18Ü02I

JPRS 80868

20 May 1982

Worldwide Report

LAW OF THE SEA

No. 197

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JPRS 80868

20 May 1982

WORLDWIDE REPORT

LAW OF THE SEA

No. 197

CONTENTS

WORLDWIDE AFFAIRS

Briefs

USSR, Japan Salmon Protocol

ASIA

AUSTRALIA

1 Briefs

Island Fishing Rights

INDIA

Minister Answers. Questions on Law-of-the-Sea Meet

(THE HINDU, 2 Apr 82) .

MALAYSIA

Failure To Endorse Convention Will Damager U.S. Credibility

(Editorial; BUSINESS TIMES, 11 Mar 82)

PEOPLE!S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

'XINHUA' Hails Adoption of Law of Sea Convention

(XINHUA, 2 May 82)

PHILIPPINES

Law of Sea Treaty a Shaky Victory for Developing Nations

(Editorial; PHLIPPINES DAILY EXPRESS, h May 82)

- a - [III - WW - 136]
SOUTH KOREA

Briefs

Foreign Ministry on Treaty

EAST EUROPE

GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

Sea Law Delegate Comments on Convention Vote

(ADN, 2 May 82) 10

LATIN AMERICA

CHILE

Briefs

Beagle Talks Progress 11

JAMAICA

Plans for Law of the Sea Center Remain Doubtful

(CANA, 10 May 82) 12

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Briefs

Foreign Trawler Problem l£

NEAR EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

INTER-ARAB AFFAIRS

Saudi-Sudanese Deep Sea Mining To Begin

(AN-NAHAR ARAB REPORT & MEMO, 8 Mar 82) 16

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA

MP Blames Greed for Ruined Fisheries

(THE CITIZEN, i; May 82) 17

- b -
USSR

LOS Convention Adopted After 7 Years of Talks

(Vladimir Matyashj TASS, 2 May 82) 18

Soviet Envoy's Remarks at LOS Conference

(levgeniy Menkesj TASS, 29 Apr 82) 19

WEST EUROPE

SWEDEN

Coast Guard To Step Up Effort Against Illegal Fishing

(Hans 0. Alfredssonj SVENSKA DAGBLADET, 31 Mar 82) 20

TURKEY

Turkey Explains Vote Against Law of the Sea Agreement

(Ankara Domestic Service, 3 May 82) 21

- c -
WORLDWIDE AFFAIRS

BRIEFS

USSR, JAPAN SALMON PROTOCOL—Moscow, 23 Apr, TASS—Soviet-Japanese intergovernmental talks on the order and conditions of the Japanese salmon fishing in the

northwestern part of the Pacific in 1982 ended in Moscow today. The protocol

was signed on behalf of the Soviet side by the USSR minister of fisheries,

Vladimir Kamentsev, and on behalf of the Japanese side by the charge d'affaires

ad interim of Japan in the USSR, H. Ovada. [Text] [LD240110 Moscow TASS in

English 1612 GMT 23 Apr 82]

CSO: 5200/2073
AUSTRALIA

BRIEFS

ISLAND FISHING RIGHTS—Palm Island's Aboriginal Community Council has rejected

the State Government's land rights proposal. The council chairman, Mr Tommy

Geia, said yesterday the islanders wanted freehold title, mineral rights and

fishing rights in waters within 5 km of the coastline of the Palm group. "We

don't want some politicians or bureaucrats in Brisbane having the last say in

everything that happens on this reserve," Mr Geia said. "We want self-management, not government management," he said. The islanders wanted freehold

title, vested in the council, over the eight islands making up the present reserve, he said. They wanted control over mining, timber-cutting, tourism and

fishing activities on the reserve, he said. "The only way the Palm Islanders

can achieve what they want is to be in control of all matters concerning the

reserve," Mr Geia said. [Brisbane THE COURIER-MAIL in English 24 Mar 82 p 18]

CSO: 5200/7534
MINISTER ANSWERS QUESTIONS ON LAW-OF-THE-SEA MEET

Madras THE HINDU in English 2 Apr 82 p 9

INDIA

[Text] ' NEW DELHI, April 1..

The U.S. attitude In insisting on certain

amendments to the draft convention of the

law of the sea, which amounts to its going

back on its commitments, has resulted In a

stalemate and uncertainty about the adoption

of the convention and the signing of the treaty

on the basis of the consensus arrived at

earlier.

The U.S. stand aims at freeing private

international companies of all their obligations

to transfer their production of sea-bed wealth

to the international sea-bedauthority, proposed

to fos crGst©d ' •"

Mr. P. Shiv Shanker, Union Minister for

Petroleum, Chemicals and Fertilizers, gave this

Information hi the Lok Sabha today while

answering questions on behalf of Mr. P. V.

Narasimfia "Rao, Minister for External Affairs.

He said that .11 States, including Norway,

Sweden, Denmark, Ireland arid Iceland, at

the instance of Mr. Tommy T. B. Koh of

Singapore, president of the third U.N. conference on the law of the sea, are now trying

to so "moderate" these amendments as to

be acceptable to other countries.

But the mood of the other countries is

that the convention should be adopted and

treaty signed despite the U.S. and its allies'

opposition. ; :,'.• "' \

No surrender: Mr. Shiv. Shanker said that

India would not surrender the agreement.

However, this would depend upon the views

of the member-countries of the Group of 77.

At the U.N. convention, which ended in August

1981, all the countries including the Group

of 77 felt that they should go ahead with

the signing of the convention and the treaty.

The Minister hoped international pressure

would bring the U.S. round, but this might

turn out to be a "ptou9 hope."

At the 11th session of the third U.N.

conference on the law of the sea, now in

session in New York from March 8, 1982,

India as also the members of the Group.of

77 and other States are examining the U.S.

amendments and will try to persuade the

U.S. not to reopen the negotiations on the

fundamental aspects of the international regime

on which consensus has already been reached.

Effect of amendments: Mr. Shiv Shanker

said the effect of the five U.S.. amendments

would be to scrap the anti-monopoly provisions

In the convention.

Mr. Shiv Shanker said in his replies to

Mr. Bikhu Ram Jain, Mr. S. B. Sidnal, Mr.

Inderllt Gupta, Mr. Niren Ghosh and others

that the U.N. declaration of principles governing

' the sea-bed and the ocean floor and Jthc

sub-soil thereof beyond the limits of natlqna

jurisdiction, which declared the mtemattona'

(sea-bed area and its resources as the "comfflor

heritage of mankind", was adopted by \ntU.N. Assembly on December 17, 1980, »jrftt

a majority of 108 states in favour, none agajnsf

and 14 abstentions. India voted for the resolufton

and strongly supported it as a fundamental

principle of international law. i

CSO: 5200/7037
MALAYSIA

FAILURE TO ENDORSE CONVENTION WILL DAMAGE UtS, CREDIBILITY

Kuala Lumpur BUSINESS TIMES in English 11 Mar 82 p 22

[Editorial: "The Seas: Up To The U,S, Now"]

[Text]

rtfE negotiations on the Law of the Sea resumedlast

Monday with all eyes riveted on the United States.

Mter careful, compromise was worked «rat anl^$g

Eelegates almost 18 months ago, the Reag4n Adminitratton decided, shortly after Its Installation; to

review the: draft all over again,'thus effectively

preventing Its flnallsation. The less developed countries (LDCs) reluctantly gave in to American pleas

tor more time. This was a goodwill gesture to a new

ministration, even though both Republican *|liid

imocratte administrations in the past bad enjrsed the concept that the riches of the deep i»ea%ed

ere the common heritage of mankind. This year,the

_DCs, embittered by the deadlockIn the North-South

lialogue and the Reagan Administration's gtanCpn

kid and commoditles^are In ho mood to tolerate any

Further delaying moves by the Americans. At^pe

fieneva session last August, participants agreed thai

ill outstanding provisions, including those relätedjo

leep sea-bed mining — the root cause of American

Ussatistaction — must be resolved during this #Ssiion in New York. Although LDCs would prefer the

invention to be signed by all countries, Including

ihe United States,they are notwilling to bow to alßpjl

lemands merely for the sake of its participation.

EJDCs have served notice that they ire preparedt^jf*

thead with the treaty without American ehdeifse;

imnti '

,:

' ' '^ '

7

v"^"V

The Americans, therefore, must make tin th^Uf

ninds whether they want to Join. Oh the one hand,

dgnlng the treaty will mean that the Anierj0U

alning companies will have to share their''technology tor deep sea-bed mining with an international

(tody that will be set up to supervise the exploitation

in behalf of LDCs. On the other hand, other provisions of the draft treaty are essential to a maritime

Mwer like the United States, in particular those

insuring access through straits, archipelägic'iirators

md also through the exclusive economic tones, nipt

miy for commercial but also navalships and nuclear

Submarines. Moreover, as the president of the conference, Mr Tommy Koh of Singapore,polnted>ut, it

mould have been extremely difficult, in the absence

pf a draft convention, even for a superpower to stop

coastal states from extending their Jurisdiction over

internal waters, theexclusive economic zone and

continental shelf and front asserting a claim to all

resources contained therein. Even if the United

States has the naval capability to fore» its way

through these wafers, It will be politically difficult to

use military might against friendly nations and

allies, as Britain found to its cost in its cod war with

Iceland. Not surprisingly, the US Defence Der

Sartment is believed to,have recommended that

egotiatlong be resumed.

s The US will also have to consider the political fallput if it chooses to opt out of the convention. Such an

act will be regarded by the LDCs as a breach of faith

and willirreparably;damage the credibility of the US

i a negotiator. It may lead to doubts as to whetMsr

immitments by past administrations! are worth the

ipeir they are written on. Mftreover,moderate eöutties like Malaysia may well ask whether It is worth-

'hlie tobe conciliatory toacouhtry whichIs callousindifferent to the sentiments of the Third World.

ke Britain, France

_id West;C>erniäÄ|iaV|B passed, or are planning to

introduce, domestic legislation similar to that

iopted by the US which allows their corporations to

tine in the deep sea-bed, the US cannot rely on their

lupport if It decides not to Join the convention. West

Germany has already accepted the negotiating coii:

terence's proposal to locate the new deep sea-bed

authority in Hamburgh a decision which wouldjjg»

iulre it to be a party to the convention. It Is doubtful

nether Japan which relies on LDCs for raw matert

4s as well as marketing outlets would be prepared'.to!

lupport the US on this issue, v ; >

s

• *

CSO: 5200/8210
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

'XINHUA' HAILS ADOPTION OP LAW OF SEA CONVENTION

OW021958 Beijing XINHUA in English 1829 GMT 2 May 82

[Text] United Nations, May 1 (XINHUA) — After nine years of tough negotiations, a draft

convention on the law of the sea was adopted at the 11th Session of the Third U.N.

Conference on the Law of the Sea yesterday. 130 countries voted in favor, 4 (U.S.,

Turkey, Venezuela and Israel) against with 17 (including the Soviet Union, the Federal

Republic of Germany and the United Kingdom) abstentions.

The draft convention consists of 320 articles and 9 annexes dealing with most human uses

of seas and oceans, including shipping, fishing and resources exploitation. One of the

important provisions stipulates that every coastal state has the right to establish up to

12 nautical miles of territorial sea. An exclusive economic zone provision says that every

coastal state has sovereign rights in the waters up to 200 nautical miles from its coast

with regard to natural resources and certain economic activities and also has certain

types of jurisdiction over marine scientific research and protection and preservation of

marine environment. A provision stipulates that the continental-shelf of a coastal state

extends to a distance of 200 nautical miles, or 350 nautical miles under specific circumstances. The coastal state exercises over the continental-shelf sovereign rights

for the purpose of exploring and exploiting its natural resources.

The provision on land-locked states provides that these states shall have the right of

access to and from the sea.

The convention contains certain provisions guiding the use of territorial seas and straits

for international navigation.

Another important provision explicitly stipulates that the international sea-bed area and

its resources are the common heritage of mankind. It provides that a "parallel system

will be established for exploring and exploiting the deep sea-bed. Under the system, all

activities in the area would be controlled by the international sea-bed authority. This

authority would be empowered by states parties to the convention to conduct its own mining

operations through an organ called "Enterprise" and, at the same time, to contract with

private and state ventures to give them mining rights in the area. It also stipulates

that licensed miners must make payments ranging from 35 to 70 percent of their returns on

investment to the enterprise, and that they are obligated to transfer their technology

to the enterprise.

A few industrialized countries, the United States in particular, attempted to monopolize

the exploitation of trillion-billion dollars of minerals lying in the international seabed area by using their fabulous capital and advanced technology. Not long ago, the United

States introduced amendments on the draft convention's sea-bed provisions, calling in effect

for the renouncement of the principle which regards the international sea-bed area as the

common heritage of mankind. This unreasonable demand was categorically rejected by the

developing countries. The adoption of the draft convention is, as a whole, an outcome_of__
the long struggle waged by the Third World countries for equitable rights over seas and

oceans and against big-powers' hegemonic activities in these waters. At the same time,

it is also a compromised package that takes into account the interests of different

types of countries with different conditions.

The draft convention is expected to be signed at Caracas, Venezuela, in December.

(Shen Weiliang), vice-chairman of the Chinese delegation, said yesterday that the adoption

of a new convention on the law of the sea was the result of many years of negotiations

and consultations and represented only a first step toward the establishment of a new legal

order of the sea. There are still imperfections or even serious defects in quite a number

of provisions of the present draft convention, he added.

He said that the numerous developing countries should make continued efforts toward

defending the aims and principles of the convention and safeguarding their legal rights

and interests. He pointed out that, with regard to the international sea-bed regime,

the draft resolution on preparatory investment has' accommodated too much of the demands

of a few industrialized powers and provided privileges and priority status to these

countries and their companies. "We do not consider this appropriate," he said.

He pointed out that in order to safeguard the principle of the common heritage of mankind and the provisions of the convention, no country should enact 'unilateral- legislation in relation to deep sea mining. Any such act is illegal and null and void.

With regard to the question of the regime of the passage of warships through territorial

sea, he reiterated the Chinese Governments stand that the coastal state has the right

to require prior authorization or notification for the passage of foreign warships

through territorial sea in accordance with the laws and regulations of the respective

coastal state. "As to the questions concerning the definition of continental shelf

and the delimitation of sea areas between states with opposite or adjacent coasts, I

have already expressed our principles underlying these issues at the plenary meeting

of 31 March. My delegation maintains its previous position," he said.

CSO: 5200/2073
PHILIPPINES

LAW OF SEA TREATY A SHAKY VICTORY FOR DEVELOPING NATIONS

Manila PHILIPPINES DAILY EXPRESS in English 4 May 82 p 4

[Editorial]

[Text] THE RECENT adoption of the law of the sea treaty in the

United Nations — after eight years of exhaustive and sometimes

bitter deliberations - is a significant though still shaky victory for

the world's developing nations, including the Philippines.

Where once there was confusion and conflict among nations in

their arbitrary assertion of maritime rights, now there is at least a

framework in regulating the use of the oceans and in exploiting

seabed resources, including fish, oil and other minerals.

Despite opposition from the United States and a few other

countries which abstained or voted against the treaty, the

developing nations'claim to their territorial waters now has a,legal

foundation to stand.pn.

A country with a wide coastline and rich seabed mineral

resources, the Philippines is expected to derive major benefits

from the law of the sea treaty.

In assessing these benefits, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

Arturo M. Tolentino - chairman of the Philippine delegation to

the UN law of the sea conference - mentioned two concessions

which the country has won as a resuJt of the treaty's approval.

The first is the archipelago principle which internationally

stabilizes the Philippine claim of sovereignty over 170,000 square

nautical miles of waters around and between the nation's many

islands. .

The other concession is the exclusive economic zone rights

which gives the country jurisdiction over a belt of water 200

nautical miles wide around the archipelago.

With regard to the mining of seabed mineral resources by

international companies, the treaty stipulates that the income

from such venture will have to be shared with the host country.

Furthermore, the proceeds from such seabed exploitation are to

be distributed among developing countries under the principle that

the resources of the deep sea are the common heritage of

mankind.

The law of the sea treaty, however, could adversely affect the

interests of the more advanced countrjes^hohay^thea^ntagii
of technology and capital over the rest of the natiohs. Without the

agreement, these countries can exploit sea resources almost

without regulation in practically all corners of the globe to the

detriment of the developing world.

The conflict of views between the signatoriesand those opposed

to the treaty could pose a threat to the spirit of the treaty. With

their technology and capital, industrialized countries could exert

pressure on host countries for them to compromise, thereby sacrificing the tights they are supposed to enjoy.

Since no less than a concerted global action can assure the protection and just exploitation of the resources of the sea, a reconciliation of contrasting positions should be affected by both the developing and industrialized nations. If it falls short of this, let the

Jreatyjit least be respected by all.

CSO: 5200/5652
SOUTH KOREA

BRIEFS

FOREIGN MINISTRY ON TREATY—Seoul, May 3 (YONHAP)--A spokesman for the Foreign

Ministry said Monday that the UN conference-approved International Law of the

Sea Treaty was compatible with South Korea's existing agreements with Japan,

and reiterated Seoul's position that it is ready anytime to hold talks with

Beijing on matters pertaining to continental shelves and economic zones. The

spokesman said however, that, for security reasons, South Korea will continue

to require the prior notification of all vessels passing through its territorial

waters, including those ships that fall into the "innocent passage" category.

The International Law of the Sea Treaty, providing for a 320-km (200 miles)

economic zone in the waters surrounding each country, was approved by a UN conference Friday. Before it becomes effective, it must be ratified by at least

60 nations. The United States has voiced its opposition to the treaty. [Text]

[SK030842 Seoul YONHAP in English 0830 GMT 3 May 82]

CSO: 5200/2073
GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

SEA LAW DELEGATE COMMENTS ON CONVENTION VOTE

LD021130 East Berlin ADN International Service in German 0921 GMT 2 May 82

[Text] UN/New York — The 11th session of the UN Law of the Sea Conference on Friday

adopted the international convention on the Law of the Sea. One-hundred-and-thirty

states voted for the treaty and four, among them the United States and Israel, voted

against. Seventeen states, among them the GDR and the USSR, abstained, as did a number

of West European states, among them the FRG and Great Britain.

The head of the GDR delegation, Dr Guenter Goerner, said that the documents, on which the

vote was taken as a package, contained a resolution on advance investments for future sea

mining which gives the Western industrial states one-sided advantages. If there had been

a separate vote the GDR would have voted against the discriminating resolution, but for

the convention, its appendices and the other resolutions.

The head of the GDR delegation stressed that the convention would help strengthen peace,

security, cooperation and peaceful relations between all states. It is proof of the

possibility, in spite of a complicated international situation, of reaching agreements

on complex and urgent questions of vital interest for all states.

The final formulation of the convention is to be ratified at a final discussion by the

conference in September, and its signing left open until the end of the year in Caracas

(Venezuela). Ratification by at least 60 states is necessary before the convention can

come into force. __

CSO: 5200/2073

10
CHILE

BRIEFS

BEAGLE TALKS PROGRESS-.-Foreign Minister Rene Rojas Galdames has expressed his

satisfaction at the new momentum observed in the talks held by the Argentine

and Chilean delegations within the framework of the papal mediation. He said

the words of the holy father had instilled greater dynamism to the talks and

will thus make it possible for these talks, which had been stalemated, to move

at a new pace. He reported that he had talked by phone with Foreign Ministry

Under Secretary Ernesto Videla, who had briefed him on the talks. Rojas

Galdames ruled out for the time being the possibility of a meeting of the

Argentine and Chilean foreign ministers at the Vatican. He made these remarks

to newsmen after attending a meeting the president holds every Monday. [Text]

[PY271230 Santiago Chile Domestic Service in Spanish 1100 GMT 27 Apr 82]

CSO: 5200/2073

11
JAMAICA

PLANS FOR LAW OF THE SEA CENTER REMAIN DOUBTFUL

FL102211 Bridgetown CANA in English 2132 GMT 10 May 82

[Text] Kingston, Jamaica, 10 May (CANA)—Jamaica's plans to host the headquarters of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) could run into serious

problems if the United States, which voted against the United Nations Law

of the Sea convention, stays out and is able to [word indistinct] other

Western nations into drafting a mini-pact, according to a former deputy

chief of the U.S. negotiating team.

In August last year Jamaica was chosen as the site of the ISA headquarters

and the government is busily completing a temporary conference centre in

Kingston to host the first meetings of the preparatory committee of the ISA,

scheduled for early next year. The authority will be responsible for the

operation of the Law of the Sea treaty.

However, serious doubts over the effectiveness of any Law of the Sea developed

when, during the adoption vote last week, the United States, Israel,

Venezuela and Turkey voted against the treaty.

Seventeen countries, including almost the entire Soviet bloc, abstained,

adding to the concern over the future of the agreement.

Lee Rattina, who was up to 30 April still a member of the U.S. negotiating

team, told the GLEANER newspaper here that the four countries who voted

against adopting the convention were expected to contribute about 50 percent

of the budget of the ISA headquarters.

He added: "If the four countries stay out, the cost of the infrastructure

will be shared among the remaining countries, and that is a difficult financial burden. The French may want to sign the convention, but might not want

to pick up 25 percent share of the budget and may stay out of the treaty to

avoid the increased cost.

"This has serious implications for Jamaica and is something the Jamaican

Government should explore very rapidly."

Most of the more than 100 countries which voted in favour of the convention

were poor, under-developed nations.

12
Also important was the fact that the United States has been considering the

possibility of getting Western countries which have reservations about aspects

of the convention to join it in a separate pact.

The head of the U.S. delegation, James Malöne, told reporters in New York at

the weekend: "We certainly will continue to look very closely at this (a

mini treaty) with our allies which are possible near term deep sea miners.

Mr Rattina told the GLEANER that the U.S. campaign would begin within the

next three weeks.

At the centre of Reagan administration's objection to the treaty is the

limitations it places on arbitrary deep seabed mining by major companies,

and the relative preferences given to "the enterprise," which is to be the

entrepreneurial arm of the ISA.

They are also concerned with the technological transfer and profit sharing

arrangements that the treaty insists industrialised countries must undertake

with Third World states during seabed exploration on the grounds that the

seas were the common heritage of mankind.

The creation of a mini convention will be stoutly opposed by Third World

countries, as was indicated in New York last week by Law of the Sea conference Singapore's Tommy Kohn.

Kohn told reporters: "I want to tell you, and through you I want to tell

them, that I will take it upon myself to persuade the U.TSI. General Assembly

to adopt a decision asking the international court of justice for an advisory

opinion on whether such activities under unilateral legislation are lawful

or illegal."

If the court ruled on the mini-treaty, he added, "I would like to see whether

these Western countries which have been sermonizing to the Third World about

the rule of law will ask their consortia to stop such activities or whether

they will reveal themselves to be a bunch of greedy hypocrites."

The Soviet Union has so far not revealed its intentions, although last month

it said it would allow its state corporations to go-ahead with deep sea mining.

However, it was noted that they would not be ready for their ventures until

about the middle of the decade, and the Kremlin had said that it could

rescind its decree if a Law of the Sea convention was signed.

Jamaica is hoping that the events, sparked-off when the new Reagan administration last year called for a review of the draft treaty that had been

approved by its predecessor, will not end up in legal entanglements.

It will need 60 countries to ratify the convention for it to become operable,

and it was expected that signing would take place in September in Venezuela—

the country where the negotiations started and one which voted against adoption.

13
But with all the difficulties and because of the work still to be done, the

signing has been put back until December.

Said Jamaican Foreign Minister Hugh Shearer in Parliament here last week:

"It is our fervent wish that those countries which did not adopt the Law of

the Sea convention will find it possible to put it right in December."

CSO: 5200/2074

Ik
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

BRIEFS

FOREIGN TRAWLER PROBLEM—Local fishermen are incurring heavy losses because

foreign trawlers destroy their boats and fishing nets. This was revealed at

a meeting between the Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Food Production Mr.

Kamaluddin Mohammed and the New Port of Spain Fishing Co-operative, recently.

At the meeting, Mr Mohammed was told of the loss of nets through the passage

of foreign vessels and the destruction of fishing boats by foreign trawlers,

according to a release from the ministry. The delegation also discussed the

response of the Coast Guard to fishing boats and to fishermen missing at sea.

Another matter raised was the renovation of the new wholesale fish market in

Port of Spain. Mr. Mohammed has asked the National Fisheries Company to prepare and implement a programme for the "immediate rehabilitation" of the market which will eventually be used by fishermen. According to the release, the

delegation pointed to the urgent need for relocation of fishermen from the

existing market because of the deterioration of facilities there. The programme is to include refurbishing cold storage facilities, repair to buildings,

dredging of the sea front and security on the compound. The co-operative has

been invited by Mr. Mohammed to submit the names of a few persons in their membership for collaboration with officials of the ministry in the implementation

of the programme. [Port-of-Spain TRINIDAD GUARDIAN in English 9 Apr 82 p 12J

CSO: 5200/7532

15
INTER-ARAB AFFAIRS

SAUDI-SUDANESE DEEP SEA MINING TO BEGIN

Beirut AN-NAHAR ARAB REPORT & MEMO in English No 10, 8 Mar 82 p 7

[Text] Saudi Arabia and Sudan have agreed to begin work on a joint project

to mine minerals from the Red Sea. The agreement was signed three weeks ago

by Sudanese Energy Minister Sharif Mohammed Tihami while on a visit to Riyadh,

as this newsletter reported in its February 22 issue. Our London correspondent gives us further details of the project.

Saudi Arabia and Sudan are to press ahead with mining operations in the Red

Sea which could produce revenues of up to $80 million a year. The project

is being handled by the Saudi-Sudan Red Sea Commission, which is concentrating its efforts on the Atlantis IT deep. The muds in the deep contain a

variety of sulphide ores with up to 6 per cent zinc, 1.0 per cent copper and

0 1 per cent silver. The deep is believed to contain a total of about 1,700,000

tonnes of zinc, 400,000 tonnes of copper and4,000 tonnes of silver. The total

value of recoverable minerals is put at $3 billion.

Technology and equipment for mining the muds of the Atlantis II deep is being

developed by West Germany's Preussag, which has already carried out a pre-pilot

mining programme.

A pilot mining project is now envisaged, with possible full-scale mining operations then starting by 1990. The ores would be taken for processing to the

new Saudi industrial city of Yanbu. However, final costs have not been fully

calculated and these could amount to more than $200 million a year.

Saudi Arabia is footing the project's bill at this stage. Eventually, Sudan

is expected to contribute, with its share of costs being deducted from revenue. Share-out problems are not anticipated since Atlantis II is m a common

economic zone established by the two countries.

The muds are up to 30 metres thick and lie between 1,000 and 2,000 metres below

the surface. Initial fears that the pollution caused by the mining might pose

insuperable problems have been eased by provisional conclusions that the

discarded mud and chemicals used in the mining process can be properly disposed

of at such a depth.

CSO: 5200/5006

16
SOUTH AFRICA

MP BLAMES GREED FOR RUINED FISHERIES

Johannesburg THE CITIZEN in English 4 May 82 p 4

[From the "Parliament" page]

{Text] HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY. — Mr

Philip Myburgh

(PFP, Wynberg),

called for a judicial

commission of inquiry yesterday

into the destruction of marine resources in South

African and SWA

waters.

Speaking during the

debate on the Agriculture and Fisheries Budget vote, Mr Myburgh

said that, as a result of

exploitation, South

Africa today found itself with a fishing resource which had been

virtually ruined.

"Over: the years, the

sea has been open to

abuse and this government under various

ministers — I cannot include the present minister — has refused to

take action to protect

the resource," he said.

The factthat a White

Paper was presented

* years after the

Commission of Inquiry

into the marine resources completed its

work, was an indication

f two

of the lack of attention

paid to the fishing industry.

Mr Myburgh said he

suspected that the theories of scientist, Dr

Jan Lochner, regarding

the collapse of the pilchard resource in SWA

were never put to Dr A

P Burger, the scientific

adviser to the Prime

Minister, "in the same

form and manner as to

the commission."

Nowhere in the commission's recommendations was any reference

made to the need for

scientists to evaluate

the accuracy of Dr

Lochner's theory on

limits which could be

placed on the catch to

enable the resource to

maintain itself.

... "HI am correct in

the deduction that the

'correct .information

was not submitted to

Dr Burger, then this is

a clear, breach Of faith

by the Minister's der

partment, and certainly

places the Prime Minister's Advisory Councilin a very awkward position.

"Before the end of

this debate, the Minister (Mr Pietie du Piessis) should be able to

give us an answer on

this matter. Otherwise,

I suggest it should be

investigated inter-departmentally."

He said a newspaper

had run. articles which

pointed to greed and

over-exploitation as

having led to the destruction of the pelagic

fish resource.

"While direct allegations of corruption are

not made, it nevertheless looks as if certain

people were aware of

the destruction, but

that money and other

interests were more important than the protection of. our resources."

There were also numerous, newspaper reports on events taking

place in False Bay in

which so-called inspectors were bribed. Coverups and under-thecounter payments seemed t<? be the order of

; the day.

However, he believed

that these were only

the small fry.

"The big names behind this debcle in the

fishing industry must

be found somehow."

CSO: 5200/5651

17
USSR

LOS CONVENTION ADOPTED AFTER 7 YEARS OF TALKS

LD021106 Moscow TASS in English 1040 GMT 2 May 82

[By TASS news analyst Vladimir Matyash]

[Text] Moscow, 2 May, TASS — After more than seven years of intensive talks representatives

of more than 150 U.N. member-states have drawn up at their session in New York the first

ever International Law of the Sea Convention. The convention is scheduled to be signed in an

official ceremony in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, in December this year. Under the

agreement reached, it is to come into force a year after it is signed and ratified by 60

states. ;

This comprehensive international-legal document including more than 500 articles is called

upon to become an important instrument for the development of equitable and fruitful cooperation for the use of the expanses of seas and their resources, an instrument for strengthening

peace and law and order on seas and oceans. It will make it possible, in particular, to

regulate the peaceful uses of the resources of the world oceans, including the development j

of their resources. The point at issue are above all nickel, cobalt, copper, tungsten, j

manganese and other valuable metals. I

The agreements reached determine the boundaries of economic zones, where a tempestuous

development of economic activity by various states is observed, the regime and borders of

the continental shelf, stipulate the rules of navigation at sea and in the air, fishing on

high seas and territorial waters.

It is absolutely obvious that the coming of this convention into force will contribute to

the consolidation of peace and international security, strengthening of mutual understanding

and cooperation between states with different socio-political systems.

Only four states voted against the convention, including the USA and its closest militarypolitical ally Israel. Washington's negative stand has convincingly shown that the USA by

no means strives for the development of equitable cooperation between states in the exploration and use of the expanses and resources of the world ocean. Behind Washington's attempts

at sabotaging the convention are big American monopolies, which are pressing ahead for ensuring

for them an exceptional "right" to uncontrolled exploitation of seabed.

They on the banks of the Potomac have apparently set themselves the aim of torpedoing at any

cost any efforts by the world community aimed at the development of broad international cooperation. The imperial, hegemonistic course of the White House obviously totally fits into the

framework of the present-day adventurist aggressive strategy of the USA in the world arena,

a strategy whose aim is to aggravate international tensions and torpedo detente.

As far as the USSR's stand is concerned, in the opinion of our country, the conference has

succeeded in drawing up a good draft, convention albeit it does not fully take into consideration the interests of all states but at the same time is not in conflict with anybody's

interests. , \ ___ —

CSO: 5200/2073 18
USSR

SOVIET ENVOY'S REMARKS AT LOS CONFERENCE

LD291314 Moscow TASS in English 1050 GMT 29 Apr 82

[By TASS correspondent Yevgeniy Menkes]

[Text] New York, 29 Apr, TASS -.- The delegates of the Western powers, above all the

United States, at the session of the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the

Sea, which is ending here, are making the last attempts at bargaining for additional advantages for the transnational corporations that survey and exploit minerals at the bottom

of the sea. It was precisely under Washington pressure that provisions were included in

the working document, prepared by the conference chairman and discussed at the plenary

meeting of the session, under which discriminatory provisions against the USSR and a number

of other countries would be introduced in the final text of the draft international convention on the Law of the Sea. They deal with the question of regulating preliminary capital

investments in initial activities connected with polymetallic concretions.

Many speakers in the debates at the plenary meeting expressed their principled objections

to such provisions, pointing out that they objectively did not reflect the necessary

equality between the principal potential prospectors and exploiters of metalbearing concretions .

It follows from such a proposal that some states would be able to obtain rights which

should be granted only by the convention without even signing it, Deputy Foreign Minister

of the USSR S.P. Kozryev, the head of the Soviet delegation at the session, said. An

imbalance between the rights and duties of such states would, of course, arise. Some

countries, such as the USSR and also India and France, are bound to sign the convention,

while the United States, Britain, the FRG, Japan and others are not bound to sign it.

This discriminates against states which obtain protection of preliminary capital investments only in conditions of their signing the convention. This approach arouses anxiety

of the delegations from developing countries, the anxiety which we fully have shared and

do share.

Re-emphasizing the importance of strict observance of the principle of equality in

determining the regime for prospecting and exploiting the resources of the world ocean,

the head of the Soviet delegation appealed to the participants in the conference not to

press for the further introduction of any changes in the official draft convention.

The stand of the Soviet delegation met with full understanding and support of many socialist

and developing states. The rights of states to access to the resources of the sea bottom

are adequately safeguarded in the draft convention and supplements to it, and there is not

the slightest need of any changes or additions since this would create an imbalance in the

future activity of the new international bottom of the sea agency, which is now being set

up, said Abdul Koroma, the permanent representative of Sierra Leone at the United Nations.

This would also legalise laws, unilaterally enacted by such countries as the United States,

Britain and the FRG, on the regulation of the production of concretions in deep water regions

which J^__C9jnference Jiadjopposed. .

CSO: 5200/2073

19
SWEDEN

COAST GUARD TO STEP UP EFFORT AGAINST ILLEGAL FISHING

Stockholm SVENSKA DAGBLADET in Swedish 31 Mar 82 p~ 6

[Article by Hans 0, Alfreds-son]

[Text] The coast guard will be better equipped to combat Illegal fishing In

the Swedish Baltic Sea zone. This was indicated by Trade Minister Björn Molin

(Liberal Party) at a question-and-answer session in parliament on Tuesday,

Molin referred to a bill recently proposed by the government concerning

participation by the Customs Office in policing Swedish waters. According to

the proposal, the coast guard would have practically the same rights as police,

for example to force foreign vessels into port and to interrogate the crew.

It is suggested that the law go into effect on 1 July.

The trade minister answered a question from Jens Eriksson (^Conservative Party)

on illegal fishing in the Baltic Sea. Eriksson asked what the government

intended to do to create law and order in the Swedish economic zone«

Just several weeks ago a fishing boat from Gotland was forced to pay heavy

fines after entering Soviet waters and it was, in part, for this reason that

Eriksson asked the question.

Greater Resources

Bjorn Molin stressed that the Customs Office had received greater resources

for surveillance since the fishing zone was expanded on 1 January 1978. He

also reported on existing penalties and current practice.

"This only gives us an idea of the lack of Interest and the powerlessness we

feel while attempting to protect Swedish fishing interests,wJens Eriksson

said. The problem, of course, is that the coast guard cannot force illegal

fishing vessels into port,

Bjorn Molin maintained that the government's proposal would give the Customs

Office the authority sought by Jens Eriksson.

9336

CSO: 5200/2063

20
TURKEY

TURKEY EXPLAINS VOTE AGAINST LAW OF THE SEA AGREEMENT

TA031115 Ankara Domestic Service in Turkish 1000 GMT 3 May 82

[Text] Foreign Ministry spokesman Ambassador Nazmi Akiman has said that the

agreement approved at the UN Law of the Sea Conference has provisions which

are incompatible with Turkey's vital and legal rights and interests in the

Aegean Sea. Akiman said: Turkey has voted against the agreement in a bid to

decisively express its determination to defend its vital and legal rights and

interests. Akiman made a statement on the issue following journalists'

questions on the Law of the Sea agreement. Akiman recalled that Turkey made

positive contributions to the preparation of the agreement with the belief

that it would secure a just and lasting order in the seas, solve existing

and possible differences and receive universal acceptance. Noting that

despite these efforts the text of the agreement contains provisions incompatible with Turkey's legal rights and interests in the Aegean Sea, Akiman said

that in addition to various proposals on amendments a proposal enabling the

inclusion of a reservation to the agreement was also rejected. The spokesman added that Turkey voted against the agreement following these rejections.

He said: At this stage, it is out of the question for Turkey to sign the

agreement.

Akiman said that the agreement contains provisions which will secure various

economic benefits to developing countries but that the practical value of

these provisions diminishes in view of the distribution of the votes. [as

heard] Akiman concluded by saying that it is unthinkable that vital interests concerning national security be exposed to dangers because of various

economic interests.

The agreement adopted at the UN Law of the Sea Conference on Friday allows

the concerned countries to extend their territorial waters to 12 miles,

their economic zones to 200 miles and their continental shelves up to 350

miles. The agreement also contains a provision saying that islands can have

territorial waters and continental shelves just as the mainlands. The agreement also envisages the free passage of all vessels, including warships,

through straits. The agreement, which will be open to signatures in

December, will go into effect 1 year after it is signed by at least 60

members.

CSO: 5200/5310 END

21