SECRETARY-GENERAL INAUGURATES LAW OF SEA TRIBUNAL IN HAMBURG, AS TRIP TO GERMANY CONTINUES
Press Release
SG/T/2078
SECRETARY-GENERAL INAUGURATES LAW OF SEA TRIBUNAL IN HAMBURG, AS TRIP TO GERMANY CONTINUES
19961018 HAMBURG, 18 October -- Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, as he inaugurated the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea in Hamburg today, stated that the occasion was "a truly historic event". Created by the Law of the Sea Convention, the Tribunal is dedicated to solve through the rule of law disputes relating to the seas, oceans and seabed resources.At 9:40 a.m., local time, the Secretary-General arrived at the City Hall, where he was welcomed by the Mayor of Hamburg, Henning Voscherau. In the presence of the Foreign Minister of Germany, Klaus Kinkel, the Secretary- General was introduced to the President of the International Tribunal, Judge Thomas A. Mensah; the Vice-President, Judge Rodiger Wolfrum; and the remaining 19 judges. The 21 judges were elected by the States parties to the Law of the Sea Convention on 1 August. The Convention, which is deposited with the Secretary-General, entrusted him with the task of setting up the Tribunal.
The swearing-in ceremony of the International Tribunal started at 10 a.m. in the main chamber of the Hamburg City Hall. Judges entered the Great Banqueting Hall led by Hans Corell, United Nations Legal Counsel and Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs. After a statement by the Mayor of Hamburg welcoming the establishment of the International Tribunal, the Secretary-General delivered a statement in which he stressed that the establishment of the Tribunal marked a new era. (For the full text of the statement see Press Release SG/SM/6089-SEA/1530, issued today.)
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