Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Law of the Sea Treaty Approved by Senate Committee

UNA-USA, October 31, 2007.

"The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today voted in favor of US ratification of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, a comprehensive treaty governing all uses of the world’s oceans. The 17 to 4 vote came several weeks after hearings at which senior State Department, Pentagon and Navy officials and ocean industries representatives testified in support of the treaty. Despite the outcome of the committee vote, and an appeal by President Bush for full Senate approval by the end of the year, it is not clear when the treaty may be considered on the floor.

"The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea entered into force in 1994 and has now been ratified by 155 countries. The treaty has been pending in the Senate for thirteen years, and was unanimously approved by the Foreign Relations Committee in 2004, but has never received a vote on the Senate floor."

Comment: I think it is about time to ratify the treaty. JAD.

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