STATEMENT BY

Mr. Chairman, 

As this is the first time my delegation is taking the floor, please allow me to first congratulate you on your election as Chairman of the Committee.  We are confident that under your leadership the Committee will achieve success in its work.  We would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate other members of the Bureau.   

Mr. Chairman,  

You may be assured of the full cooperation of my delegation in the work of this committee. 

Mr. Chairman, 

On the observer status of the International Hydrographic Organization in the General Assembly, my delegation would like to express our support for the draft resolution before us this morning.  As a co-sponsor of this resolution, we believe the International Hydrographic Organization has an important role in contributing to the development of ocean affairs and the work of the United Nations in this regard.  My delegation considers the cooperation between the International Hydrographic Organization and the United Nations as indeed valuable to the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.  This is evident from the regular involvement of the International Hydrographic Organization in the work at meetings of the States parties to the Convention and the open-ended informal consultative process on the law of the sea established by resolution 54/33.  Indeed Malaysia has benefited from being a member of the International Hydrographic Organization and in participating in its activities.  The expertise obtained has assisted in fulfilling our obligations under the Convention. 

Therefore, Mr. Chairman, 

We believe that allowing the International Hydrographic Organization to participate in the sessions of the General Assembly will facilitate its closer cooperation with the United Nations and enhance the quality of United Nations activities in particular in the field of marine science  as well as training and capacity building of member states in ocean affairs. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman

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