STATUS REPORT

UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA

((Montego Bay, Jamaica, 10/12/1982)

ENTRY INTO FORCE : 17-Nov-98

Depositary: Secretary-General of the United Nations

Last updated by PacLII: 01 August 2006
Parties Date of Signature Date of ratification
/
Other 		Entry Into Force Domestication Legislation
(where available)
Cook Islands        
Fiji 10 Dec 1982 10 Dec 1982    
Kiribati   24 Feb 2003 Ac    
Marshall Islands   9 Aug 1991    
Nauru 10 Dec 1982 23 Jan 1996    
Niue 5 Dec 1984      
Palau   30 Sep 1996 Ac    
Papua New Guinea 10 Dec 1982 14 Jan 1997    
Samoa   14 Aug 1995    
Solomon Islands 10 Dec 1982 23 Jun 1997    
Tonga   2 Aug 1995 Ac    
Tuvalu 10 Dec 1982 9 Dec 2002    
Vanuatu 10 Dec 1982 01 Feb 1999 Ac 10 Aug 1999  
 
"1. Proceeding from the right that State Parties have on the basis of article 310 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Government of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia considers that a coastal State may, by its laws and regulations, subject the passage of foreign warships to the requirement of previous notification to the respective coastal State and limit the number of ships simultaneously passing, on the basis of the international customary law and in compliance with the right of innocent passage (articles 17-32 of the Convention)        
"1. The signature and ratification of the Convention by Greece and the subsequent declaration in this regard shall neither prejudice nor affect the existing rights and legitimate interests of Turkey with respect to maritime jurisdiction areas in the Aegean. Turkey fully reserves her rights under international law        
"In the name of the following States        
"Pursuant to the provisions of Article 310 of the Convention the South African Government declares that the signature of this Con- vention by South Africa in no way implies recognition by South Africa of the United Nations Council for Namibia or its competence to act on behalf of South West Africa/Namibia."        
"The Government of the Czech Republic having considered the declaration of the Federal Republic of Germany of 14 October 1994 pertaining to the interpretation of the provisions of Part X of the [said Convention], which deals with the right of access of land-locked States to and from the sea and freedom of transit, states that the [said] declaration of the Federal Republic of Germany cannot be interpreted with regard to the Czech Republic in contradiction with the provisions of Part X of the Convention."        
"The Government of the State of Israel has noted that declarations made by Iraq and Yemen upon signing the Convention contain explicit statements of a political character in respect of Israel        
"The Philippines declaration was made in conformity with article 310 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The declaration consists of interpretative statements concerning certain provisions of the Convention        
"The so-called Kalayaan Islands are part of the Nansha Islands, which have always been Chinese territory. The Chinese Government has stated on many occasions that China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and at the adjacent waters and resources."        
"This signature of this Final Act in no way implies recognition in any manner whatsoever of the group calling itself the Palestine Liberation Organization or of any rights whatsoever conferred upon it within the framework of any of the documents attached to this Final Act, and is subject to the statements of the Delegation of Israel at the 163rd, 182nd, 184th and 190th meetings of the Conference and document A/CONF.62/WS/33."        
"Turkey has neither signed nor acceded to the [said Convention]. It is, therefore, clear the above-mentioned notification cannot have any legal effect, whatsoever        
"[The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic] wishes to draw the Secretary-General's attention to the concern of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic about the fact that certain States made upon signature of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea declarations which are incompatible with the Convention and which, if reaffirmed upon ratification of the Convention by those States, would constitute a violation of the obligations to be assumed by them under the Convention. Such approach would lead to a breach of the universality of the obligations embodied in the Convention, to the disruption of the legal regime established thereunder and, in the long run, even to the undermining of the Convention as such        
- -On 10 April 1985 re: declaration by Qatar        
- -On 15 August 1986 re: understanding by Kuwait        
- -in disputes concerning which the United Nations Security Council exercises the functions assigned to it by the Charter of the United Nations."        
- -in disputes relating to military activities and        
- -in disputes relating to sea boundary delimitations        
-- contravenes Article 310 of the Convention which stipulates that declarations can be made by States upon signature or ratification of or accession to the Convention only provided that they `do not purport to exclude or to modify the legal effect of the provisions of this Convention        
-- indicates that in spite of having ratified the Convention, the Philippines intends to follow its national laws and previous agreements rather than the obligations under the Convention, not only taking no account of whether those laws and agreements are in harmony with the Convention but even, as proved in paragraphs 6 and 7 of the Philippine understanding, deliberately contravening the obligations set forth therein        
-- is inconsistent with Article 309 of the Convention on the Law of the Sea because it contains, in essence, reservations to the provisions of the Convention        
. . . The Republic of the Philippines, upon its signature and ratification of the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, has claimed sovereignty over the islands called by the Philippines as the Kalaysan [see paragraph 4 of the declaration]. The People's Republic of China has likewise claimed that the islands, called by the Philippines as the Kalaysan, constitute part of the Nansha Islands which are Chinese territory. The so-called "Kalaysan Islands" or "Nansha Islands" mentioned above are in fact the Truong Sa Archipelago which has always been under the sovereignty of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam has so far published two White Books confirming the legality of its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Archipelagoes        
... In that declaration, articles 74 and 83 of the Convention are interpreted to mean that, in the absence of any agreement on delimitation of the exclusive economic zone, the continental shelf or other maritime zones, the search for an equitable solution assumes that the boundary is the median line, in other words, a line every point of which is equidistant from the nearest points on the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial waters is measured        
1. Official Records of the General Assembly, Twenty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/9030), vol. 1, p. 13 and 14        
1. The People's Republic of China's establishment of the territorial baselines of the Hoang Sa archipelago (Paracel), part of the territory of Viet Nam, constitutes a serious violation of the Vietnamese sovereignty over the archipelago. The Socialist Republic of Viet Nam has on many occasions reaffirmed its indisputable sovereignty over the Hoang Sa as well as the Tuong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes. The above-mentioned act of the People's Republic of China which runs counter to the international law, is absolutely null and void. Furthermore, the People's Republic of China correspondingly violated the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Law of the Sea by giving the Hoang Sa archipelago the status of an archipelagic state to illegally annex a vast sea area into the so-called internal water of the archipelago        
1. The People's Republic of China's establishment of the territorial baselines of the Hoang Sa archipelago (Paracel), part of the territory of Viet Nam, constitutes a serious violation of the Vietnamese sovereignty over the archipelago. the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam has on many occasions reaffirmed its indisputable sovereignty over the Hoang Sa as well as the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes. The above-mentioned act of the People's Republic of China which runs counter to the international law, is absolutely null and void. Furthermore, the People's Republic of China correspondingly violated the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea by giving the Hoang Sa archipelago the status of an archipelagic state to illegally annex a vast sea area into the so-called internal water of the archipelago        
1. The Yemen Arabic Republic adheres to the rules of general international law concerning rights to national sovereignty over coastal territorial waters, even in the case of the waters of a strait linking two seas        
10. The Yemen Arab Republic had signed the Convention on 10 December 1982 with the following declarations        
11. In this regard, on 7 June 1996, the Secretary-General received from the Government of Viet Nam, the following declaration        
12. The modification to the statement (the statement previously read: "A special arbitral....article VIII ") was made on the basis of a communication received from the Government of Germany on 29 May 1996        
13. On 21 December 1995, the Secretary-General received from the Government of Turkey the following communication        
14. In a communication received on 23 May 1983, the Government of Israel stated the following        
15. On 22 February 1994, the Secretary-General received from the Government of Tunisia the following communication with regard to the declaration concerning articles 74 and 83 of the Convention        
16. On 12 June 1985, the Secretary-General received from the Government of China the following communication        
17. Upon ratification, the Government of South Africa informed the Secretary-General that it had decided to withdraw the declaration made upon signature which read as follows        
18. Subsequently, on 7 June 1996, the Government of Viet Nam made the following declaration        
19. In regard to the objection made by Australia the Secretary-General received, on 26 October 1988, from the Government of the Philippines the following declaration        
2. In drawing the baseline at the segment east of the Leishou peninsula from point 31 to point 32, the People's Republic of China has also failed to comply with the provisions, particularly articles 7 and 38, of the 1982 United Nations Law of the Sea. By so drawing, the People's Republic of China has turned a considerable sea area into its internal water which obstructs the rights and freedom of international navigation including those of Vietnam through the Qiongzhou strait. This is totally unacceptable to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam        
2. In drawing the baseline at the segment east of the Leizhou peninsula from point 31 to 32, the People's Republic of China has also failed to comply with the provisions, particularly articles 7 and 38, of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. By so drawing, the People's Republic of China has turned a considerable sea area into its internal water which obstructs the rights and freedom of international navigation including those of Viet Nam through the Qiongzhou strait. This is totally unacceptable to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam        
2. In view of the interpretative statement of Greece concerning the provisions of the Convention on the Law of the Sea on the `Straits used for International Navigation', Turkey wishes to reiterate her statement of 15 November 1982, contained in document A/CONF.62/WS/34, which remains fully valid at present and reads as follows        
2. The Final Act was signed, in each instance, on 10 December 1982        
2. The Government of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia also considers that it may, on the basis of article 38, para. 1, and article 45, para. 1 (a) of the Convention, determine by its laws and regulations which of the straits used for international navigation in the territorial sea of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia will retain the regime of innocent passage, as appropriate        
2. The Yemen Arab Republic adheres to the concept of general international law concerning free passage as applying exclusively to merchant ships and aircraft; nuclear-powered craft, as well as warships and warplanes in general, must obtain the prior agreement of the Yemen Arab Republic before passing through its territorial waters, in accordance with the established norm of general international law relating to national sovereignty        
20. Notification of designation as Arbitrator received on 17 September 2002        
3. Due to the fact that the provisions of the Convention relating to the contiguous zone (article 33) do not provide rules on the delimitation of the contiguous zone between States with opposite or adjacent coasts, the Government of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia considers that the principles of the customary international law, codified in article 24, para. 3, of the Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, signed in Geneva on 29 April 1958, will apply to the delimitation of the contiguous zone between the Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea."        
3. The German Democratic Republic had signed the Convention on 10 December 1982 with the following declarations        
3. The Yemen Arab Republic confirms its national sovereignty over all the islands in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean which have been its dependencies since the period when the Yemen and the Arab countries were a Turkish administration        
3. Turkey reserves its right to make further declarations as may be required under the circumstances in the future."        
4. The Yemen Arab Republic declares that its signature of the Convention on the Law of the Sea is subject to the provisions of this declaration and the completion of the constitutional procedures in effect        
4. The former Yugoslavia had signed and ratified the Convention on 10 December 1982 and 5 May 1986, respectively, with the following declaration        
5. Czechoslovakia had signed the Convention on 10 December 1982. On 29 May 1985, the Secretary-General received from the Government of Czechoslovakia the following objection        
6. See note 1 under "Namibia" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume        
7. See note 1 under "Namibia" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume        
8. For the Kingdom in Europe        
9. For the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Bailiwick of Jersey, the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, St. Helena and Dependencies, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands        
A concrete example of such declaration as referred to above is the understanding made upon signature and reaffirmed upon ratification of the Convention by the Philippines which was communicated to Member States by notification [. . .] dated 22 May 1984        
Afghanistan 18 Mar 1983      
African National CongressPalestine Liberation OrganizationPan Africanist Congress        
Albania   23 Jun 2003 Ac    
Algeria 10 Dec 1982 11 Jun 1996    
Algeria [See declaration under the Convention        
Algeria, Angola, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Yemen, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, German Democratic Republic, Germany (Federal Republic of), Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua, New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Saint-Lucia, Saint-Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe        
Angola 10 Dec 1982 5 Dec 1990    
Antigua and Barbuda 7 Feb 1983 2 Feb 1989    
Argentina 5 Oct 1984 1 Dce 1995    
Armenia   9 Dec 2002 Ac    
Australia 10 Dec 1982 5 Oct 1994    
Austria 10 Dec 1982 14 Jul 1995    
Bahamas 10 Dec 1982 29 Jul 1983    
Bahrain 10 Dec 1982 30 May 1985    
Bangladesh 10 Dec 1982 27 Jul 2001    
Barbados 10 Dec 1982 12 Oct 1993    
Belarus 10 Dec 1982      
Belgium   13 Nov 1998    
Belize 10 Dec 1982 13 Aug 1983    
Benin 30 Aug 1983 16 Oct 1997    
Bhutan 10 Dec 1982      
Bolivia 27 Nov 1984 28 Apr 1995    
Bosnia and Herzegovina4   12 Jan 1994 Sc    
Botswana 5 Dec 1984 2 May 1990    
Brazil 10 Dec 1982 22 Dec 1988    
Brunei Darussalem 10 Dec 1982 5 Nov 1996    
Bulgaria 10 Dec 1982 15 May 1996    
Burkina Faso 10 Dec 1982 25 Jan 2005    
Burundi 10 Dec 1982      
Cambodia 1 Jul 1983      
Cameroon 10 Dec 1982 19 Nov 1985    
Canada 10 Dec 1982 7 Nov 2003    
Cape Verde 10 Dec 1982 10 Aug 1987    
Central African Republic 4 Dec 1984      
Chad 10 Dec 1982      
Chile 10 Dec 1982 25 Aug 1997    
China 10 Dec 1982 7 Jun 1996    
Colombia 10 Dec 1982      
Comoros 6 Dec 1984 21 Jun 1994    
Congo 10 Dec 1982      
Costa Rica 10 Dec 1982 21 Sep 1992    
Croatia4   5 Apr 1995 d    
Cuba 10 Dec 1982 15 Aug 1984    
Cyprus 10 Dec 1982 12 Dec 1988    
Czech Republic5 22 Feb 1993 Sc 21 Jun 1996    
Cфte d'Ivoire 10 Dec 1982 26 Mar 1984    
Democratic People's Republic of Korea 10 Dec 1982      
Democratic Republic of the Congo 10 Dec 1982 17 Feb 1989    
Denmark 10 Dec 1982 16 Nov 2004    
Djibouti 10 Dec 1982 8 Oct 1991    
Dominica 28 Mar 1983 24 Oct 1991    
Dominican Republic 10 Dec 1982      
Ecuador        
Egypt 10 Dec 1982 26 Aug 1983    
El Salvador 5 Dec 1984      
Equatorial Guinea 30 Jan 1984 21 Jul 1997    
Estonia        
Ethiopia 10 Dec 1982      
European Community 7 Dec 1984 1 Apr 1998 c    
European Economic Community        
Finally, Greece Notes that Turkey makes in her statement repeatedly reference to the provision of the United Nations Law of the Sea, 1982, attempting to draw legal conclusions. Greece interprets these references as an indication that Turkey--a non signatory to the Covention--accepts its provisions as reflecting general customary law."        
Finland 10 Dec 1982 21 Jun 1996    
France 10 Dec 1982 11 Apr 1996    
Furthermore, the Government of the State of Israel objects to all reservations, declarations and statements of a political nature in respect of States, made in connection with the signing of the Final Act of the Convention, which are incompatible with the purposes and objects of this Convention        
Gabon 10 Dec 1982 11 Mar 1998    
Gambia 10 Dec 1982 22 May 1984    
Georgia   21 Mar 1996 Ac    
Germany   14 Oct 1994 a    
Ghana 10 Dec 1982 7 Jun 1983    
Given the above-mentioned circumstances, the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic cannot recognize the above-mentioned understanding of the Philippines as having any legal effect        
Greece 10 Dec 1982 21 Jul 1995    
Greece observes, in particular, that the reference of Turkey to art. 36 is misleading, since the part of the high seas referred to in that article constitutes simply an element of the straits in question. Therefore, reference of Greece to this article in no way can be interpreted as an intention to exercise any discretionary powers over the high seas        
Grenada 10 Dec 1982 25 Apr 1991    
Guatemala   11 Feb 1997    
Guinea   6 Sep 1985    
Guinea-Bissau 10 Dec 1982 25 Aug 1986    
Guyana 10 Dec 1982 16 Nov 1993    
Haiti 10 Dec 1982 31 Jul 1996    
Honduras 10 Dec 1982 5 Oct 1993    
Hungary 10 Dec 1982 5 Feb 2002    
Iceland 10 Dec 1982 21 Jun 1985    
In the name of Namibia, represented by the United Nations Council for Namibia as stipulated in article 305, paragraph 1 b), of the Convention        
In the name of the following National Liberation Movements invited in accordance with rule 62 of the rules of procedure, as decided in resolution IV of the Conference        
In the name of the following Observers invited to participate in the Conference as stipulated in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3334 (XXIX)        
In the name of the following international organizations referred to in article 305, paragraph 1 f), and in article 1 of Annex IX of the Convention        
In the name of the following self-governing associated States referred to in article 305, paragraph 1 c), of the Convention        
In the view of the Government of the State of Israel, this Convention is not the proper place for making such political pronouncements        
In the written statement referred to above Greece is attempting to create a separate category of straits, i.e. spread out islands that form a great number of alternative straits' which is not envisaged in the Convention nor in international law. Thereby Greece wishes to retain the power to exclude some of the straits which link the Aegean Sea to the Mediterranean from the regime of transit passage. Such arbitrary action is not permissible under the Convention nor under the rules and principles of international law        
In view of the above considerations, the Delegation of Turkey finds the Greek views expressed in the document A/CONF.62/WS/26 legally unfounded and totally unacceptable        
In view of the significance of the matter, the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic considers it necessary that the problem of such declarations made upon signature or ratification of the Convention which endanger the universality of the Convention and the unified mode of its implementation be dealt with by the Secretary-General in his capacity as depositary of the Convention and that the Member States of the United Nations be informed thereof."        
India 10 Dec 1982 29 Jun 1995    
Indonesia 10 Dec 1982 3 Feb 1986    
Iran (Islamic Republic of) 10 Dec 1982      
Iraq 10 Dec 1982 30 Jul 1985    
Ireland 10 Dec 1982 21 Jun 1996    
Israel        
It seems that Greece, failing in the Conference in its efforts to ensure the application of the regime of archipelagic States to the islands of the continental States, is now trying to circumvent the provisions of the Convention by a unilateral and arbitrary statement of understanding        
Italy 7 Dec 1984 13 Jan 1995    
Jamaica 10 Dec 1982 21 Mar 1983    
Japan 7 Feb 1983 20 Jun 1996    
Jordan   27 Nov 1995 Ac    
Kenya 10 Dec 1982 2 Mar 1989    
Kuwait 10 Dec 1982 2 May 1986    
Lao People's Democratic Republic 10 Dec 1982 5 Jun 1998    
Latvia   23 Dec 2004 Ac    
Lebanon 7 Dec 1984 5 Jan 1995    
Lesotho 10 Dec 1982      
Liberia 10 Dec 1982      
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 3 Dec 1984      
Liechtenstein 30 Nov 1984      
Lithuania   12 Nov 2003 Ac    
Luxembourg 5 Dec 1984 5 Oct 2000    
Madagascar 25 Feb 1983 22 Aug 2001    
Malawi 7 Dec 1984      
Malaysia 10 Dec 1982 14 Oct 1996    
Maldives 10 Dec 1982 7 Sep 2000    
Mali 19 Oct 1983 16 Jul 1985    
Malta 10 Dec 1982 20 May 1993    
Mauritania 10 Dec 1982 17 Jul 1996    
Mauritius 10 Dec 1982 4 Nov 1994    
Mexico 10 Dec 1982 18 May 1983    
Micronesia (Federated States of)   29 Apr 1991 Ac    
Monaco 10 Dec 1982 20 Mar 1996    
Mongolia 10 Dec 1982 13 Aug 1996    
Morocco 10 Dec 1982      
Mozambique 10 Dec 1982 13 Mar 1997    
Myanmar 10 Dec 1982 21 May 1996    
Namibia6 10 Dec 1982 18 Apr 1983    
Nepal 10 Dec 1982 2 Nov 1998    
Netherlands Antilles        
Netherlands8 10 Dec 1982 28 Jun 1996    
New Zealand 10 Dec 1982 19 Jul 1996    
Nicaragua 9 Dec 1984 3 May 2000    
Niger 10 Dec 1982      
Nigeria 10 Dec 1982 14 Aug 1986    
Norway 10 Dec 1982 24 Jun 1996    
Notes        
Oman 1 Jul 1983 17 Aug 1989    
On 23 February 1987, the Secretary-General received from the Government of Viet Nam the following communication concerning the declarations made by the Philippines and by China        
On 30 April 1982, in New York, the Convention on the Law of the Sea was adopted by a vote. On that occasion the delegation of Ecuador made an official declaration saying that it had decided not to participate in the vote and stating, for the record, the reasons behind that decision. [The delegation also wishes] to recall the official declarations made by the delegation of Ecuador, particularly at the tenth and eleventh sessions of the Conference, clearly setting for the position of Ecuador        
On the occasion of the signing of the Final Act and notwithstanding the progress made in the law of the sea [the Delegation of Ecuador] wishes to reiterate its position in defence of its territorial sea of 200 miles        
On this occasion, [the delegation of Ecuador] must state for the record that, notwithstanding the significant progress made in the negotiations carried out during the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea and notwithstanding the establishment in the Convention of fundamental principles and rights of developing coastal States, and of the international community in general, the Convention which is today being opened for signature by States does not fully meet Ecuador's rights and interests. Ecuador has always exercised and will continue to exercise such rights in accordance with its national legislation. That legislation was drawn up without violating any principle or norm of international law long before any of the three conferences held under the auspices of the United Nations was convened        
Pakistan 10 Dec 1982 26 Feb 1997    
Panama 10 Dec 1982 1 Jul 1996    
Paraguay 10 Dec 1982 26 Sep 1986    
Philippines 10 Dec 1982 8 May 1984    
Poland 10 Dec 1982 13 Nov 1998    
Portugal 10 Dec 1982 3 Nov 1997    
Qatar 27 Nov 1984 9 Dec 2002    
Recognition of the exclusive rights of sovereignty and jurisdiction over all the living and non-living resources contained in the adjacent seas up to a distance of 200 miles and their respective beds, constitutes a victory for the coastal States, one that began with the visionary Declaration of Santiago of 1952. The territorialist group, which is coordinated on a permanent basis by the delegation of Ecuador, has played an important role in this achievement        
Regarding the allegation that Greece violates ICAO rules and regulations, Greece states emphatically that she respects all the rules and regulations established within the ICAO framework. It must be noted, in this respect, that the institution of transit passage is new and, for the time being, it does not influence the ICAO rules and regulations. In view of this, Greece does not see how her statement could interfere with the ICAO international air routes, in any way        
Republic of Korea 14 Mar 1983 29 Jan 1996    
Romania 10 Dec 1982 17 Dec 1996    
Russian Federation 10 Dec 1982 12 Mar 1997    
Rwanda 10 Dec 1982      
Saint Kitts and Nevis 7 Dec 1984 7 Jan 1993    
Saint Lucia 10 Dec 1982 27 Mar 1985    
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 10 Dec 1982 1 Oct 1993    
Sao Tome and Principe 13 Jul 1983 3 Nov 1987    
Saudi Arabia 7 Dec 1984 24 Apr 1996    
See also note 1 under "Bosnia and Herzegovina", Croatia, "former Yugoslavia", "Slovenia", "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" and "Yugoslavia" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume        
See also note 1 under "Czech Republic" and note 1 under "Slovakia" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume        
See also note 1 under "Yemen" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume        
See also note 2 under "Germany" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume        
Senegal 10 Dec 1982 25 Oct 1984    
Serbia and Montenegro4   12 Mar 2001 Sc    
Seychelles 10 Dec 1982 16 Sep 1991    
Sierra Leone 10 Dec 1982 12 Dec 1994    
Singapore 10 Dec 1982 17 Nov 1994    
Slovakia5 28 May 1993 Sc 8 May 1996    
Slovenia4   16 Jun 1995 Sc    
Somalia 10 Dec 1982 24 Jul 1989    
South Africa 5 Dec 1984 23 Dec 1997    
South West Africa People's Organization        
Spain 4 Dec 1984 15 Jan 1997    
Sri Lanka 10 Dec 1982 19 Jul 1994    
Subsequently, on 30 June 1997, the Secretary-General received from the Government of Greece, the following communication        
Subsequently, similar communications were received by the Secretary-General from the Government of Israel, with respect to the following        
Subsequently, upon depositing its instrument of ratification, the Government of the Czech Republic made the following declaration        
Such reservations, declarations and statements cannot in any way affect whatever obligations are binding upon the above-mentioned States under general international law or under particular conventions        
Sudan 10 Dec 1982 23 Jan 1985    
Sudan [See declaration No. [4] under the Convention        
Suriname 10 Dec 1982 9 Jul 1998    
Swaziland 18 Jan 1984      
Sweden 10 Dec 1982 25 Jun 1996    
Switzerland 17 Oct 1984      
Thailand 10 Dec 1982      
The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic considers that this understanding of the Philippines        
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia4   19 Aug 1994 Sc    
The German Democratic Republic declares, in accordance with article 298 of the Convention, that it does not accept any compulsory procedures entailing binding decisions        
The German Democratic Republic further declares that it accepts a special arbitral tribunal as provided for in article 287, paragraph 1 (d), which is to be constituted in accordance with Annex VIII, as competent for the settlement of disputes concerning the in terpretation or application of articles of this Convention relating to fisheries, the protection and preservation of the marine environment, marine scientific research and navigation, including pollution from ships and through dumping        
The German Democratic Republic recognizes the competence, provided for in article 292 of the Convention, of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in matters relating to the prompt release of vessels and crews        
The Government of the State of Israel will, insofar as concerns the substance of the matter, adopt towards the Governments of the States in question, an attitude of complete reciprocity."        
The Philippine Government intends to harmonize its domestic legislation with the provisions of the Convention        
The Philippine Government, therefore, wishes to assure the Australian Government and the States Parties to the Convention that the Philippines will abide by the provisions of the said Convention."        
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam once again reaffirms its indisputable sovereignty over the Truong Sa Archipelago and hence its determination to defend its territorial integrity        
The Tunisian Government believes that such an interpretation is not in the least consistent with the spirit and letter of the provisions of these articles, which do not provide for automatic application of the median line with regard to delimitation of the exclusive economic zone or the continental shelf        
The Turkish allegations amount to a direct and unequivocal threat by a non-party to the Convention, addressed to a party thereto, with the obvious purpose of compelling Greece to abstain from exercising legitimate rights deriving from international law        
The fact that we have signed the said Convention in no way implies that we recognize Israel or are entering into relations with it        
The following declarations were made in connexion with the Final Act        
The necessary steps are being undertaken to enact legislation dealing with archipelagic sea lanes passage and the exercise of Philippine sovereign rights over archipelagic waters, in accordance with the Convention        
The purpose of the Greek statement is to interpret certain provisions of the Convention in full accordance with the spirit and the true meaning of the Convention. It is clear, therefore, that Greece neither wishes nor intends, in any way whatsoever, to create any separate category of straits used for international navigation, nor does she intend to circumvent the provisions of the Convention, in any manner        
The reference in the Greek written statement to article 36 is of particular concern as it is an indication of Greece's intention to exercise discretionary powers not only over straits, but also over high seas        
The scope of the regime of straits used for international navigation and the rights and duties of States bordering straits are clearly defined in the provisions contained in Part III of the Convention on the Law of the Sea. With the limited exceptions provided in articles 35, 36, 38, paragraph 1 and 45, all straits used for international navigation are subject to the regime of transit passage        
Togo 10 Dec 1982 16 Apr 1985    
Trinidad and Tobago 10 Dec 1982 25 Apr 1986    
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands)        
Tunisia 10 Dec 1982 24 Apr 1985    
Turkey wishes to state that she will not acquiesce in any claim or attempt designed to upset the long-standing status quo in this respect, that would deprive Turkey of her existing rights and interests. Any unilateral act in this respect that would constitute an abuse of the provisions of the Convention would entail totally unacceptable consequences. Turkey has registered her opposition in this regard actively and persistently from the very outset        
Uganda 10 Dec 1982 9 Nov 1990    
Ukraine 10 Dec 1982 26 Jul 1999    
United Arab Emirates 10 Dec 1982      
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland9 10 Dec 1982 25 Jul 1997 Ac    
United Republic of Tanzania 10 Dec 1982 30 Sep 1985    
Uruguay 10 Dec 1982 10 Dec 1992    
Venezuela        
Venezuela is signing the Final Act on the understanding that it is merely noting the work of the Conference without making any value judgement about its results. Its signing does not signify, nor can it be construed as signifying, any change in its position with regard to articles 15, 74, 83 and 121, paragraph 3, of the Convention. For the reasons stated by the delegation of Venezuela at the plenary meeting on 30 April 1982, those provisions are unacceptable to Venezuela, which is therefore not bound by them and is not prepared to agree to be bound by them in any way        
Vietnam 10 Dec 1982 25 Jul 1994    
With regard to the air routes, the Greek statement is contrary to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) rules according to which air routes are established by ICAO regional meetings with the consent of all interested parties and approved by the ICAO Council        
With regard to the substance of the Turkish notification, Greece rejects all the allegations therein and would like to make the following observations, in this connection        
Yemen10 10 Dec 1982 21 Jul 1987    
Zambia 10 Dec 1982 7 Mar 1983    
Zimbabwe 10 Dec 1982 24 Feb 1993    
[1] "The German Democratic Republic declares that it accepts an arbitral tribunal as provided for in article 287, paragraph 1 (c), which is to be constituted in accordance with Annex VII, as competent for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of this Convention, which cannot be settled by the States involved by recourse to other peaceful means of dispute settlement agreed between them        
[2] "The German Democratic Republic reserves the right, in connection with the ratification of the Convention on the Law of the Sea, to make declarations and statements pursuant to article 310 of the Convention and to present its views on declarations and statements made by other States when signing, ratifying or acceding to the Convention."        
[Ecuador] has participated actively in the negotiations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, spanning an eight-year period, and in the preparatory meetings and, given the importance of the issue because of Ecuador's long continental and island shorelines and its rich sea-beds Ecuador will remain attached to that evolving law of the sea in the interest of better defence and promotion of national rights. In affirmation of this it is signing the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea        
`In connection with the views expressed by the Greek delegation in the written statement contained in document A/CONF.62/WS/26 of May 1982 the Delegation of Turkey wishes to make the following statement        
Keys:
  • Accession (a)
  • Acceptance (A)
  • Approval (AA)
  • Definitive Signature (s)
  • Formal confirmation (c)
  • Participation (P)
  • Notification (of provisional application, of special undertaking, etc) (n)
  • Ratification (Rt)
  • Reservation (r)
  • Succession (d)
© 1998 University of the South Pacific

PacLII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback| Report an error
URL: http://www.paclii.org/pits/en/status_pages/1982-6.html