Vietnam applauded for efforts in enforcement of 1982 UNCLOS
VOV.VN - Judge Albert Hoffmann, president of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), lauded Vietnamese efforts in enforcing the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), during a recent working session with Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh.
During the working session held at the ITLOS headquarters in Hamburg on April 24, the judge highlighted the nation’s efforts in perfecting relevant policies and laws, including the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection and the National Strategy on Climate Change by 2050.
The country has actively delimitated overlapping territorial waters and exclusive economic zone with neighbouring countries, most recently the delimitation of its exclusive economic zone with Indonesia, an effort which has effectively contributed to the building and negotiation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China, he said.
Simultaneously, the nation has joined the core group to draft a resolution seeking advice from the International Court of Justice (IJC) on climate change, which was approved by the UN General Assembly last March, Hoffmann continued.
He also greatly appreciated the country’s personnel preparations for seats at relevant international organisations, including the ITLOS, affirming that the tribunal stands ready to help the nation and other members raise their capacity to enforce the UNCLOS.
In response, Ambassador Minh thanked Hoffmann as he has always backed efforts in enhancing ties between the ITLOS and the nation, as well as for his attendance at workshops and training programmes on international law and the UNCLOS organised by Vietnam.
The diplomat greatly valued the tribunal’s role and activities in addressing maritime disputes, as well as in the interpretation and application of the UNCLOS, thereby contributing to promoting peace, ensuring both maritime security and the respect for law, as well as building and consolidating international law.
Ambassador Minh also underlined significant contributions of the tribunal and its judges in building capacity for member countries, including those in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region in terms of maritime law research and enforcement.
The Vietnamese diplomat showed his hope at building stronger ties between the nation and the ITLOS, covering the training of international law experts for the country at all levels, thereby enabling it to make more contributions to the tribunal’s affairs and international law enforcement efforts.
Established on August 1, 1996, the Hamburg-based ITLOS has jurisdiction over any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of the UNCLOS, as well as over all matters specifically provided for in any other agreement which confers jurisdiction on the tribunal.