Nepal formally appoints permanent representative to International Sea Level Authority

NEW YORK:- Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lok Bahadur Thapa, presented his credentials to Leticia Reis de Carvalho, Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority, in Kingston, Jamaica, today.

The Secretary-General extended a warm welcome and congratulations to Ambassador Thapa on his appointment as Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the ISA and pledged full cooperation. She also reiterated her commitment to working with all member states, including Nepal, to promote a sustainable, inclusive, and equitable governance regime for the international seabed area in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

During the meeting, Ambassador Thapa reiterated Nepal’s firm commitment to the mandate and objectives of the International Seabed Authority. He also emphasized the importance of the effective implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Agreement under UNCLOS on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ).

Thapa highlighted the importance of the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, the effective protection of the marine environment, and the equitable management of the international seabed area. Ambassador Thapa placed special emphasis on the need to ensure the meaningful participation of all nations—including landlocked developing countries—in decision-making processes and the sustainable use of resources in that area, in accordance with the principle that the region and its resources constitute the common heritage of mankind. He also underscored the necessity of expanding support to developing nations, including landlocked developing countries.

Initiatives such as knowledge exchange, transfer of marine technology, and capacity building will be advanced with the aim of enabling countries like Nepal to participate effectively in the work of the ‘Authority’ and contribute to the sustainable management of the region. In this regard, the Secretary-General responded positively and assured the Ambassador of his full support.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an autonomous international organization established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of UNCLOS. This marks the first time Nepal has formally appointed a Permanent Representative to the International Seabed Authority; this move underscores Nepal’s commitment to strengthening its engagement with the Authority and contributing to the sustainable management of the international seabed area—the common heritage of mankind.