Section D. The Registry
Article 32
1. The Tribunal shall elect its Registrar by secret ballot from among candidates nominated by Members. The Registrar shall be elected for a term of five years and may be reelected. 2. The President of the Tribunal shall give notice of a vacancy or impending vacancy to Members, either forthwith upon the vacancy arising or, where the vacancy will arise on the expiration of the term of office of the Registrar, not less than three months prior thereto. The President of the Tribunal shall fix a date for the closure of the list of candidates so as to enable nominations and information concerning the candidates to be received in sufficient time. 3. Nominations shall be accompanied by the relevant information concerning the candidates, in particular information as to age, nationality, present occupation, academic and other qualifications, knowledge of languages and any previous experience in law, especially the law of the sea, diplomacy or the work of international organizations. 4. The candidate obtaining the votes of the majority of the Members composing the Tribunal at the time of the election shall be declared elected.
Article 33
The Tribunal shall elect a Deputy Registrar; it may also elect an Assistant Registrar. Article 32 applies to their election and terms of office.
Article 34
Before taking up their duties, the Registrar, the Deputy Registrar and the Assistant Registrar shall make the following solemn declaration at a meeting of the Tribunal:
“I solemnly declare that I will perform my duties as Registrar (Deputy Registrar or Assistant Registrar as the case may be) of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in all loyalty, discretion and good conscience and that I will faithfully observe all the provisions of the Statute and of the Rules of the Tribunal”.
Article 35
1. The staff of the Registry, other than the Registrar, the Deputy Registrar and the Assistant Registrar, shall be appointed by the Tribunal on proposals submitted by the Registrar. Appointments to such posts as the Tribunal shall determine may, however, be
made by the Registrar with the approval of the President of the Tribunal. 2. The paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of the staff and in the determination of the conditions of service shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. Due regard shall be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. 3. Before taking up their duties, the staff shall make the following solemn declaration before the President of the Tribunal, the Registrar being present:
“I solemnly declare that I will perform my duties as an official of the International
Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in all loyalty, discretion and good conscience and that
I will faithfully observe all the provisions of the Statute and of the Rules of the
Tribunal”.