Kingston: The State of Qatar took part in the 31st session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Assembly, which was convened in Kingston, Jamaica, from July 27-31. Representing Qatar at the session was Omar Ali Al Ali, Secretary of the Standing Committee of the Convention on the Law of the Sea.
According to Qatar News Agency, during Qatar's statement under item (9) of the agenda concerning the annual report of the Secretary-General of the ISA, Al Ali reaffirmed Qatar's support for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the legal framework it established for managing the international seabed area as the common heritage of humankind. He underscored the need to balance the responsible utilization of marine resources with the protection of the marine environment.
Al Ali highlighted the importance of enhanced dialogue and cooperation among states parties during the current phase, aiming to strengthen trust and improve decision-making processes. He emphasized the necessity of relying on credible scientific knowledge, comprehensive environmental assessments, and transparency in the Authority's work.
Al Ali advocated for continued dialogue on developing non-binding strategic tools to help assess the scientific, environmental, and institutional readiness of decisions under consideration by the Authority. He stated that such tools would enhance transparency and support more informed decision-making without impacting the existing legal framework or the mandates of the Authority's organs.
Furthermore, Al Ali reiterated Qatar's readiness to cooperate with all member states to support the work of the International Seabed Authority and enable it to fulfill its mandate in line with the UNCLOS, serving the interests of all humanity.