Oceans and the law of the sea A/RES/72/73 III Meeting of States Parties 55. Welcomes the report of the twenty-seventh Meeting of States Parties to the Convention; 5 56. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the twenty-eighth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention from 11 to 14 June 2018, with full conference services, including documentation, as required; IV Peaceful settlement of disputes 57. Notes with satisfaction the continued and significant contribution of the Tribunal to the settlement of disputes by peaceful means in accordance with Part XV of the Convention, and underlines the important role and authority of the Tribunal concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Part XI Agreement; 58. Pays tribute to the important and long-standing role of the International Court of Justice with regard to the peaceful settlement of disputes concerning the law of the sea; 59. Notes that States parties to an international agreement relating to the purposes of the Convention may submit to, inter alia, the Tribunal or the International Court of Justice any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of that agreement submitted in accordance with that agreement, and also note s the possibility, provided for in the Statutes of the Tribunal and the Court, to submit disputes to a chamber; 60. Encourages States Parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to consider making a written declaration, choosing from the means se t out in article 287 of the Convention for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Part XI Agreement, bearing in mind the comprehensive character of the dispute settlement mechanism provided for in Part XV of the Convention; V The Area 61. Reiterates the importance of the ongoing elaboration and standardization by the Authority, pursuant to article 145 of the Convention, of rules, regulations and procedures to ensure the effective protection of the marine environment, for, inter alia, the protection and conservation of the natural resources of the Area and for the prevention of damage to the flora and fauna of the marine environment from harmful effects that may arise from activities in the Area; 62. Notes that, as at 10 August 2017, the Authority had approved 29 plans of work for exploration for marine mineral resources in the Area; 63. Notes with appreciation the decision taken by the Council of the Authority at its twenty-third session, to approve an application for extension of an approved plan of work for exploration for polymetallic nodules, pursuant to section 1, paragraph 9, of the annex to the Part XI Agreement; 33 64. Welcomes the progress of the work of the Authority on draft regulat ions for exploitation of mineral resources in the Area, takes note of the development of a __________________ 33 17-21819 See ISBA/23/C/15. 15/55