Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at the UNGA plenary meeting on law of the sea and sustainable fisheries

Mr. President,

We would like to express our gratitude to the Secretariat and to the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea for the work done during the year, including the preparation of the annual report on Oceans and the Law of the Sea.

Today the issue of the marine environment continues to be a matter of our most serious concern due to climate change, marine debris and over- and illegal fishing. Thus, it is important to keep on working to fulfill our commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals, Goal 14 of which recognizes the importance of oceans and their resources. We welcome the Sustainable Fisheries draft resolution, which addresses the problem of illegal, unreported and unregulated fisheries that constitute a major threat to marine biodiversity and ecosystems.

Mr. President,

Ukraine is strongly committed to the UNCLOS — the constitution of the oceans, which reflects customary international law and establishes the overarching legal framework for all activities in oceans and seas.

The States Parties to the UNCLOS have recognized the desirability of establishing through this Convention, with due regard for the sovereignty of all States, a legal order for oceans and seas which will facilitate international communication, and will promote the peaceful use of oceans and seas, the equitable and efficient utilization of their resources, the conservation of their living resources, and the study, protection and preservation of the marine environment.

Unfortunately, nowadays the UNCLOS legal order faces great challenges in Ukraine and its adjoining maritime areas. In view of the occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and city of Sevastopol, Ukraine’s rights as the coastal state in maritime zones adjacent to Crimea in the Black Sea and Kerch Strait have been interfered and usurped by the aggressor state. Ukraine is unable to carry out its international obligations under the respective treaties and conventional instruments in the maritime areas appertaining to the Crimean Peninsula, including the provision of safety and security of navigation, regulation of maritime traffic, protection of the marine environment, search and rescue.

As a result, the North-Eastern part of the Black Sea has literally turned into a “grey area” for international shipping that is being proved by the number of marine casualties and incidents. In this regard its worth to mention that at the recent session of the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization the document “Safety and security of navigation in the North-Eastern part of the Black Sea”, submitted by Ukraine and Georgia, was considered and it was agreed to begin monitoring situation with the security and safety of navigation in this part of the Black Sea.

Moreover, this September Ukraine officially served the Russian Federation with a notification of arbitration and statement of claim instituting ad hoc arbitral proceedings under the UNCLOS to vindicate its rights as the coastal state in maritime zones adjacent to Crimea in the Black Sea, Sea of Azov, and Kerch Strait.

Mr. President,

We would like to echo the latest report of the Secretary-General on Oceans and the Law of the Sea, which emphasizes that the ability of States to maximize benefits from oceans and seas and develop a sustainable ocean-based economy depends on maintaining and enhancing the security of maritime spaces. Given that, we condemn the incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea, transnational organized crime and terrorism in the maritime domain, trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and other maritime activities that threaten global stability, security and prosperity.

Though being encouraged by the achievements of the international community in countering maritime piracy, Ukraine wishes to underscore that no sustainable results are possible without dealing with the root causes of piracy and robbery at sea and bringing to justice perpetrators of such acts, as well as their organizers and facilitators on land.

We express our growing concern over the high number of incidents of piracy and armed robbery at the sea in the Gulf of Guinea. At the same time, we are glad to mention that the number of the same incidents at the sea off the coast of Somalia has fallen to the lowest it has been since 1995. We are proud that Ukraine actively contributed to this positive dynamic.

Mr. President,

To conclude, Ukraine urges coastal States, flag States and industry to make everything possible to ensure safety and security of maritime shipping, especially in the high risk regions. Ukraine stands ready to further cooperate with the UN Member States, IMO and other relevant actors with the view to achieving aforementioned goal in accordance with existing international obligations.

I thank you.