A. TITEL

Briefwisseling tussen de Nederlandse Regering en het Internationale Tribunaal voor het voormalige Joegoslavië houdende een verdrag inzake de toegewezen verblijfplaats van Generaal Blaskic;

's-Gravenhage, 12/17 juni 1996

B. TEKST

Nr. I

UNITED NATIONS

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

Excellency,

I have the honour to refer to the discussions held between officials of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (hereinafter: “the International Tribunal") and the Government of the Netherlands, concerning arrangements between the International Tribunal and the Government of the Netherlands (hereinafter: “the parties") for the assigned residence of General Blaskic (hereinafter: “the assigned residence"), as ordered by the President of the International Tribunal in his decisions of 3 and 17 April 1996.

I have the honour to confirm on behalf of the International Tribunal the following understanding:

I. As to the assigned residence:

  • a) Upon designation by the International Tribunal, the Government of the Netherlands shall make a residence available to it, with a view to implement the orders of the President of the International Tribunal of 3 and 17 April 1996.

  • b) The residence assigned by the Dutch authorities shall be considered as “Premises of the Tribunal" within the meaning of Article I(b) of the Headquarters Agreement. As such, and in accordance with Article VI of the Headquarters Agreement, the residence shall be subject to the exclusive control and authority of the International Tribunal and governed by the rules, regulations and directives made operative thereto by the International Tribunal.

  • c) In particular, the regime set out in paragraph 24 of the order of the President of the Tribunal of 3 April 1996 and in the order of 17 April 1996 shall apply to the assigned residence.

  • d) In accordance with Article VII of the Headquarters Agreement, the Government of the Netherlands shall carry the responsibility for the security and protection of the residence.

II. As to the personnel guarding the assigned residence (hereinafter: “the security personnel"):

  • e) The Government of the Netherlands shall make available to the International Tribunal the services of a number of security personnel, to be determined in consultation with the Registrar pursuant to this exchange of letters.

  • f) While the security personnel are on loan to the International Tribunal, they shall not be considered as staff members of the United Nations. The security personnel shall be considered as “Persons Performing Missions for the Tribunal" within the meaning of Article XVII of the Headquarters Agreement.

  • g) The security personnel shall perform their functions under the authority of and in full compliance with the instructions of the Registrar of the International Tribunal. In particular, the security personnel shall perform their functions under the authority of a UN Commanding Officer, who shall be in direct charge of the assigned residence. The security personnel shall neither seek nor accept instructions from any Government or from any other authority external to the International Tribunal nor shall they communicate at any time any information which has become known to them by reason of their association with the Tribunal. The security personnel shall each individually sign an Undertaking in the form attached to this Agreement.

  • h) The Registrar shall retain the right to decide upon the suitability of the security personnel involved.

III. As to the visits of the wife and children of General Blaskic:

  • i) Visits of the wife and children of General Blaskic, pursuant to the order of the President of the International Tribunal of 17 April 1996, may take place in any location deemed appropriate by the Dutch authorities. The International Tribunal shall inform the Dutch authorities of such visits two weeks prior to the intended date.

IV. As to the costs related to the assigned residence:

  • j) The costs of the rent of the assigned residence as well as the costs of the security personnel shall be paid by the Netherlands Justice Department out of a postal account held by that Department in consignment. It is understood that the Croatian Government shall deposit onto that account in advance a sufficient monthly amount to the end of reimbursing the Government of the Netherlands for the incurred costs.

V. As to the duration of this arrangement:

  • k) Subject to paragraphs (l) to (n), the provisions of this letter shall enter into force on the day following the receipt of the confirmation of the Government of the Netherlands of the understanding set out in this letter, for a period of six months. Upon consultation, the parties may renew the provisions set out herein for another period of six months.

  • l) This arrangement shall cease to have effect upon any order of the Trial Chamber granting provisional release or in any other way terminating the regime set out in the Orders of the President of the International Tribunal of 3 and 17 April 1996.

  • m) Upon consultation of the parties, these provisions shall cease to have effect if any of the conditions of the orders of the President of the International Tribunal is no longer fulfilled.

  • n) The parties may, after consultation, decide to adapt or, as appropriate, terminate the arrangements set out in this letter if in the view of the Dutch authorities and the Registrar the safety of the assigned residence and/or the person of General Blaskic is seriously threatened or compromised, rendering the fulfilment of the obligations of the Government of the Netherlands under Article VII of the Headquarters Agreement impossible.

  • o) The Dutch authorities shall inform the Registrar immediately if any of the circumstances referred to in paragraph (n) occur.

I would be grateful if you could confirm that the above is also the understanding of the Government of the Netherlands.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

(sd.) D. DE SAMPAYO GARRIDO-NIJGH

Dorothee de Sampayo Garrido-Nijgh

Registrar

His Excellency

Mr. H. van Mierlo Minister for Foreign Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs THE HAGUE

Annex I

UNDERTAKING

I, the undersigned, as a member of the security personnel made available by the Government of the Netherlands to the United Nations pursuant to the Exchange of letters between the Registrar of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (hereinafter: “the International Tribunal"), and the Government of the Netherlands on the assigned residence of General Blaskic, hereby undertake to abide by the following:

  • a) I understand that, as a member of the Dutch Personnel, I shall not be considered in any respect as being an official or a staff member of the United Nations.

  • b) I further understand that, while in the Netherlands, I will be considered as a “Person Performing Missions for the Tribunal" within the meaning of Article XVII of the Agreement between the United Nations and the Kingdom of the Netherlands concerning the Headquarters of the International Tribunal, and be accorded the legal status of Expert on Mission in accordance with sections 22 and 23 of Article VI of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations of 13 February 1946.

  • c) I shall perform my functions under the authority, and in full compliance with the instructions of the Registrar of the International Tribunal, or any person acting on his behalf.

  • d) I shall respect the impartiality and independence of the International Tribunal and shall not seek nor accept instructions regarding my functions as a member of the Dutch Personnel from any Government or from any authority external to the International Tribunal.

  • e) I shall refrain from any conduct which would adversely reflect on the International Tribunal or the United Nations and shall not engage in any activity that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations or the exercise of my functions.

  • f) I shall exercise the utmost discretion in all matters relating to my functions and shall not communicate, at any time, without the authorization of the Registrar to the media or to any other institution, person, Government or other authority external to the International Tribunal, any information that has not been made public, and which has become known to me by reason of my functions. I shall not use any such information without the authorization of the Registrar and, in any event, such information shall not be used for personal gain. These obligations do not lapse upon termination of my assignment.

  • g) I shall comply with all rules, regulations, procedures, instructions or directives issued by the International Tribunal.

Name printed in block letters

Signature

Date

Nr. II

Hans van Mierlo

MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

The Hague, 17 June 1996

Madam,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 12 June 1996 in which you confirm the understanding of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia concerning the arrangements for the assigned residence of General Blaskic.

In accordance with your request, I wish to confirm on behalf of the Government of the Netherlands, that the understanding reflected in your above-mentioned letter is also the understanding of the Government of the Netherlands.

Please accept, Madam, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Yours, (sd.) H. A. F. M. O. VAN MIERLO

Dorothée de Sampayo Garrido-Nijgh Registrar

International Criminal Tribunal

for the Former Yugoslavia

The Hague

D. PARLEMENT

Het in de brieven vervatte verdrag behoeft ingevolge artikel 7, letter c, van de Rijkswet goedkeuring en bekendmaking verdragen niet de goedkeuring der Staten-Generaal.

G. INWERKINGTREDING

Het in de brieven vervatte verdrag is ingevolge het in artikel V, letter k, van brief Nr. 1 gestelde op 20 juni 1996 in werking getreden.

Wat het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden betreft, geldt het verdrag alleen voor Nederland.

J. GEGEVENS

De Organisatie van de Verenigde Naties is opgericht bij het op 26 juni 1945 te San Francisco tot stand gekomen Handvest van de Verenigde Naties, waarvan de Engelse en de Franse tekst, zoals gewijzigd, zijn geplaatst in Trb. 1979, 37 en de vertaling in het Nederlands, zoals gewijzigd, in Trb. 1987, 113; zie ook, laatstelijk, Trb. 1994, 277.

Het Internationale Tribunaal voor het voormalige Joegoslavië is ingesteld bij Resolutie 827 (1993) van de Veiligheidsraad van de Verenigde Naties. De tekst van die Resolutie is geplaatst in rubriek J van Trb. 1993, 168 (blz. 4 e.v.).

Het Statuut van het ingevolge paragraaf 2 van bovengenoemde Resolutie ingestelde Tribunaal voor de vervolging van personen verantwoordelijk voor ernstige schendingen van internationaal humanitair recht op het grondgebied van het voormalige Joegoslavië is geplaatst in rubriek J van Trb. 1993, 168 (blz. 6 e.v.).

Van het op 29 juli 1994 te New York tot stand gekomen Verdrag tussen het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden en de Verenigde Naties betreffende de zetel van het Internationaal Tribunaal voor de vervolging van personen verantwoordelijk voor ernstige schendingen van het internationaal humanitair recht op het grondgebied van het voormalige Joegoslavië sedert 1991, naar welk Verdrag onder meer in artikel 1, letter b, van brief Nr. I wordt verwezen, is de tekst geplaatst in Trb. 1994, 189.

Van het op 13 februari 1946 te Londen tot stand gekomen Verdrag nopens de voorrechten en immuniteiten van de Verenigde Naties, naar welk Verdrag in letter b van Bijlage I bij brief Nr. I wordt verwezen, zijn de Engelse en de Franse tekst en de vertaling geplaatst in Stb. I 224; zie ook, laatstelijk, Trb. 1994, 210.

In overeenstemming met artikel 19, tweede lid, van de Rijkswet goedkeuring en bekendmaking verdragen heeft de Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken bepaald dat het onderhavige verdrag in Nederland zal zijn bekend gemaakt op de dag na de datum van uitgifte van dit Tractatenblad.

Uitgegeven de vierentwintigste juni 1996

De Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken,

H. A. F. M. O. VAN MIERLO

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