Monaco Explorations and the Principality’s actions to protect oceans and seas highlighted at UN

The Monegasque delegation, comprising Ms Marie-Catherine Caruso-Ravera, Director of Diplomatic and Consular Relations, H.E. Ms Isabelle Picco, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Monaco to the UN, Ms Valérie Bruell-Melchior, Deputy Permanent Representative, and Mr Florian Botto, Third Secretary at the Permanent Representation © DR

Ms Isabelle Rosabrunetto, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, accompanied by Ms Marie-Catherine Caruso-Ravera, Director of Diplomatic and Consular Relations, was in the United States from 4 to 8 December for working visits to various Monegasque diplomatic and consular missions.

In New York, she spoke on behalf of Monaco at a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) discussion devoted to the oceans and the law of the sea.

This was an opportunity to reiterate Monaco’s priorities, including implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14, ocean acidification, marine protected areas, combatting marine pollution and support for hydrography and marine cartography.

The importance of marine science and scientific collaboration was also a focus of the Director General’s speech, and she cited as examples the ports of call made by the Yersin in Madeira, Cape Verde and Martinique, in accordance with H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince’s vision of “reconciling humanity and the sea.”

The Principality also supports the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO’s initiative to declare 2021 to 2030 the Decade of Ocean Science.

Two UNGA draft resolutions (on the oceans and the law of the sea in a broad sense, and on sustainable fisheries) were adopted following debate.

UNGA is set to adopt a third resolution by the end of the year, which will convene an intergovernmental conference to develop a new international instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.