JAMAICA, Kingston (20 July 2017) – Secretary-General Michael Lodge today hosted a meeting with Permanent Representatives based in Kingston to brief them on the work of the Authority at its forthcoming twenty-third session scheduled to be held in Kingston, Jamaica, from 31 July to 18 August 2017.
Secretary-General Lodge updated the Permanent Representatives on matters that will be tabled before Assembly which includes the adoption of a substantive and consequential agenda, and, inter alia, requests for Observer status, the election of the President and Vice-Presidents, the presentation of the annual report of the Secretary-General, and consideration of the final report of the article 154 Review Committee.
He told the Representatives the Council also has a long agenda which includes the Legal and Technical Commission recommendations on a new application for exploration, an application for extension of an exploration contract for polymetallic nodules, consideration of the draft exploitation regulations, the election of the President and Vice-Presidents, review of the status of contracts for exploration, and the status of national legislation relating to deep seabed mining and related matters.
He also referred to a new provisional agenda item in the Council which refers to the report by the Secretary-General on the implementation of the decision of the Council in 2016 relating to the summary report of the Chair of the Legal and Technical Commission.
The briefing was attended by Representatives from the Permanent Missions of Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, Cuba, France, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama, Republic of Korea, South Africa, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and the European Union.
Caption: Secretary-General Michael Lodge (sitting 4th from left) with Permanent Representatives to the Authority
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