A UNITED NATIONS General Assembly Distr. GENERAL A/RES/51/204 28 February 1997 Fifty-first session Agenda item 163 RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY [without reference to a Main Committee (A/51/L.56 and Add.1)] 51/204. Observer status for the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Stressing the importance of the uniform interpretation or application of the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,1 the agreements related thereto and any other agreement which may confer jurisdiction on the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, Aware of the need for States to settle any disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention by peaceful means, Welcoming the establishment of the Tribunal in Hamburg, Germany, Noting the decision of the Meeting of States Parties at its fifth session to seek observer status for the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in order to enable it to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly2 and the decision of the Tribunal at its first session to seek such observer status, 1 Official Records of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, vol. XVII (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.84.V.3), document A/CONF.62/122. 2 See SPLOS/14, para. 36. 97-76951 /...