International Law and Treaties
Courtesy Call on Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio by Mr. Albert J. Hoffmann, President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS)
May 25, 2023
On May 25, from 1:55 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio received a courtesy call from Judge Albert J. Hoffmann, President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), who was visiting Japan. ITLOS Judge YANAI Shunji and Mr. HORINOUCHI Hidehisa, Ambassador of Japan for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) were also present during the courtesy call. The overview of the courtesy call is as follows.
- At the outset, Prime Minister Kishida welcomed the visit of President Hoffman, and stated that we have reaffirmed on the importance of the free and open international order based on the rule of law at the G7 Hiroshima Summit. Prime Minister Kishida also stated that Japan calls for the “three principles of the rule of law at sea” and highly appreciates the role of ITLOS in the peaceful settlement of maritime disputes under the leadership of President Hoffman.
- Prime Minister Kishida also stated that Japan has been continuously producing members of ITLOS since its establishment and that Japan nominates Ambassador HORINOUCHI Hidehisa as a candidate for the election of the members of ITLOS to be held in June this year. Prime Minister Kishida further stated that Japan will not spare for cooperation with ITLOS.
- In response, President Hoffman stated that he highly appreciates the leadership of Prime Minister Kishida towards maintaining the international order based on the rule of law, in particular the G7 Hiroshima Summit, and that ITLOS plays its own role as a tribunal responsible to realize the rule of law at sea. President Hoffman also mentioned that ITLOS will continue to cooperate with Japan which has produced its members since its establishment.