Kingston (Jamaica) The IOM delegation (Director General T. Abramowski and Deputy Director General P. Balaz) took part in jubilee 25th ISA Session held in Kingston (Jamaica) from 11 to 26 July 2019. IOM representatives participated in the Second Meeting of an open-ended informal working group of the Council in respect of the development and negotiation of the financial terms of a contract (11-12 July), the meeting of the Council (15-19 July) and the Asembly (22-26 July).
Second Meeting of an open-ended informal working group of the Council (in respect of the development and negotiation of the financial terms of a contract under article 13, paragraph 1 of Annex III to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and under section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement relating to the implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10/12/1982) was convened immediately prior to the second part of the Council session and was open to all stakeholders. The discussions centred on the options for the payment mechanism and the associated rates of payment, which are in line with the objectives and principles of the Agreement and the Convention. Report of the Chair on the outcome of the meeting was presented during the Council part of the session.
The Council meeting was led by Lumka Yengeni (South Africa) as President of the Council for the twenty-fifth session. The representatives of Tonga (Asia-Pacific States), Poland (Eastern European States), Argentina (Latin American and Caribbean States) and Germany (Western European and other States) worked as Vice-Presidents. Council agenda for the second part included election to fill a vacancy on the Legal and Technical Commission, report on national legislation, draft regulations for exploitation of mineral resources in the Area, report by the Chair of the second meeting of the open-ended working group of the Council, report of the Finance Committee, report of the Chair of the Legal and Technical Commission, report on matters related to the Enterprise and relevant draft decisions and amendments of the Council.
The Assembly meeting was led by Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (Jamaica). Delegates appointed Ghana, Nauru, Poland, and Norway to the positions of Vice-Presidents. Assembly agenda included annual report of the Secretary-General, report of the Finance Committee, election to fill a vacancy on the Finance Committee, implementation of the strategic plan and Draft high-level action plan, commemoration of the 25th Anniversary (2019 Secretary-General’s Award for Excellence in Deep Sea Research and High-level panel: Strengthening capacity-building opportunities and initiatives for developing States) and relevant draft decisions and amendments of the Assembly.
