A/RES/53/32 Page 3 Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,5 and reaffirming the importance of the annual consideration and review by the General Assembly of the overall developments pertaining to the implementation of the Convention, as well as of other developments relating to the law of the sea and ocean affairs, 1. Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the Convention and the Agreement; 2. Reaffirms the unified character of the Convention; 3. Calls upon States to harmonize as a matter of priority their national legislation with the provisions of the Convention, to ensure the consistent application of those provisions and to ensure also that any declarations or statements that they have made or make when signing, ratifying or acceding are in conformity with the Convention and to withdraw any of their declarations or statements that are not in conformity; 4. Encourages States parties to the Convention to deposit with the Secretary-General charts and lists of geographical coordinates, as provided for in the Convention; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention in New York from 19 to 28 May 1999, during which, on 24 May, the election of seven judges of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (“the Tribunal”) will take place; 6. Notes with satisfaction that the Tribunal, established in accordance with annex VI to the Convention as a new means for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Agreement, delivered its first judgement on 4 December 1997; 7. Encourages States parties to the Convention to consider making a written declaration choosing from the means set out in article 287 for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Agreement, and invites States to note the provisions of annexes V, VI, VII and VIII to the Convention concerning, respectively, conciliation, the Tribunal, arbitration and special arbitration; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate lists of conciliators and arbitrators drawn up and maintained in accordance with annexes V and VII to the Convention and to update these lists accordingly; 9. Notes with satisfaction the progress in the work of the International Seabed Authority (“the Authority”), and emphasizes the importance of continued progress towards the adoption of the regulations on prospecting and exploration for polymetallic nodules; 10. Notes with appreciation the adoption of the Agreement concerning the Relationship between the United Nations and the Authority and the Agreement on Cooperation and Relationship between the United Nations and the Tribunal; 5 A/53/456. /...