Current Prospects for UNCLOS

Yesterday, I noted a Wall Street Journal article on the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf and noted the reported conclusion of a senior State Department official that Senate advice and consent this year "appears unlikely." Now comes a report that that official says that the Journal's characterization of his or her views is incorrect. Scott Paul, who has lobbied for the Convention's approval, quotes an email from the official, as follows: "I told the reporter that our official position was that we were very hopeful of getting the treaty through the Senate this year. Then he probed about obstacles in our way, like the election year, the strong lobbying efforts by opponents, the opposition by GOP candidates (there were more than one at the time), etc. His spin on my responses was a lot more negative than I expected." Paul adds: "knowing this individual and his/her outlook on the Convention's prospects, I also happen to know that it [the Journal's characterization of the official's views] is wrong."