The 1991 treaty is still in dispute, beginning with the fact that The Soviet Union (the other party to the Treaty) never ratified it, a common prerequisite in treaty law, or any contractual relationship.
See: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=70902
Just posted a few days ago.
Regardless, there is significant lack of legal knowledge about that treaty and what it means and how it works.
(for example it provides for the USA to select arbitration of disputes in the USA rather than any foreign tribunal thus answering the soveriegnty issues.)
I am just amazed how many people confuse the 1980 (non-starter) treaty with the later treaty that addressed these oil and resource issues.
I know we did not ratify the UNCLOS treaty. I am refering to bilateral treaties with the old USSR which Russia assumed. (much like how Russia assumed the USSR’s permanent seat on the security counsel)
Nice try, but obviously the author of this article is only familiar with posturing rather than substance of the treaty and its impact.
just so you know (no need to argue here)
This is article 81 of the UNCLOS (aka LOST)
-— - — —— -
Article 81
Drilling on the continental shelf
The coastal State shall have the exclusive right to authorize and regulate drilling on the continental shelf for all purposes.
http://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/part6.htm
rest of the treaty is here:
http://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/UNCLOS-TOC.htm