Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice Endorses Law of the Sea

At her January 18, 2005 confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice endorsed the Law of the Sea Treaty. Below is an exchange between Chairman Lugar and Dr. Rice.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar: In your answers to questions for the record -- and I cite that because I've asked this question for the record and you have responded -- I particularly appreciate your response on the Law of the Sea Convention.

You urged the committee to favorably report it out and said that you will work with the Senate leadership to bring the convention and implementing agreement to the floor vote in the 109th Congress.

And you also said the following: "Joining the convention will advance the interests of the United States military. The United States, as the country with the largest coastline and the largest exclusive economic zone, will gain economic and resource benefits from the convention. The convention will not inhibit the United States nor its partners from successfully pursuing the Proliferation Security Initiative. And the United Nations has no decision-making role under the convention in regulating uses of the oceans by any state party to the convention."

That's clearing up an issue sometimes raised by opponents of the convention.

Finally, you said, "The convention does not provide for or authorize taxation of individuals or corporations."

I cannot think of a stronger administration statement in support of the Law of the Sea Convention. Should I assume that the president would like to see this convention passed as soon as possible?

RICE: He would certainly like to see it pass as soon as possible.

And, Senator, I think you know the history of this better than I, as well as senators like Senator Warner and others who worked very hard to make sure that some of the early concerns about the convention were addressed and that the convention as it now stands serves our national security interests, serves our economic interests. And we very much want to see it go into force.