During the special anniversary session of the UN General Assembly on the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in New York, on 29 April 2022, the Republic of Cyprus made a statement confirming the country's commitment and strong support for the Convention.
The statement stressed that the Convention, rightly recognised as the Constitution of the Seas and Oceans, has replaced lawlessness with a comprehensive legal regime. As an island state with a long and rich maritime history, and as a peaceful state and a staunch supporter of a rules-based international order, Cyprus has always been a strong defender of the Convention.
The Convention, the statement continues, reflects customary international law and establishes a comprehensive and unambiguous legal regime governing all activities in the oceans and seas. The Convention has resolved once and for all issues such as the extent of the territorial sea as well as the status of islands and their unrestricted rights in maritime jurisdictional zones. It has also established the status of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and a mandatory mechanism for the peaceful settlement of maritime disputes. Cyprus strongly safeguards its sovereignty and sovereign rights and at the same time remains firmly committed to the peaceful settlement of maritime disputes in accordance with the Convention, including the mandatory procedures provided for final and binding decisions.
It was noted that the Convention has not only stood the test of time but remains as relevant as ever as a living and dynamic document able to respond to new developments and challenges, such as, for example, the issue of sea-level rise related to climate change. The Republic of Cyprus reiterates its commitment to the Convention and will continue to work together with the international community to maintain its integrity as an integral part of the rules-based international system. It added that, since they reflected customary international law, the provisions of the Convention became binding both on the parties to it and on third States. Finally, he underlined the responsibility of all States to ensure that their actions are in conformity with the Convention and general international law.
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