Topic:Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country
Sponsors:Argentina, Germany, Japan, SouthAfrica, The United States of America Signatories: Azerbaijan, Brazil, Bangladesh, Barbados, Croatia, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Jamaica, Zimbabwe, etc.
The General Assembly,
Having considered the report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country,
Recalling article 105 of the Charter of the United Nations, the Convention on the privileges and immunities of the United Nations, the agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the headquarters of the United Nations and the responsibility of the host country,
Recalling also that, in accordance with paragraph 7 of General Assembly resolution 2819 (XXVI) of 15 December 1971, the Committee should consider, and advise the host country on, issues arising in connection with the implementation of the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the headquarters of the United Nations,
Recognizing that effective measures should continue to be taken by the competent authorities of the host country, in particular to prevent any acts violating the security of missions and the safety of their personnel,
1. Endorses the recommendations and conclusions of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country contained in paragraph 86 of its report;
2. Considers that the maintenance of appropriate conditions for the normal work of the delegations and the missions accredited to the United Nations and the observance of their privileges and immunities, which is and issue of great importance, are in the interest of the United Nations and all Member States, and requests the host country to continue to solve, trough negotiations, problems that might arise and to take all measures necessary to prevent any interference with the functioning of missions; and urges the host country to continue to take appropriate action, such as training of police, security, customs and border control officers, with a view to maintaining respect for diplomatic privileges and immunities and if violations occur to ensure that such cases are properly investigated and remedied, in accordance with applicable law;
3. Notes the problems experienced by some permanent missions in connection with the implementation of the Parking Programme for Diplomatic Vehicles and shall remain seized of the matter, with a view to continuing to maintain the proper implementation of the Parking Programme in a manner that is fair, non-discriminatory, effective and therefore consistent with international law, and also notes the decision of the Committee to conduct another review of the implementation of the Programme during the sixty-first session of the General Assembly and, subject to its outcome,will proceed accordingly;
4. Requests the host country to consider removing the remaining travel restrictions, notes that during the reporting period some travel restrictions previously imposed by the host country on staff of certain missions and staff members of the Secretariat of certain nationalities were removed, and, in this regard, notes the positions of affected States as reflected in the report of the Committee, of the Secretary General and of the host country;
5. Notes that a number of delegations have requested shortening the time frame applied by the host country for issuance of entry visas to representatives of Member States, since this time frame poses difficulties for the full-fledged participation of Member States in United Nations meetings;
6. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts made by the host country, and hopes that the issues raised at the meetings of the Committee will continue to be resolved in a spirit of cooperation and in accordance with international law;
7. Affirms the importance of the Committee in being in a position to fulfill its mandate and meet on a short notice to deal with urgent and important matters concerning the relations between the United Nations and the host country, and in that connection requests the Secretariat and the Committee on Conferences to accord priority to requests of the Committee on the Relations with the Host Country for conference-servicing facilities for meetings of that Committee that must be held while the General Assembly and its main committees are meeting, without prejudice to the requirement of those bodies and on an "as available" basis;
8. Requests the Secretary General to remain actively engaged in all aspects of the relations of the United Nations with the host country.