I. INTRODUCTION
II. INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPANTS
Annexes
By resolution 44/228 of 22 December 1989 the General Assembly decided to convene the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). UNCED was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 3 to 14 June 1992. The Conference resulted in the adoption of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Agenda 21 and the Non-legally Binding Authoritative Statement of Principles for a Global Consensus on the Management, Conservation and Sustainable Development of All Types of Forests. These documents were subsequently endorsed by the Assembly in its resolution 47/190. By the same resolution the General Assembly decided to convene not later then 1997 a special session for the purpose of an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of Agenda 21.
In resolutions 50/113 of 20 December 1995 and 51/181 of 16 December 1996, the General Assembly decided that this special session will be held for a duration of one week from 23 to 27 June 1997, at the highest possible level of participation. The General Assembly also determined organizational modalities for the preparations for the special session, including the relevant role of the Commission on Sustainable Development as a preparatory body, as well as the role of other relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system.
The General Assembly also recognized the important role played by major groups, including non-governmental organizations, in the implementation of UNCED recommendations and highlighted the need for their active involvement in the preparations for the special session, as well as the need to ensure appropriate arrangements for their contribution during the special session.
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The nineteenth special session of the General Assembly will be held from Monday, 23 June to Friday, 27 June 1997, in the General Assembly Hall at United Nations Headquarters.
[Return to Table of Contents]Port of entry arrangements: Heads of State, Vice-Presidents, Crown Princes, Heads of Government and Heads of Delegation at Cabinet Minister level will be greeted at the port of entry by the United Nations Chief of Protocol or other senior United Nations officials. Governments, through their Permanent Missions, are responsible for compliance with all host country requirements with regard to entry formalities and for provision of all transport, transit and accommodation arrangements, in coordination with Host Country and City authorities.
Procedures at United Nations Headquarters from 23 -27 June 1997:
An issue of particular concern is the arrival and departure of Heads of State/ Government and some Heads of Delegation at Cabinet Minister level, especially on the morning of Monday, 23 June. The Host Country will provide a security escort to Heads of State/Government and some Heads of Delegation. This security escort will include motorcade arrangements, and details should be obtained from the Host Country authorities. In general, in addition to the police escort, only one vehicle will enter the United Nations complex. The remaining vehicles of escorted motorcades and un-escorted motorcades will arrive farther along First Avenue in front of the 46th Street gate.
As of 9:00 a.m. on 23 June 1997, the 43rd Street gate to the United Nations will be open only to the police assisted motorcades of Heads of State/Government, and of Cabinet Ministers who will be directed to the Delegates' entrance. The visitors gate (First Avenue across from 46th Street) will be open for Heads of State/Heads of Government and Heads of Delegations at Cabinet Minister level arriving at the United Nations either by vehicle or on foot, from where they will be directed by Protocol officers to the Delegates entrance.
A provisional order of arrivals at Headquarters for each morning of the special session, based on protocol and security considerations, will be prepared and Delegations will be informed of this order individually at a later date.
All persons in motorcades MUST have a valid United Nations grounds pass to enter the premises. In addition, appropriate access cards will be needed to enter restricted areas. Missions are kindly asked to ensure compliance with this requirement in order to avoid inconveniences at the entrance.
Departures from Headquarters will take place on an individual basis and according to the following procedure:
A motorcades desk, staffed by one Protocol and one United Nations Security Officer and one Host Country security representative with communications equipment, will be set up on the second floor (East Foyer). Delegations wishing to depart will inform the motorcades desk personnel, who will summon the respective motorcades and inform the delegation upon their arrival. A delegation waiting area will be located at the foot of the escalator at the Delegates Entrance in order to await the motorcades.
[Return to Table of Contents]For purposes of security and efficiency, efforts are being made to consolidate accreditation by the Protocol and Liaison Service, the Security and Safety Service, Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit and NGO Accreditation Unit into a single accreditation Centre. This accreditation /registration Centre will be open from 11 to 27 June 1997 at 866 UN Plaza, 6th floor (ALCOA Building -48th Street East of First Avenue). Regular working hours will be 9 am to 5 pm. The Centre will be open the weekend of 21 to 22 June 1997. During the period of 22 June till 24 June the Centre will be open after regular working hours as required.
[Return to Table of Contents]A provisional list of delegations to the nineteenth special session of the General Assembly will be published by Protocol and Liaison Service. Delegations are requested to submit complete lists as soon as possible to the Chief of Protocol, Room S-0201A.
[Return to Table of Contents]Security responsibility for the special session is the same as that for any other activity at the United Nations. The United Nations Security and Safety Service is responsible for the security of everyone while they are on United Nations premises. The Host Country and Host City authorities are responsible for all arrangements relating to security and movement outside United Nations Headquarters.
Protection is provided by Host Country security authorities to Heads of State or Government, as well as to a limited number of other government officials, by the assignment of protection detail personnel. Arrangements for such assignments are initiated by the Washington embassy of the relevant country with the United States Department of State. In the case of Heads of State or Government, the respective embassies should contact the United States State Department.
Governments whose Head of State/Government are attending the special session may wish to have direct consultations with the United Nations Security and Safety Service, particularly with regard to accreditation of national security details.
Any questions should be directed to the United Nations Security and Safety Service, Inspector Emmett Nelson at (212) 963-9342 or to Sergeant Michael Pysarenko at (212) 963-7028.
Security Briefing
The United Nations Security and Safety Service has scheduled a briefing regarding general security arrangements at United Nations Headquarters on 10 June 1997, at 11:00 hours, in Conference Room 5. It is essential that security representatives attend this meeting.
Access to the United Nations complex during the special session will be restricted to those persons who are properly accredited and who are wearing a United Nations grounds pass. For all government delegations (Member States or Observers), Intergovernmental Organisations and Specialized Agencies, grounds passes will be authorized by Protocol and Liaison Service and issued at the Pass and Identification Office. Grounds passes for representatives of UN Programmes will be issued by UN Security and Safety Service. For passes for delegations, including the accompanying parties of Heads of State/Government (other than Security and Media), please contact Mrs. Marybeth Curran Protocol and Liaison Service at 963-7181. For passes for national security officers accompanying the Heads of State/Government, please contact: Captain Baldwin, Security and Safety Service, at 963-7531.
It must be emphasized that access to the United Nations will be denied to anyone not wearing a valid grounds pass. This is necessary for security reasons, given the risks implicit in a gathering of so many national leaders. To avoid last minute difficulties, all Governments are requested to ensure the proper accreditation of their delegations and accompanying parties.
Within the United Nations complex, once access has been gained by delegations and accompanying parties, there will be certain further restrictions on movements. Restricted areas have been designated encompassing the General Assembly Hall, the North Delegates Lounge and the West Foyer. Controls over access to restricted areas will be enforced by the Security and Safety Service.
The following UN ID cards are issued to members of Delegations:
| VIP Passes without photos: | Heads of State, Vice-Presidents, Crown Princes, Heads of Government and their spouses |
| VIP Passes with photos | Cabinet Ministers and their spouses |
| Regular Photo Delegation ID | Deputy Ministers and all other members of Delegations |
| Colour-coded access cards | For restricted areas |
For VIP passes with photographs, official requests and two passport size photographs should be submitted in advance to Protocol and Liaison Service.
For all members of Delegations, a complete list of names with functional titles and affiliations should be sent to the Chief of Protocol. A copy of this list together with Form SG.6, -Registration of members of Delegations to Temporary Meetings at Headquarters (see Annex VII) must be sent to the attention of Mrs Marybeth Curran, Protocol Accreditation. It is necessary to fill out only the bottom part of the Form SG.6. Approvals should be picked up in advance from Protocol and Liaison Service and if the photograph of the delegate is already in the computer system, passes can be collected in advance by Missions from the pass and identification unit.
[Return to Table of Contents]Permanent and Observer Missions are requested to designate a focal point from the Mission to be responsible for information regarding the special session and also to fill out the enclosed questionnaire, attached as Annex II, with reference to the participation of Heads of State/Government and Heads of Delegation at the Cabinet Minister level.
Questionnaires should be submitted to the: Chief of Protocol, Room S-0201A Tel: 963-7171, Fax 212-963-1921, as early as possible.
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