HOST COUNTRY COMMITTEE ADOPTS REPORT TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Press Release
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HOST COUNTRY COMMITTEE ADOPTS REPORT TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Committee also Takes up Parking-Related Issues

The Committee on Relations with the Host Country this afternoon adopted its report to the General Assembly, which, if approved, would have the Assembly call on the United States to take a number of steps to fulfil its obligations under the Headquarters Agreement.

If approved, the report would urge the host country to lift the travel restrictions it continues to impose on personnel of certain diplomatic missions and Secretariat staff members of certain nationalities. It would request the host country to continue to strive, in conjunction with the City of New York, to resolve the problem of parking of diplomatic vehicles, in a manner consistent with international law. The host country would also be asked to draw the attention of the New York City officials to reports from the diplomatic community about cases of discriminatory treatment against diplomats.

Along with those recommendations, the report expresses appreciation for the efforts made by the host country to maintain appropriate conditions for the normal work of delegations and missions accredited to the United Nations.

The Committee also stresses the importance of permanent missions, their personnel and Secretariat personnel meeting their financial obligations. It states that problems related to the financial indebtedness of those claiming diplomatic immunity has also arisen in other host countries and require a system-wide approach to their resolution.

The report notes that the United States applauded the recent decision of the Secretary-General to make deductions from salaries and emoluments of staff who failed to meet legally mandated family support obligations. It also reviews the Committee's consideration of such matters as the security of missions and safety of their personnel; acceleration of immigration and customs procedures; and other issues arising in connection with the implementation of the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States regarding the United Nations Headquarters.

The Chairman announced that Malaysia had been appointed as a member of the Committee, thus bringing the Committee's membership to its full complement of 19.

Host Country Committee - 2 - Press Release HQ/600 200th Meeting (PM) 5 November 1999

The Committee was established in 1971 to deal with the security of missions and safety of their personnel, as well as with the responsibilities of missions.

In a discussion on other matters during the meeting, concern was expressed over parking problems by the representatives of Malaysia, Cuba, Russian Federation, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal.

Their missions had received notices from the New York City Department of Finance listing missions that owed parking fees. That was in contravention of diplomatic parking regulations, the representative of Malaysia said. The speaker for the Russian Federation said New York City's practice of sending communications directly to the diplomatic missions violated diplomatic norms; letters should be sent through the host country Government.

The representative of Cuba recommended that the working group on parking meet to resolve the problems. His Mission had only three parking slots for its cars. It was clear that parking problems faced by missions adversely affected their functioning. Senegal's speaker pointed out problems with cars violating diplomatic parking zones.

Addressing the issue, the representative of the United States said that the United States Mission had sent out a note to missions informing them of a decision by the New York City authorities to change its policy on parking regulations effective 1 April 1997. The United States Mission was in the midst of negotiations with New York City authorities on the subject and would inform the Committee on the outcome of those consultations. So far, City authorities had been cooperative.

He added that the City had a good transportation system. If missions chose to have many cars, they should consider renting garages. Some cities in other parts of the world had no parking spaces for diplomats.

The Deputy Commissioner of New York City for the United Nations and Consular Corps confirmed that the City had changed its parking policy. Letters to that effect had been sent to the missions from the City Department of Finance. He said that all parking violations would be adjudicated. He also announced that the City would sponsor a seminar on safety before the end of the year.

On another matter, the representative of Libya said several times his Mission had not received notification about scheduled meetings of the Committee. Also, his Mission had had visa problems. Mission personnel had not been able to attend an African Group meeting held in Long Island because of travel restrictions imposed by the host Government.

The representative of Côte d'Ivoire expressed concern about questions relating to social security cards and the identity cards issued to diplomats. He pointed out that social security cards were required for a number of transactions in the city, including school registration of children and banking transactions. * *** *