浅论国际海底区域检查、遵守和执行机制的构建

On the Development of the Inspection,Compliance,and Enforcement Mechanisms for the International Seabed Area

检查、遵守和执行问题是《“区域”内矿产资源开发规章》谈判中各方高度关注的重点问题。《联合国海洋法公约》对“区域”内资源勘探开发“检查、遵守和执行”的机制框架、国际海底管理局各机构的相关职能分工以及检查员的权力和职能等进行了原则性规定。随着《“区域”内矿产资源开发规章》谈判的深入,各方对检查、遵守和执行问题仍存在诸多分歧,特别是在机制框架上提出了不同的构建方案。“区域”检查、遵守和执行机制应按照《联合国海洋法公约》既有的法律框架来建立和执行,应以渐进原则和成本效益原则为指导,坚持法律和技术委员会在机制框架中居于重要地位,坚持检查权的实施应严格限定于《联合国海洋法公约》的授权范围。

The issue of inspection,compliance,and enforcement is a key matter for all parties in the negotiation of the Regulations on Exploitation of Mineral Resources in the Area(hereinafter“Exploitation Regulations”).The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS)has provided the legal framework for inspection,compliance,and enforcement of resource exploration and exploitation in the international seabed area(the Area),the relevant functional division of various organs of the International Seabed Authority,and the powers and functions of the inspectors.With the deepening of negotiations on the Exploitation Regulations,there are still many differences among the parties regarding inspection,compliance,and enforcement issues,especially in the institutional framework proposed different schemes.The inspection,compliance,and enforcement mechanism for the Area should be established and implemented in accordance with the existing legal framework of the UNCLOS.It should be guided by the evolutionary approach and cost-effective principle,and insisting that the Legal and Technical Commission have an important role in the institutional framework.The implementation of inspection powers should be strictly limited to the authorized scope of the UNCLOS.