The Permanent Representative of France to the International Seabed Authority (ISA), H.E. Mr. Olivier Guyonvarch, presented his credentials to ISA Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, during a ceremony held on 19 November 2021 at ISA headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica.
H.E. Guyonvarch is the Ambassador of France to Jamaica. He has a master’s degree in Chinese and is a career diplomat specializing in the law of the sea. Ambassador Guyonvarch has been with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1996.
“After having been head of the French delegations during sessions of the ISA Assembly between 2012 and 2016, I am very happy to return to Kingston as a Permanent Representative of France to ISA. This is a very interesting period for this international organization responsible for the management of the resources of the Area which are the common heritage of humankind,” Ambassador Guyonvarch said during the ceremony.
“France’s long-standing commitment to the law of the sea and the work of ISA is commendable. As a pioneer in deep-sea exploration and scientific research, I look forward to France’s continued contribution to all aspects of the work of ISA towards the sustainable development of deep ocean resources for the benefit of all humanity,” Secretary-General Lodge said welcoming Ambassador Guyonvarch.
Prior to this appointment, Ambassador Guyonvarch was the Consul General of France in Wuhan, China (2017 to 2021) and the Advisor to the Ambassador on questions of international law and security in Beijing, China (2016 to 2017). Between 2012 and 2016, Ambassador Guyonvarch was the Assistant Director of the Law of the Sea, River Law and Polar Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Legal Affairs Department.
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Ms. Stefanie Neno, Communications Specialist, ISA, sneno@isa.org.jm