ADOPTING ITS REPORT, HOST COUNTRY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS ASSEMBLY EXPAND ITS MEMBERSHIP BY FOUR, INCLUDING ONE NEW MEMBER FROM EACH REGIONAL GROUP

30 October 1998

Press Release
HQ/587

ADOPTING ITS REPORT, HOST COUNTRY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS ASSEMBLY EXPAND ITS MEMBERSHIP BY FOUR, INCLUDING ONE NEW MEMBER FROM EACH REGIONAL GROUP

19981030 Committee Will Reconvene to Discuss Security During Recent General Debate

The Committee on Relations with the Host Country this afternoon recommended that the General Assembly increase the Committee's membership by four, one each from the African, Asian, Latin American and Caribbean, and Eastern European regional groups.

It took that action as it approved its draft report, including other recommendations and conclusions, covering the period from 17 November 1997 to October 1998, for consideration by the Sixth Committee (Legal) on 17 November.

The Committee concluded that a system-wide approach was required to resolve the problem of financial indebtedness of missions and their personnel. In another recommendation, the Committee urged the host country to remove, as soon as possible, the remaining travel restrictions on personnel of certain missions and Secretariat staff members of certain nationalities.

Also this afternoon, the Committee decided to meet again to consider issues related to security arrangements during the general debate of the current session of the General Assembly.

If endorsed by the General Assembly, an increase in the Committee's membership would be its first since the Committee's establishment in 1971.

Statements were made by the representatives of the United States, Costa Rica and Malta.

The Committee will meet next at a date to be announced in the Journal.

Committee Work Programme

The Committee on Relations with the Host Country met this afternoon to consider its draft report containing recommendations and conclusions to the Sixth Committee (Legal). Also before the Committee was a letter from the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation addressed to the Committee Chairman.

The draft report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country (documents A/AC.154/1998/CRP.1 and A/AC/154/1998/CRP.2) is divided into four sections. The first, a brief introduction, refers to General Assembly resolution 52/159 of 15 December 1997 which asked the Committee to review its membership and composition and to report the results of its deliberations to the Sixth Committee.

The second section lists the current membership of the Committee and describes its terms of reference and organization. The third section, divided into four sub-sections, covers topics dealt with by the Committee during the reporting period. Those matters include: membership and composition of the Committee; host country travel regulations; financial indebtedness of missions and their personnel; and insurance and health.

Section four of the report contains the Committee's draft recommendations and conclusions, reflecting the main issues raised and discussed during the deliberations.

Annex I of the draft report contains a detailed list of topics for consideration by the Committee, adopted in 1992 and slightly modified in 1994. Annex II lists documents issued in connection with the Committee's work. It would be complemented by the letter from the Russian Federation (document A/AC.154/320).

In its draft recommendations and conclusions, the Committee says a system- wide approach is required to resolve the problem of financial indebtedness, and notes that the issue had also arisen in other host cities. It stresses the importance of permanent missions, their personnel and Secretariat staff meeting their financial obligations.

According to the Committee's draft report, as at February 1998, 19 permanent missions and United Nations staff members had debts of $3,633,400, of which $3,170,312 was owed by nine missions. The diplomatic community in Geneva owed debts exceeding 7 million Swiss francs, according to the observer from Switzerland in a statement before the Committee. Of that amount, half was owed by 2 missions, 30 per cent by 6 missions and smaller amounts by another 15 missions.

On the problem of parking of diplomatic vehicles, the Committee again asks the host country to continue to take steps, in conjunction with the City of New

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York, to resolve it in a manner that is fair, non-discriminatory, efficient and consistent with international law. It also requests the host country to take all measures necessary to prevent any interference with the functioning of missions. The host country is also urged to remove, as soon as possible, the remaining travel restrictions on personnel of certain missions and Secretariat staff members of certain nationalities.

In the letter 19 October 1998 letter from the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation (document A/AC.154/320), he says his country understood the "special circumstances" which compelled the host country authorities and other competent services to take heightened security measures during the general debate of the current General Assembly session.

The letter points out that there was, however, some lack of coordination between the actions of the protocol services and United Nations Secretariat security services and the host country authorities. As a result, members of the Russian delegation and officials of the Russian Federation Mission, including the Permanent Representative, experienced difficulties in gaining access to the United Nations Headquarters building, as well as other traffic difficulties in the area.

On several occasions, during the period from 21 to 22 September, the Permanent Representative, travelling in an official car, was refused unimpeded access to First Avenue at Forty-sixth Street because the police were not aware of traffic and security arrangements set out in Note No.HC-32-98 of the United States Mission to the United Nations. Only after prolonged explanations and the production of a copy of the note was the Permanent Representative permitted access.

Also during the period referred to, and contrary to the arrangements set out in the note, the letter continues, the section of First Avenue from Fifty- first Street to Fifty-seventh Street was completely closed to traffic and was blocked by police cars. Many members of the Russian delegation, having been misled by the note, could not get to the General Assembly Hall on time. On 21 September, at about 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., members of the Russian delegation discovered that the approach to the United Nations garage had been completely closed.

According to the letter, there appeared to be a lack of coordination between the security services of the host country and the Security and Safety Services of the United Nations Secretariat which was manifested in the frequent and unwarranted checks of diplomats and other members of delegations, including checks within United Nations Headquarters. The Permanent Representative requested an explanation from the host country on its decision-making practices and coordination with security measures of the Secretariat.

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Statements

SOTIRIOS ZACKHEOS (Cyprus), Chairman of the Committee, referring to the letter from the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation, said he was aware that some other delegations would like to address the matter. He suggested that today's meeting be devoted to the review of the Committee's draft report and its recommendations and conclusions, on the understanding that the Committee would meet again soon to consider the issues related to the security arrangements.

The CHAIRMAN said that after the Committee's last meeting, he had consulted with Committee members and observer delegations that had participated in the debates on the subject of the membership and composition of the Committee. As a result of those consultations, a compromise proposal had emerged, namely: that the Committee be increased by four new members -- one each from the African, Asian, Latin American and Caribbean and Eastern European regional groups.

To expedite the preparation of the draft report, that understanding had been reflected in paragraph 40 of document CRP.1 containing the Committee's draft report, he said. If it was endorsed by the Committee as a whole today, it would also be reflected in the recommendations and conclusions.

EMILIA CASTRO DE BARISH (Costa Rica), Committee Rapporteur, then introduced the draft report of the Committee. She said if it was endorsed by the Committee, the recommendation on expanding the Committee's membership should be on the list of topics discussed by the Committee.

BETTY KING (United States), on behalf of the host country, said the host country had replied to the letter from the Russian Federation and that its response would be made available to the Committee to become part of the record.

The Committee then adopted its report.

NAZARETH A. INCERA (Costa Rica) said she would have liked the meeting to include an item on security arrangements. There were many incidents she wanted to bring to the attention of the Committee. She regretted that it would not happen today, as she would have liked her comments to be reflected in the Committee's report. She hoped for an early opportunity to speak on the subject.

The CHAIRMAN said the Committee planned to convene a special meeting on security arrangements soon.

GEORGE SALIBA (Malta) commended the Committee for the flexibility shown regarding the expansion of the Committee's membership. His delegation had campaigned for the increase in the size of the Committee because it wanted the Committee to reflect the present membership of the organization.

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