Committee on Relations

with Host Country

240^th Meeting (PM)

COMMITTEE ON RELATIONS WITH HOST COUNTRY ADOPTS ANNUAL REPORT

The Committee on Relations with the Host Country this afternoon adopted its annual report as orally amended, to be considered by the General Assembly through its Sixth Committee (Legal) on 14 November.

The report (document A/AC.154/2008/CRP.1) contains comprehensive information about the Committee’s deliberations over the past year, and outlines the main issues dealt with during its meetings, including transportation, acceleration of immigration and customs procedures, entry visas issued by the host country, travel regulations and other matters.

The Committee makes several recommendations and conclusions in the report aimed, it says, at maintaining appropriate conditions for the delegations and missions accredited to the United Nations.  It urges the host country to continue to take appropriate actions, such as training police, security, customs and border control officers, with a view to maintaining respect for diplomatic privileges and immunities.  If violations occur, the Committee urges the host country to ensure that such cases are properly investigated and remedied, in accordance with applicable law.

Noting the problems experienced by some permanent missions in connection with the Parking Programme, the Committee says it will remain seized of the matter, with a view to continuously ensuring the proper implementation of the Programme that is fair, non-discriminatory, effective and consistent with international law.  It requests the host country to continue to bring to the attention of New York City officials reports about other problems experienced by missions and their staff in order to improve the conditions for their functioning and promote compliance with international norms.

Regarding visas, the Committee, according to the report, anticipates that the host country will enhance efforts to ensure timely issuance of entry visas to representatives of Member States, emphasizing that a number of delegations have requested shortening the time frame applied by the host country for issuance of such visas, since the current time frame poses difficulties for the full-fledged participation of Member States in United Nations meetings.

Concerning travel regulations issued by the host country with regard to personnel of certain missions and staff members of the Secretariat of certain nationalities, the Committee urges the host country to remove remaining restrictions, and notes the positions of affected Member States, the host country and the Secretary-General in that regard.

Following the report’s adoption, the representative of Iran expressed deep concern and registered his delegation’s protest over the problems in gaining entry to the host country for an official who had wanted to address the Sixth Committee (Legal).  He urged the host country to respect its commitments under the Host Country Agreement and assure the unimpeded entry of officials of Member States.

The representative of the United States said unequivocally that the visa in question had not been refused, explaining that such a denial would have had to come from the highest levels of his Government.  He regretted that the official did not attend the meeting concerned.  Two other officials had arrived late and notified the host country in time to make proper arrangements, and he requested that all other Member States follow suit in that eventuality.

The report was introduced by the Committee’s Rapporteur, Ana Marcela Calderón of Costa Rica.  The facilitator of the negotiations on the report, Polly Ioannou of Cyprus, reported the consensus outcome of consultations on the text prior to the adoption.

The Host Country Committee will meet again at a time and place to be announced.

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For information media • not an official record