UN SECRETARIAT CIRCULATES QUESTIONNAIRE ON STATE

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001118 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNGA SUBJECT: UN SECRETARIAT CIRCULATES QUESTIONNAIRE ON STATE PRACTICE REGARDING OIL AND GAS ¶1. This is an action request. Please see para 4. ¶2. The UN Secretariat has sent a diplomatic note to USUN, transmitting a questionnaire prepared by the International Law Commission (ILC),which seeks information on State practice regarding oil and gas (para 3). The ILC prepared the questionnaire in connection with its decision to study issues concerning oil and gas under the topic "Shared natural resources." The Secretariat has asked States to submit responses to the questionnaire by no later than February 28, ¶2008. ¶3. Begin text: Shared Natural Resources The Commission intends to study issues concerning oil and gas under the topic "Shared natural resources". It would be useful for the Commission in the consideration of these issues to be provided with relevant State practice, in particular treaties or other arrangements existing on the subject. The Commission therefore welcomes the input of Governments on the following questionnaire. Questionnaire ¶1. Do you have any agreement(s),arrangement(s) or practice with your neighboring State(s) regarding the exploration and exploitation of transboundary oil and gas resources or for any other cooperation for such oil or gas? Such agreements or arrangements should include, as appropriate, maritime boundary delimitation agreements, as well as unitization and joint development agreements or other arrangements. Please provide a copy of the agreement(s) or arrangement(s) or describe the practice. ¶2. Are there any joint bodies, mechanisms or partnerships (public or private) involving exploration, exploitation or management of the transboundary oil or gas? Please provide information describing the nature and functioning of such arrangements, including governing principles. ¶3. If the answer to question 1 is yes, please answer the following questions on the content of the agreements or arrangements and regarding the practice: (a) Are there any specific principles, arrangements or understandings regarding allocation or appropriation of oil and gas, or other forms of cooperation? Please provide a description of the principles, provisions, arrangements or understandings; (b) Are there any arrangements or understandings or is there any practice regarding prevention and control of pollution or regarding other environmental concerns, including mitigation of accidents? Please provide further description. ¶4. Please provide any further comments or information, including legislation, judicial decisions, which you consider to be relevant or useful to the Commission in the consideration of issues regarding oil and gas. ¶5. Are there any aspects in this area that may benefit from further elaboration in the context of the Commissions work? Please indicate those aspects. End text. ¶4. Please provide a response, if appropriate, to Mission by February 25, 2008, at the latest. Khalilzad