Committee on Relations

with Host Country

213^th Meeting (PM)

HOST COUNTRY COMMITTEE DISCUSSES NEW DIPLOMATIC PARKING PROGRAMME,

SCHEDULED TO TAKE EFFECT ON 1 NOVEMBER

CORRECTION

Paragraphs 5 and 11 of Press Release HQ/616 of 15 October should read, as follows:

Several speakers during the ensuing debate disagreed with the Legal Counsel’s opinion, arguing that the Parking Programme was contrary to international law, since it contravened the provisions of the 1961 Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.  The limited number of parking spaces allocated were inadequate and would force Missions to pay $300 monthly for  parking garages, an unaffordable fee for smaller countries.

With free parking in the United Nations garage and two additional spaces, he believed the United States was providing full facilities to diplomats.  The Programme did not go against the Host Country Agreement or any other agreement regarding diplomatic immunities and privileges.  However, delegations requested that implementation of the Programme be postponed until a later date to allow for discussions with a view to arriving at a universally acceptable solution.

* *** *