Press Releases
Courtesy Call on Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA by Mr. Michael LODGE, Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority
February 19, 2024
On February 19, commencing at 3:40 p.m. for approximately 10 minutes, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, received a courtesy call from Mr. Michael LODGE, Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA). The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister KAMIKAWA stated that Japan attaches importance to the "rule of law" at sea and supports activities of the ISA for the maintenance and development of the maritime order based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Minister KAMIKAWA stressed the importance of the development of regulations on the exploitation of mineral resources in the Area that take into account both conservation of the marine environment and use of marine resources in activities in the Area. Minister KAMIKAWA also emphasized that Japan will contribute constructively to the discussion.
- In response, Secretary-General Lodge expressed his gratitude for the personnel and financial support that Japan has provided to the ISA and his hope for Japan's continued active engagement in ISA’s activities, including the development of regulations on the exploitation of mineral resources in the Area.
(Reference)International Seabed Authority (ISA)
ISA was established on November 16, 1994, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), with all States Parties to the Convention as its members. The Secretariat is located in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica. The main mission of the ISA is to manage mineral resources in the Area, which the Convention defines as "the common heritage of mankind," and to organize and control activities in the Area in accordance with the provisions of the Convention and the 1994 Agreement on the Implementation of Part XI of the Convention.