Press Releases
Courtesy call on Foreign Minister HAYASHI Yoshimasa by Mr. Albert J. Hoffmann, President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS)
May 25, 2023
On May 25, at 3:45 p.m. for approximately 15 minutes, Foreign Minister HAYASHI Yoshimasa received a courtesy call from Judge Albert J. Hoffmann, President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) during his visit to Japan. ITLOS Judge YANAI Shunji and Mr. HORINOUCHI Hidehisa, Ambassador of Japan for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea were also present during the courtesy call. The overview of the courtesy call is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Hayashi expressed his honor to welcome the visit of President Hoffman and stated that Japan attaches great importance to maintaining and developing the maritime order based on the rule of law. Minister Hayashi also told that he highly appreciates ITLOS’s contribution to the peaceful settlement of maritime disputes and that Japan will continue to cooperate with ITLOS.
- Minister Hayashi also stated that ITLOS has made a significant contribution to the maintenance and development of the maritime order based on the rule of law by making timely and insightful judgments in the peaceful settlement of maritime disputes, particularly during the 18 years of President Hoffmann’s tenure, while the international community currently faces many issues related to the law of the sea in recent years. Minister Hayashi again paid tribute to the leadership of President Hoffmann.
- In response, President Hoffmann expressed his gratitude for Japan's support and contributions to ITLOS. President Hoffmann also stated that he highly appreciates Japan's contribution to the maintenance of the international order based on the rule of law, through outreach to the Global South, and told that ITLOS will continue to cooperate with Japan.