Paris, June 27 {No.2000-62}- Governmental experts representing some 100 governments from around the world will meet at Organization Headquarters, from July 3 to 7, to examine the Draft Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage which aims to protect valuable underwater cultural heritage (shipwrecks and archaeological sites) increasingly vulnerable to pillaging by treasure hunters as ever more efficient underwater excavation equipment becomes more accessible.

In many cases, pillaging has already led to the loss of material of inestimable value to the study of the origins and history of civilisations. However, existing maritime legislation, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, UNCLOS of 1982, does not adequately cover heritage protection.

This is the third meeting of governmental experts to discuss the Draft Convention. In 1999, the Second meeting of governmental experts decided to include the principles set out in the 1996 International ICOMOS Charter on the Protection and Management of Underwater Cultural Heritage in an Annex to the Draft Convention. The experts also stressed the importance of training and international co-operation and invited States to take all appropriate measures to limit damage and destruction to underwater cultural heritage immediately, even before an international convention is adopted.

Some remaining substantial issues are to be resolved during the coming meeting. Among them are questions concerning the regime to be applied to warships and the issue of control in maritime areas outside the territorial seas (the continental shelf and the so-called exclusive economic zone covering 200 marine miles from a State’s coastline).

Experts attending the meeting will include representatives of the United Nations Division of Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea (DOALOS), the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the International Centre for Conservation and Restoration of Monuments (ICOMOS), the World Underwater Federation and non-governmental organisations concerned by sea-issues. They will debate their States’ and organisations’ observations on, and amendments to, the Draft Convention. Their views will be integrated into a revised Draft Convention and report which will be submitted to the 31st session of UNESCO’s General Conference at the end of 2001.