During his address at the plenary session, Ruslan Edelgeriyev emphasised that the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea remains a fundamental international legal instrument that ensures stability, predictability, and a fair balance of interests among all states.
He focused on the challenges facing the global community. To resolve them, three concrete Russian initiatives were proposed in the context of ocean governance: the establishment of a permanent scientific and intergovernmental dialogue on methods for restoring marine ecosystems; the creation of a global platform for pilot projects involving national committees of the UN Decade of Ocean Science; and the development of mechanisms to incentivise financing for marine ecosystem restoration. Russia also presented the results of its practical efforts in these areas.
On the sidelines of the conference, Ruslan Edelgeriyev held a number of bilateral meetings and consultations with representatives of friendly states. Discussions focused on key issues related to supporting Russia’s position, including the importance of a non-discriminatory approach to technology, the legitimate use of natural resources, the protection of states’ rights to national jurisdiction, and the need to promote a fair climate agenda.