The Republic of Cyprus stands ready at all times to engage in good faith negotiations with any country to reach a peaceful settlement of any maritime dispute in the Eastern Mediterranean, in full respect of international law, including the resolution of such a dispute before the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
The Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the UN, Ambassador Andreas Hadjichrysanthou, said the above before the Plenary of the UN General Assembly, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Mr Hadjichrysanthou added that Cyprus, as an island and maritime state, is firmly committed to the observance of the provisions of UNCLOS and actively supports its objectives and institutions.
"The law of the sea legislation in the Republic of Cyprus is in line with the provisions of UNCLOS and the country has made maritime delimitations, on the basis of the median line, with a number of neighbouring states in accordance with international law," Hajichrysanthou said.
This celebration, he added, "is an opportunity to reflect on the important achievements of the Convention and its successful contribution to the promotion of peaceful uses of the seas, the exploitation of their natural resources and the study, protection and conservation of the marine environment."
At the same time, he noted that UNCLOS is considered the Constitution of the Oceans and is a carefully drafted agreement that has succeeded in maintaining a balance between the rights and interests of all States, regardless of their specific characteristics.
"The provisions of the Convention reflect customary international law and establish clear rules on the sovereignty, sovereign rights and maritime jurisdiction of States and the delimitation of maritime boundaries. These rules apply to all States, including States that are not parties to the Convention," the Permanent Representative of Cyprus said.
He also stressed the importance of respecting the sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the maritime zones of all States, as well as the principles of good neighbourly relations and peaceful settlement of disputes. No State, he added, has the right to demand special treatment, nor to infringe on the rights of other States or to engage in practices aimed at deconstructing the clear legal regime established by the Convention. Hadjichrysanthou also stated that UNCLOS has sufficient flexibility to address emerging challenges to the seas and oceans such as the issue of sea level rise as a consequence of climate change, reiterating Cyprus' position to address this issue within the framework of the Convention.
He called on UN Member States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention as soon as possible.
Source: CNA
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
