Judge Alexander Yankov
(Member of the Tribunal since 1 October 1996; re-elected as from 1 October 2002; President of the Chamber for Marine Environment Disputes 1999–2002; Member of the Special Chamber formed to deal with the Case concerning the Conservation and Sustainable Exploitation of Swordfish Stocks in the South-Eastern Pacific Ocean)

Education: Graduated in Law, Faculty of Law, Sofia University (1951); Ph.D. in International Law, Sofia University (1963).

Academic Experience: Professor of International Law (1968–present), Head of the International Law Department (1980–1989), Sofia University; Member (1981–present), Head of the International Law Section (1988–1989), Vice-President in charge of social, political, legal studies and humanities (1988–1991), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; gave post-graduate and special courses on international law and law of the sea at Sofia University, many foreign universities and The Hague Academy of International Law.

Executive Experience: Vice-Chairman, National Oceanographic Committee of Bulgaria (1969–1998); Ambassador of Bulgaria to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1972–1976); Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to the UN in New York (1976–1980); Minister of Science and Higher Education (1989–1990).

Judicial Experience: Member of the Court of Commercial Arbitration at the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (1971–1987); Permanent Court of Arbitration, The Hague (1971–1998).

Member: International Ocean Institute, Malta (Vice-President); Executive Council of the International Law Association (1973–present); International Law Commission (1977–1996, Chairman 1984); Institut de droit international (1979–present); Advisory Committee on the Protection of the Sea, London (Vice-Chairman 1980–1996); Bulgarian Society for International Law (President 1980–present); National Assembly (the Parliament) of Bulgaria, Committee on the Elaboration of the Constitution, and Foreign Policy Committee (1986–1991); Union of Bulgarian Scientists (President 1987–1989); National Association for International Relations (President 1994–present); Independent World Commission on the Oceans, Lisbon (1995–1998); Bulgarian delegation to: UN General Assembly and the Security Council (1964–1984, Deputy Head), Legal Sub-Committee, UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction (Vice-Chairman 1968–1973), International Maritime Organization, Eighth Assembly, London (President 1973–1974), International Conference for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), London (Chairman of the Fourth Committee 1973), Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea (Chairman of the Third Committee 1973–1982), International Council of Environmental Law, Bonn (1976), Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (Vice-Chairman 1987–1991); Association internationale du droit de la mer (2001–present).

Publications: Author of numerous books, articles, monographs and publications in the field of international law, law of the sea, international organizations, international adjudication and international environmental law.

Honours: Honorary citizen of Bourgas, Bulgaria (1995); Doctor of Law (honoris causa), Free University of Bourgas, Bulgaria (1999).