The National Assembly authorizes the ratification of three texts for the management of international disputes and the protection of the environment

The President of the National Assembly, Yawa Djigbodi Tsègan, chaired, Thursday, May 4, the work of the 3^e plenary session of the 1^re ordinary session of the year, devoted to the adoption of three bills. These texts adopted unanimously by the deputies present authorize Togo’s accession to the ” Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea “, to the “International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas ” et al’ ” Agreement on the establishment of the Global Green Growth Institute “. The meeting was held in the presence of the Ministers Katari Foli-Bazi in charge of the Environment and Kokou Tengué of the Maritime Economy.

Togo is a signatory to a number of agreements which have already been ratified. On the other hand, others were still waiting to be. This is the case of the ” Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea “, adopted on May 23, 1997, of the “ International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas » of May 14, 1966 and the « Agreement on the establishment of the Global Green Growth Institute », adopted on June 20, 2012 in Rio de Janeiro. Concerned about the certain advantages that Togo can derive from adhering to these three instruments, the deputies met yesterday in their plenary session during which they authorized their ratification. They reflect Togo’s commitment to work to modernize the country and raise it to the rank of model States.

With particular regard to the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, it allows the tribunal to enjoy, on the territory of each State party, the capacity, privileges and immunities necessary to exercise its assignments. The agreement also aims to harmonize the interpretation of the tribunal’s provisions and facilitate access to dispute resolution. It is an independent judicial body to hear disputes to which its interpretation and application could give rise. For Togo, joining this mechanism makes it possible to benefit from the potential services of this court (in the event of failure of negotiations), within the framework of the delimitation of its maritime borders, especially that it has undertaken for a few years , negotiations with neighboring countries, such as Benin and Ghana. According to the explanatory memorandum, ratification is necessary, because Togo has accepted the jurisdiction of this tribunal as being one of the jurisdictional mechanisms for the settlement of any disputes relating to the interpretation or application of the Convention.

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With regard to the Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, it aims to set up a commission called, ” the international commission for the conservation of tunas and other similar species in the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas. More precisely, it is a question of collaborating to maintain tuna populations at sustained levels of performance, for food purposes. At the national level, Togo’s accession to the convention makes it possible to develop the fishing sector, to ensure optimal and sustainable management of fishery resources and to fight against illegal fishing. It will also contribute to strengthening cooperation at the international, regional and sub-regional levels in the control of fishing activities in the waters under its jurisdiction.

…and UFC called on their respective deputies to vote on the text.

Assistance in mitigating the effects of climate change

The Global Institute for Green Growth was created on June 20, 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, with the aim of promoting a new model of economic growth called ” green growth “. For the parties to this agreement, it is a question of reconciling economic growth and environmental sustainability, of developing and implementing low-carbon growth policies. In Togo, this 28-article agreement makes it possible to benefit from the technical assistance of the global institute for building the capacity to mobilize additional financial resources to the budget. This commitment will also contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change and implementing initiatives for the transition to a resilient national economy.

Following the adoption of the three texts, the Ministers of Maritime Economy, Fisheries and Coastal Protection, Kokou Tengué, welcomed the commitment of the National Assembly to support the government in its actions to integrated development of the country, by providing it with essential tools to enable it to stay the course of the realization of its roadmap”. According to him, these authorizations constitute means of supervising the development of industrial fishing, by regulating its activities in full expansion, of providing appropriate responses to the conflicting situations arising from the interpretation of the texts of the court and of better preparing for take advantage of the financial resources available for green growth.

The President of the National Assembly, Yawa Djigbodi Tsègan, for her part, congratulated the government for its promptness in anticipating events and promoting sustainable growth.

Moreover, MEPs took the opportunity to receive full explanations on the efforts to protect the seedlings planted during the various reforestation campaigns, on the understanding that very soon, on 1^is June, this campaign will be in its third edition.

Zeus POUH-PEKA