June 5, 2004

Good Progress in Talks on Maritime Tribunal

Stabroek News

Guyana 's legal team has reported good progress in the talks between Guyana and Suriname and the President of the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea, Judge Dolliver Nelson. The talks took place in London on Saturday May 29 and were a follow-up to an earlier meeting with Judge Nelson in Hamburg, Germany.  At Saturday's meeting, according to a release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the legal teams representing the two governments had conversations exploring activities of a practical nature consistent with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.  The release said the meeting was part of the process of the Arbitral Tribunal that will adjudicate Guyana 's claim with respect to its maritime boundary with Suriname.  It also said, "It is hoped that the constitution of the Tribunal will be completed shortly."

On February 24, Guyana invoked the provisions of Article 287 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to obtain a legally binding decision of the maritime boundary between the two countries.  Guyana has also asked for a number of provisional measures pending the determination of the proceedings before the Tribunal. These include orders that would prevent the Surinamese authorities from harassing Guyanese fishermen operating in the Corentyne River and that would allow it to explore and exploit the hydrocarbon and other resources in the area of its maritime territory that Suriname is claiming as its own.

Former Attorney General and Commonwealth Secre-tary General Sir Shridath Ramphal is leading Guyana's legal team which includes US-based attorneys Paul Richler and Payan Akhavan.