Vietnam is one of the 12founding countries of the UNCLOS Group of Friends that was set up in June 2021and now has over 100 members.
Hebrard said the group's establishmentaims to share correct views and behaviours among its member states, making theConvention more widely known. Regular meetings among countries could createmutual understanding and build common knowledge about the consequences ofglobal warming and peaceful settlement of disputes. The Group also offers newproposals to improve or further develop the 1982 UNCLOS./.
