77 



working /'.roup or the holding of consultations among the most interested delegations 

 with u view to h.-irmonizinn the different positions. In response to that request, 

 "I carried out consultations on the subject and found that there was, at least for 

 the px'CBCiltj no agreement on the establishment of a working, negotiating or 

 consulting group for that purpose. 



6. The informal suggestion presented in the Committee for the first time by one 

 delegation was also given special attention in these discussions. The delegation 

 making the suggestion announced at the end of the meetings that it would hold 

 consultations with the other delegations which had shown an interest in it with a 

 view to submitting to the Committee in due course, for its consideration, a precise 

 formulation taking into account the comments that had been made on the subject. 



7. During these meetings , the delegations interested in some of the informal 

 suggestions made at previous sessions stated that they were continuing the 

 consultations aimed at finding generally acceptable formulae. 



8. As I said by way of summing up at the end of the last of these meetings, the 

 following conclusions may be drawn from these discussions: 



(a) There is a virtual consensus on the fact that it is not desirable or 

 practical to reopen discussion on the basic Gecond Committee issues, which, while 

 they do not in all cases represent a consensus , are the formulae that come closest 

 to commanding general agreement and that have been arrived at through -long and 

 arduous negotiations. 



(b ) It is possible to introduce, at 3'.:.e". time as the Conference may decide, 

 minor changes designed to supplement, clarify \-r improve the draft Convention, 

 always provided, of course, that they command the necessary support and will help 

 to facilitate acceptance of the text by the largest possible number of delegations. 



(c) Although some of the draft articles, as now worded, present difficulties 

 of various kinds for some delegations, the draft as a whole is acceptable to the 

 great majority of delegations. There are actually, in the view of a significant 

 number of delegations, very few questions that require further discussion and 

 negotiation. 



9. Lastly, it scemr. to me appropriate to note in this report that as Chairman of 

 the Second Committee I participated, along, with the iresiilcnt of the Conference and 

 the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, in three of the informal meetings '.'f the 

 ricnary to consider and adopt the reconimenaations of the Drafting Committee 

 concerning parts II to X of the draft Convention on the Law of the Sea (informal 

 text) (A/COffi.'.62/W]\10/Rev.3). 



D-949 O— 81- 



