The federal law provides that Russia will accede to the Agreement on the Privileges and
Immunities of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea adopted 23 May 1997 at the Seventh Meeting of the State Parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982.
The President introduced the federal law to the State Duma.
Accession to the Agreement is in the interests of the Russian Federation since it corresponds with Russia’s desire to strengthen principles such as the peaceful settlement of international disputes and the non-use of force or threat of force in violation of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter within international relations. Russia’s accession to the Agreement would make a significant contribution towards establishing the conditions whereby the Tribunal can fulfill its functions independently and efficiently, and would broaden the opportunities for cooperation between Russia and this prestigious international body that has already demonstrated its impartiality.
Moreover, Russia’s accession to the agreement would help strengthen Russia’s position as one of the world’s leading maritime powers.
The federal law “On Russia Becoming Party to the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea” was adopted by the State Duma on 8 May 2007 and approved by the Federation Council on 25 May 2007.