Thank you Mr. President,
Let me congratulate you on the election as President of the 28th meeting of the States Parties to the UNCLOS. Let me also thank the Secretary General for his cmprehensive and informative report.
The ocean and the law of the Sea is important to Norway and its economy. It is important that also developing countries can benefit from their own resources and their rights under UNCLOS. Norway therefore try to assit developing countries to take care of their own interests in relation to the Ocean and the Law of the Sea.
Based on this approach, Norway intends to contribute USD 60.000 to the ISA voluntary trust fund for the participation of members from developing countries in the Finance Committee and the Legal and Technical Committee of the ISA.
Moreover, Norway also intends to support an ISA initiative to hold a series of workshops in African countries in order to foster cooperation to promote the sustainable development of Africa’s deep seabed resources in support to Africa’s Blue Economy with up to USD 500.000.
We would of course also like to encourage other States in a position to do so, to make contributions towards helping developing countries participate actively in Law of the Sea processes.
I thank you Mr. President