3 December 1982

Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 3067 (XXVIII) of 16 November 1973, 3334 (XXIX) of 17 December 1974, 3483 (XXX) of 12 December 1975, 31/63 of 10 December 1976, 32/194 of 20 December 1977, 33/17 of 10 November 1978, 34/20 of 9 November 1979, 35/116 of 10 December 1980 and 36/79 of 9 December 1981,

Taking note of the adoption, on 30 April 1982, of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the related resolutions by an overwhelming majority of States and of the decision of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, on 24 September 1982, to accept with appreciation the invitation extended by the Government of Jamaica for the purpose of adopting and signing the Final Act and opening the Convention for signature at Montego Bay from 6 to 10 December 1982,

Taking special note of the fact that the Conference decided to establish a Preparatory Commission for the International Sea-Bed Authority and for the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and that the Commission shall meet at the seat of the Authority if facilities are available and as often as necessary for the expeditious exercise of its functions,

Taking note of the extensive functions entrusted to the Preparatory Commission, including the administration of the scheme governing preparatory investments in pioneer activities relating to polymetallic nodules,

Recalling that the Convention provides that the seat of the International Sea-Bed Authority shall be in Jamaica,

Taking further note of the timely measures being taken by the Government of Jamaica at considerable expense in constructing an adequate administrative building and conference complex for housing the secretariat of the Preparatory Commission and providing meeting facilities for the purpose of enabling the Commission to function from Jamaica,

Recognizing the urgent need for the Preparatory Commission to be assured of adequate resources to enable it to discharge its functions efficiently and expeditiously,

Recalling also that in General Assembly resolution 35/116 the Secretary-General was requested to prepare and submit to the Conference, for such consideration as it deemed appropriate, a study identifying his future functions under the proposed Convention and that such a study was submitted on 18 August 1981,

Noting that, in the letter dated 7 September 1982 to the President of the General Assembly, the President of the Conference drew attention to the responsibilities which the Secretary-General was called upon to carry out under the Convention and the related resolutions and to the need for the Assembly to take the appropriate action to approve the assumption of these responsibilities by the Secretary-General,

Recognizing that, in accordance with the third preambular paragraph of the Convention, the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to be considered as a whole,

Recognizing the need for the Secretary-General to be authorized to assume his functions under the Convention and the related resolutions, including in particular the provision of the secretariat services required by the Preparatory Commission for its effective and expeditious functioning,

1. Welcomes the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the related resolutions;

2. Calls upon all States to consider signing and ratifying the Convention at the earliest possible date to allow the effective entry into force of the new legal regime for the uses of the sea and its resources;

3. Appeals to the Governments of all States to refrain from taking any action directed at undermining the Convention or defeating its object and purpose;

4. Accepts with appreciation the invitation of the Government of Jamaica for the purpose of adopting and signing the Final Act and opening the Convention for signature at Montego Bay from 6 to 10 December 1982;

5. Authorizes the Secretary-General to enter into the necessary agreement in this regard with the Government of Jamaica;

6. Reiterates its gratitude to the Government of Venezuela for the hospitality extended to the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea at its first substantive session, held at Caracas in 1974;

7. Approves the assumption by the Secretary-General of the responsibilities entrusted to him under the Convention and the related resolutions and also approves the stationing of an adequate number of secretariat staff in Jamaica for the purpose of servicing the Preparatory Commission for the International Sea-Bed Authority and for the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, as required by its functions and programme of work;

8. Authorizes the Secretary-General to convene the Preparatory Commission as provided in Conference resolution I of 30 April 1982, by which the Commission was established, and to provide the Commission with the services required to enable it to perform its functions adequately and expeditiously;

9. Approves the financing of the expenses of the Preparatory Commission from the regular budget of the United Nations;

10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its thirty-eight session on the implementation of the present resolution.