Sixth Committee (Legal) — 70th session
Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country (Agenda item 167)
- Authority: resolution 69/128
Documentation
- A/70/26 — Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country
Summary of work
Background (source: A/70/100)
The Committee on Relations with the Host Country was established by the General Assembly at its twenty-sixth session, in 1971 (resolution 2819 (XXVI)). The Committee is currently composed of the following 19 Member States: Bulgaria, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, France, Honduras, Hungary, Iraq, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Russian Federation, Senegal, Spain, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America.
The General Assembly considered this item at its twenty-seventh to sixty-eighth sessions (resolutions 3033 (XXVII), 3107 (XXVIII), 3320 (XXIX), 3498 (XXX), 31/101, 32/46, 33/95, 34/148, 35/165, 36/115, 37/113, 38/140, 39/87, 40/77, 41/82, 42/210 A and B, 42/229 A and B, 42/230, 42/232, 43/48, 43/49, 43/172, 44/38, 45/46, 46/60, 47/35, 48/35, 49/56, 50/49, 51/163, 52/159, 53/104, 54/104, 55/154, 56/84, 57/22, 58/78, 59/42, 60/24, 61/41, 62/72, 63/130, 64/120, 65/35, 66/108, 67/100 and 68/121).
At its sixty-ninth session, the General Assembly endorsed the recommendations and conclusions contained in the report of the Committee; requested the host country to consider removing the remaining travel restrictions imposed by it on staff of certain missions and staff members of the Secretariat of certain nationalities; requested the Secretary-General to remain actively engaged in all aspects of the relations of the United Nations with the host country and recalled that the Secretary-General might bring to the Committee’s attention issues of mutual concern relating to the implementation of the Headquarters Agreement and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations; and requested the Committee to continue its work in conformity with Assembly resolution 2819 (XXVI) and, in that framework, to consider additional appropriate measures to enhance the work and effectiveness of the Committee (resolution 69/128).
Consideration at the seventieth session
The Sixth Committee considered the item at its 28th meeting, on 16 November 2015 (see A/C.6/70/SR.28). The Chair of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country introduced the report of that Committee (A/70/26).
Statements were made by the representatives of Cuba, the European Union (also on behalf of its member States, the candidate countries the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania, the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the European Free Trade Association country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, aligned themselves with the statement), the Syrian Arab Republic, Islamic Republic of Iran, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the United States of America.
The recommendations of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country were endorsed and the host country was thanked for its efforts to accommodate the needs of the diplomatic community in various areas, including for the timely issuance of visas and obtaining suitable banking services necessary for the effective functioning of the missions. While the host country’s efforts made with regard to the provision of banking services to all missions were commended, hope was also expressed that similar progress would be made with regard to other issues on the agenda of the Committee. Concern was expressed over alleged restrictions on movements of some diplomats and international civil servants accredited to the United Nations as being contrary to the Headquarters Agreement and to the customary rules of diplomatic law. While the efforts of the host country to accelerate customs and immigration procedures were noted, the importance of enhancing the training of police and security personnel, with the aim of guaranteeing diplomats’ privileges and immunities, was also highlighted. The office of the representative of the host country was commended for its actions during the high-level segment of the General Assembly this year.
It was stated that the realization of the principle of sovereign equality of all Member States of the United Nations depended on the equal representation to the United Nations. The role of the Secretary-General in the implementation of the provisions of the Headquarters Agreement was stressed with reference to the General Assembly resolution 2819.
The United States of America recalled the efforts made to assist delegations on various issues, and confirmed the United States’ commitment to fulfil its obligations under international law and to continue to work closely with all missions to resolve issues that may arise in the future, even at bilateral level if they so preferred.
Action taken by the Sixth Committee
At the 29th meeting, on 20 November, the representative of Cyprus, on behalf of Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cyprus, introduced a draft resolution entitled “Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country” (A/C.6/70/L.14).
At the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.6/70/L.14 without a vote.
Under the draft resolution, the General Assembly would, inter alia: request the host country to continue to solve, through negotiations, problems that might arise and to take all measures necessary to prevent any interference with the functioning of missions, to consider removing the remaining travel restrictions imposed by it on staff of certain missions and staff members of the Secretariat of certain nationalities; note the concerns expressed by some delegations concerning the denial and delay of entry visas to representatives of Member States; note with concern the difficulties experienced by some Permanent Missions to the United Nations in obtaining suitable banking services and welcome the continued efforts of the host country to facilitate the opening of bank accounts for those Permanent Missions; request the Secretary-General to remain actively engaged in all aspects of the relations of the United Nations with the host country and recall that the Secretary-General may bring to the attention of the Committee issues of mutual concern relating to the implementation of the Headquarters Agreement and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations; and request the Committee on Relations with the Host Country to continue its work in conformity with General Assembly resolution 2819 (XXVI).
Subsequent action taken by the General Assembly
This agenda item will be considered at the seventy-first session (2016).
