“l. The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, has prepared a series of publications and studies 1 for the purpose of facilitating a better understanding of the modem intemational law of the sea, as reflected in particular in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (hereinafter referred to as “the 1982 Convention”), f. and to provide guidance for the interpretation and application of its provisions as well as other rules, for the use by Govemments, specialized agencies ofthe United Nations system, academic institutions and other non-govemmental entities or individuals.
2. The present Handbook is aimed at facilitating the negotiating process to which States with adjacent or opposite coasts will ha veto resort in case of overlapping claims. It should not be viewed as an analytical study neither as a comprehensive textbook on all matters pertaining to the delimitation of maritime boundaries, including the settlement of disputes o ver such boundaries.”