Sixth Committee (Legal) — 67th session
Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country (Agenda item 165)
- Authority: resolution 66/108
Documentation
- A/67/26 — Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country
Summary of work
Background (source: A/67/100)
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.
At its sixty-sixth session, the General Assembly endorsed the recommendations and conclusions of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country contained in paragraph 39 of its report; 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; and requested the Secretary-General to remain actively engaged in all aspects of the relations of the United Nations with the host country (resolution 66/108).
Consideration at the sixty-seventh session
The Sixth Committee considered the item at its 25th meeting, on 16 November 2012 (see A/C.6/67/SR.25). The Chair of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country introduced the report of that Committee (A/67/26).
Statements were made by the representatives of the European Union (also on behalf of its Member States) 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 providing the necessary security for missions and safety for their personnel. The importance of fulfilling its obligations, inter alia, under the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations and the Headquarters Agreement was also stressed.
The United States confirmed its commitment to fulfil its obligations under international law and to continue to work closely with the diplomatic community in resolving issues that might arise during the coming year.
Action taken by the Sixth Committee
At the 25th meeting, on 16 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.6/67/L.19). At the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.6/67/L.19 without a vote.
Under this 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 that continued to be experienced by some permanent missions 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; 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 was subsequently considered at the sixty-eighth session (2013).
