UN Law of the Sea Convention (Washington)-The Law of the Sea Treaty pending in the US Senate has suddenly encountered significant opposition from certain politically conservative quarters. The offshore E&P industry has long supported ratification, but the opposition of former Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina long frustrated that goal. However, changes were made in the treaty and the Bush Administration has endorsed the treaty, which has already been ratified by 145 countries. Last October, Senator Richard Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, held hearings at which IADC and allied trades testified. It was thought the treaty would then proceed to easy ratification in the full Senate. Unfortunately, that hasn't panned out. Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe, chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, insisted on a hearing in late March to give the treaty's fiercest opponents a chance to attack it anew. That was followed in April by a hearing in the Senate Armed Sendees Committee, where the US Navy argued in favor of the treaty, asserting its benefits for national security. Senator Lugar wrote The Wall Street Journal to make his case for the treaty.
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