The fourth meeting of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (Consultative Process) opens today at UN headquarters in New York and will continue until 6 June 2003. Delegates will convene in plenary sessions on Monday and Friday (2 and 6 June) to exchange views on areas of concern and actions needed, particularly in matters of cooperation and coordination on oceans issues, and identify issues for further consideration by the General Assembly. The Meeting is also expected to agree upon a draft text on elements to be suggested to the General Assembly for its consideration under its agenda item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea." In addition, two discussions panels will be held from Tuesday to Thursday (3-5 June) to consider safety of navigation, including capacity building for the production of nautical charts, and the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems.

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United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982.
Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development - Chapter 17.
Background and Reports on the work of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process.
Contributions to the upcoming 58th session of the UNGA: http://www.un.org/Depts/los/general_assembly/contributions58.htm and http://www.un.org/Depts/los/general_assembly/contributions_texts/58reportingmaterial.pdf.