Development of an international legally binding instrument under UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MR. LUIS OñA GARCéS, SECOND SECRETARY OF THE PERMANENT MISSION OF ECUADOR, AT THE 4TH PREPCOM ESTABLISHED BY GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 69/292: DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL LEGALLY BINDING INSTRUMENT UNDER UNCLOS ON THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF MARINE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF AREAS BEYOND NATIONAL JURISDICTION (New York, 14 July 2017)

(Original version)

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

At the outset, the Group of 77 and China wishes to congratulate you as well as the distinguished Facilitators, for your outstanding work during the first week of this Preparatory Committee (PrepCom).

We recognize that the discussions, under your guidance, have been productive and have greatly improved our understanding regarding the positions from our fellow delegates. In this instance, the Group of the 77 and China is confident that the upcoming revised Chair's indicative suggestion will reflect a good, fair and balanced content that will help us to move forward by making the substantive recommendations to the General Assembly and that, by taking into account the report of the Preparatory Committee, the General Assembly will decide, as soon as possible, on the convening and on the starting date of an intergovernmental conference (IGC), before the end of its seventy-second session as set out in resolution 69/292

Mr. Chairman,

The Group of 77 and China hopes that our constructive suggestions will be taken on board and without prejudice to the final outcome of this PrepCom, the Group would wish to ensure that the points raised during our deliberations to date can be brought forward to the IGC.

Finally, the Group of 77 and China would like to reiterate its confidence in your able leadership and guidance in conducting the second week of this PrepCom. We would like to pledge to you our full support, our willingness to work constructively throughout this session and to remain fully involved with the process while stressing the need to continue to move forward in order to successfully conclude with the 4th and final session of the Preparatory Committee according to the mandate in the resolution 69/292.

I thank you.