CUBA PROPOSES EXPANSION IN MEMBERSHIP OF HOST COUNTRY COMMITTEE

Press Release
HQ/584

CUBA PROPOSES EXPANSION IN MEMBERSHIP OF HOST COUNTRY COMMITTEE

United States, Citing Committee's Efficiency, Supports Current Size, Endorses Principle of Voluntary Rotation

The representative of Cuba this morning proposed expanding the Committee on Relations with the Host Country from 15 to 26 members, as the Committee met to consider questions relating to its membership and composition. He said the proposal aimed at reflecting the increase in the United Nations membership since the Committee was established in 1971, as well as the principle of equitable geographical distribution.

In addition to the host country, the Cuban proposal would ensure representation by seven African States, six Asian States, four from Latin American and the Caribbean, three from Eastern Europe and five from Western Europe, he said. Speaking as an observer in the Committee, he said the proposal would enable all regional groups to increase their representation.

The representative of the United States, speaking for the host country, said the Committee had always operated transparently. No observer had ever been denied access, and many of its most important decisions had been taken following requests by observer delegations. The decisions had been taken rapidly and efficiently, largely because the Committee's membership was limited but representative. The United States would like to keep it that way.

She said her country supported the principle of voluntary rotation but did not support expanding the Committee's membership, which would affect its ability to work efficiently. The representative of Senegal said that while the key principles of efficiency and democratization must both be remembered. one should not change a winning team. An enormous amount of work had been done by the Committee, to the satisfaction of the United Nations.

The representative of Malta said that while efficiency was important, there was no specific number which guaranteed its achievement. The question of increased, representative membership was most important. Citing support among States for expansion of other United Nations organs to reflect the world body's increased membership, he said it was important to be consistent in the application of that principle.

Host Country Committee - 1a - Press Release HQ/584 192nd Meeting (AM) 13 May 1998

The representative of France said the Committee had thus far fulfilled its mandate in an entirely satisfactory manner. The Committee worked transparently with each member delegation on an equal footing. Its Bureau had been able to resolve delicate questions and issues to the benefit of all members of the Organization.

The Committee was considering the issue of its composition and membership at the request of the General Assembly, in its resolution 52/159 of 15 December 1997. Statements were also made by the representatives of Cote d'Ivoire, China, United Kingdom, Russian Federation, Costa Rica, Iraq, Honduras, Malaysia and Syria.

Also this morning, the representatives of Cuba and the Russian Federation addressed the issue of travel restrictions placed by the host country on some delegations and Secretariat staff. The representative of Cyprus spoke on a matter relating to diplomatic parking.

In other business, the Chairman informed the Committee that Christo Christov (Bulgaria) would be relinquishing his functions at the Bulgarian Mission. He would therefore be resigning as Vice-Chairman of the Committee and Chairman of the Working Group on Indebtedness. Informal consultations would take place to identify a suitable candidate to replace him.

The Committee on Relations with the Host Country will meet again at a date to be announced in the Journal.

Committee Work Programme

The Committee on Relations with the Host Country met this morning to consider questions relating to its membership and composition, as requested by the General Assembly in its resolution 52/159 of 15 December 1997. The Committee was established by the General Assembly in 1971 and is currently composed of the following 15 States: Bulgaria, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, France, Honduras, Iraq, Mali, the Russian Federation, Senegal, Spain and the United Kingdom and the United States.

Statements

SOTIRIOS ZACKHEOS (Cyprus), Committee Chairman, said the Committee's Bureau was of the view that the Committee had worked well over the years as an open, transparent and flexible body. No member had the right of veto and any interested delegation could participate as an observer. The Bureau also believed that the Committee was unique in that it was the only United Nations body mandated to consider matters relating to the host country.

He said the Bureau had discussed various ideas, including the possibility of rotation and of enlargement of the Committee's membership. Informal consultations had been conducted and all members of the Committee had been consulted.

BETTY KING (United States) said the issue of the Committee's membership and composition might well be the most important issue it had considered in some time. The Committee had worked well over three decades, in part, because of its relatively small number of members who also supported the interests of their regional groups.

During the life of the Committee, no observer had ever been denied access, and many of the Committee's most important decisions had been taken following requests and presentations of observer delegations, she said. The decisions had been taken rapidly and efficiently, largely because the Committee's membership was limited but representative. The United States would like to keep it that way. On those rare instances when the Committee had been faced with issues that affected the United Nations diplomatic community as a whole, it had formed working groups.

The Committee had always operated transparently, she said. Advocates of major change in its membership and composition had alleged that the Committee was less than transparent, and that some members -- presumably the host country itself -- had a veto over the Committee's work. That was a falsehood; there was no such veto and never had been. The Committee tried to work by consensus, which was the United Nations ideal.

The United States did, however, support change in the Committee's membership, she said. Such change should be accomplished by rotation, and that rotation would best be achieved on a voluntary basis. Her country did not support extension of the Committee's membership, which would not be in the interest of its efficiency as it continued to work to serve the interests of all Member States and observers.

ABENI HONORAT KOFFI (Cote d'Ivoire) said that rationality and efficiency were essential for the Committee to be able to discharge its duties. Rationality would facilitate promptness, effectiveness and agreeableness, while efficiency would allow the Committee to reach speedy and wise decisions.

A limited membership was best for the Committee, with open-ended working groups, he said. That was how the Committee had worked in the past. However, if consensus emerged for an expansion of its membership his delegation would remain flexible. There was a need to emphasize rationality and efficiency regarding the size of any expansion.

GAO FENG (China) said the Host Country Committee had for decades been operating in a highly efficient manner and by consensus. China endorsed the principles of rationality and efficiency, and believed the Committee should not be too large in size as that would not contribute to rapid decision- making. Nevertheless, his delegation remained open-minded. China did not have any specific proposal, but would seriously consider proposals put forth by other States.

JOHN ANDREW GRAINGER (United Kingdom) said the Committee had discharged its functions effectively over the years and its current membership had worked well. Its work involved practical day-to-day issues which required that it retain its present size. The Committee had been transparent and flexible regarding the right of observer delegations to participate in its work, and those delegations were never excluded.

He said there was no obvious need for radical changes in the Committee's composition. If some delegations wanted to give up their membership, they were free to do so and would be replaced by new members. However, such delegations as that of the United Kingdom, which had worked on the Committee for a long time, should be allowed to continue doing so.

BRUNO RODRIGUEZ PARRILLA (Cuba), speaking as an observer, said he wished to express his delegations satisfaction at the efforts exerted by virtually all members of the Committee to resolve complex and varied problems. The Committee had been created in 1971 when the United Nations consisted of 130 States. Resolution 52/159 asked the Committee, with the participation of observers, to review its composition and membership. Cuba had consistently advocated such a review of this and other organs, based on the view that the majority of United Nations organs should be open-ended. Cuba was not making proposals relating to the Committee's procedures, nor was it objecting to the principle of consensus -- as long as it was truly consensus. The rationale for Cuba's proposal was not procedural, although Cuba did believe that some of the Committee procedure's could be better suited to its work.

He said Cuba was satisfied that other speakers had addressed the need to reflect the changes in the composition and membership of the United Nations. Cuba was naturally aware of the complexities of the process and understood that appropriate negotiation would be necessary to try to build consensus. Nevertheless, Cuba wished to advance a flexible proposal, which reflected the principle of equitable geographical distribution and also took account of the principle of proportionality.

In 1971 the Committee had consisted of one representative per 8.67 Member States, he said. Today, the United Nations was much larger, and that change should be reflected in the Committee. In response to these same ideas, the Committee on the Charter had been prudently expanded, as had others, without any loss in effectiveness. All Member States had the right to participate and contribute equally in all United Nations organs; that was a valuable principle.

Whenever there was talk of rotation, the question arose whether such rotation would be universal, he said. It was assumed from the outset that the host country would not be involved in the rotation scheme. Cuba's proposal was to introduce a small, rational increase in the membership of the Committee, up to 26 members. With that increase Africa would have seven members; Asia would have six; Latin America and the Caribbean would have four; Eastern Europe would have three; and Western Europe would have five -- plus the host country. That was a flexible proposal which would enable all regional groups to increase their representation.

SERGUEI N. KAREV (Russian Federation) said the question of membership had two main aspects: the extent to which possible changes in the Committee would help rationalize its work; and the efficiency with which it carried out its duties. In its 27 years, the Committee had shown its very best side, helping to solve very complex problems -- primarily relating to the safety of staff working in the permanent missions to the United Nations.

The Committee was the only body at Headquarters dealing with specific questions relating to expansion of its membership, he said. No recommendations supporting such changes had been heard. On the Committee's composition, the practice had been for the President of the General Assembly to consult with regional groups and come to agreement.

He said the point had repeatedly been made that procedures in the Committee were now more open than they had been in past years. Observer delegations were free to participate in its work without such formalities as insistence on prior notice or on rigid compliance with procedure

when taking the floor. The Committee did not provide for the right of veto and worked on the basis of consensus. There was no need for radical changes in its composition at this stage.

EMILIA CASTRO DE BARISH (Costa Rica) said her delegation had always discharged its duties with interest and believed in the effectiveness of the Committee and the principles of rationality and efficiency. The Committee should not be too large. Expect for the host country, there should be voluntary rotation for the remaining 14 seats on the Committee. The Committee was a unique body, as had been said. The veto was practiced in its work.

MOHAMMED A. M. AL-HUMAIMIDI (Iraq) said the Committee had accomplished many important tasks, including its consideration of such issues as health insurance and indebtedness. Iraq had no specific proposals to make at present; his country remained committed to the work of the Committee.

FRANCOIS ALABRUNE (France) endorsed the results of the Bureau's consultations. The Committee had thus far fulfilled its mandate in an entirely satisfactory manner. Its transparency was reflected by the presence of many observer delegations at its meetings. The Committee generally worked on the basis of consensus, with no special veto, and with each member delegation on an equal footing. The Bureau had been able to resolve delicate questions, and issues had been solved generally to the benefit of all United Nations members.

The principles of rationality and efficiency could guide the Committee perfectly well, he said. By following them, it could fulfil its mandate, which was to resolve issues of a practical nature. In the past, the President of the General Assembly had consulted with Committee members to determine which delegation wanted to give up its membership and which wished to replace it. Perhaps it was time to resume that procedure. It was essential that those States wishing to remain on the Committee, such as his own, continue to make their contributions. The Committee must strive to maintain and even improve its transparency.

GEORGE SALIBA (Malta), speaking as an observer, said the principle of efficiency had been mentioned by most members. Though efficiency was important, there was no specific number which would guarantee it. Most members of the Committee present had spoken today in favor of expanding other organs to reflect the increased membership of the Organization. It was important to be consistent; if it was important to increase one organ, that should be reflected in other organs. The question of increased, representative membership was the most important principle -- not the question of efficiency. MAMADOU ABDOULAYE BA (Senegal) said the current discussion reminded him of the discussion on reform of the Security Council, in which the principles of efficiency and democratization had been cited. Given the Committee's importance, it was important to remain mindful of both of those principles.

As was the case in sport, one did not change a winning team, he said. An enormous amount of work had been done by the Committee to the satisfaction of the United Nations. Consultations should be continued with Member States and regional groups. The higher interests of the United Nations should be taken into consideration.

NOEMI ESPINOZA (Honduras) said the Committee had done acceptable work and her country did not see any reason to change its membership and composition. Voluntary rotation, however, was a good idea for increasing the participation of regional groups. To that end, consultations with those groups would be useful. Honduras would be flexible in considering the various proposals.

RAMEEZ YAHAYA (Malaysia), speaking as an observer, supported Cuba's proposal to expand the composition of the Committee to reflect the expanded membership of the United Nations. More members would thus be involved in the resolution of such issues as parking violations. A rotating membership was difficult to implement, but if such a procedure could be worked out, the Malaysian delegation could be flexible about it. His country firmly supported equitable geographical distribution in the membership of the Committee.

GHASSAN OBEID (Syria), speaking as an observer, said no one had questioned the Committee's effectiveness. However, it was important to keep abreast of all developments. The status quo should not be the standard of work. It was hoped there would be meaningful change to reflect the changes in the Organization. Syria supported all proposals in favour of increasing the transparency of the Committee's work. It was hoped that the increased membership of the United Nations would be reflected in the Committee. The rotation system could disrupt the continuity of its work; it was more important to increase the Committee's membership.

Other Matters

CARIDAD YAMIRA CUETO MILIAN (Cuba), said she wished to refer to a situation faced recently at her country's Permanent Mission with respect to restrictions imposed on the movements of its personnel. On 5 May, the Permanent Mission of Cuba requested a travel authorization for its Permanent Representative beyond the 25-mile zone, in response to an invitation he had received to attend in Washington a religious service and funeral for Dr. Benjamin Spock. The travel authorization had been declined on the basis that the journey was unrelated to official functions.

She said the General Assembly had adopted a series of resolutions in which it urged the host country to remove restrictions on travel. The recent rejection had been issued in complete disregard of the humanitarian nature of the request and ran counter to the letter and spirit of the Headquarters Agreement. A coherent and credible response was again requested.

Mr. KAREV (Russian Federation) said he wished to reaffirm his country's position that the existing restrictions on travel placed on some missions ran counter to international law. Those restrictions should be lifted. It was hoped that that rather old problem could be resolved.

CONSTANTINE MOUSHOUTAS (Cyprus) said he had had two happy experiences when he needed the assistance of the emergency number relating to illegal parking and wondered if other colleagues had met with similar experiences.

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