Tractatenblad 1999, 71

A. TITEL

Briefwisseling tussen het gastheerland, het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden, en het United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) houdende een verdrag inzake een „Forum associated with the five-year review of the Implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD)";

New York, 4 februari 1999

B. TEKST

Nr. I

UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND FONDS DES NATIONS UNIES POUR LA POPULATION

Sir,

I have the honour to refer to the letter dated March 1998, ref. 98/FE/020, (attached)¹, from Mr. J. P. Pronk, former Netherlands Minister for Development Cooperation, which indicated that the Netherlands Government was willing to host a Forum associated with the five-year review of the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and which also indicated that the Netherlands Government was willing to contribute financially to the Forum; and to recent discussions between officials of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

With the present letter, I wish to obtain your Government's acceptance of the following arrangements:

I. Date and Place of the Forum

1. The Forum, organized by UNFPA shall be held at the Netherlands Congress Centre (Nederlands Congres Centrum) in The Hague, from 8- 12 February 1999.

2. The activities related to the Hague Forum shall begin on Sunday, 7 February 1999 and end on Friday, 12 February 1999.

II Attendance at the Forum

1. The Forum shall be open to participation by:

• a. The representatives of States invited to participate by UNFPA;

• b. The representatives of associate members of the regional commissions of the United Nations where UNFPA maintains programmes of assistance;

• c. The representatives of entities, intergovernmental organisations and other entities that have received standing invitations from the General Assembly to participate in conferences in the capacity of observers;

• d. The representatives of specialised agencies of the United Nations;

• e. The representatives of other intergovernmental organisations;

• f. The representatives of interested organs of the United Nations;

• g. The representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including groups, invited by foundations, youth groups and regional parliamentary groups and UNFPA;

• h. Officials of the United Nations;

• i. Experts and consultants in the field of population and development invited by UNFPA;

• j. Other persons invited by UNFPA.

2. The public meetings of the Forum shall be open to representatives of information media accredited by the United Nations at its discretion, after consultation with the Government.

III Responsibilities of UNFPA:

1. Organise the Forum;

2. Issue invitations to the Forum and provide the Government with the list of participants;

3. Finance travel and related expenses for entitled participants;

4. Finance travel and related expenses for UNFPA officials, as well as experts and consultants invited by UNFPA referred to in paragraph II (1)(I) above;

5. In accordance with existing United Nations requirements, select, engage and finance a local contractor and personnel to assist UNFPA in the organisation of the Forum;

6. Organise the registration of participants;

7. Provide a shuttle service to and from the principal hotels and the Forum premises for the duration of the Forum.

IV Responsibilities of the Government

1. The Government shall contribute NLG 1,000,000 towards the costs of the Forum.

2. The Government shall provide medical facilities adequate for first aid in emergencies within the Forum area. For serious emergencies, the Government shall ensure immediate transportation and admission to a hospital.

3. The Government shall furnish such police protection as may be required to ensure the effective functioning of the Conference in an atmosphere of security and tranquillity, free from interference of any kind. While such police services shall be under the direct supervision and control of a senior officer provided by the Government, this officer shall work in close Cooperation with a designated senior official of the United Nations.

V. Liability

1. The Government shall deal with any action, claim or other demand against the United Nations or its personnel arising from:

• a. Injury to persons or damage to or loss of property in the premises provided for the Forum;

• b. Injury to persons or damage to or loss of property incurred in using the transportation provided by the Government for the Forum;

• c. The employment by the Government of local personnel for the Forum.

2. The Government shall indemnify and hold harmless the United Nations and its officials in respect of any such action, claim or other demand, unless the Parties agree that such injury or damage was caused due to gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of UN personnel.

VI Privileges and Immunities

1. The Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, adopted by the General Assembly on 13 February 1946 (hereinafter referred to as the “Convention"), shall be applicable to the Forum. Accordingly, the representatives of States referred to in paragraph II, (1)(a) above, shall enjoy the privileges and immunities provided under Article IV of the Convention; officials of the United Nations performing functions in connection with the Forum referred to in paragraph II(1)(h), above, shall enjoy the privileges and immunities under Articles V and VII of the Convention; and experts and consultants referred to in paragraph II(1)(i), above, shall enjoy the privileges and immunities under Articles VI and VII of the Convention.

2. The representatives of States which are not Members of the United Nations and the representatives referred to in paragraph I (1)(b), above, shall enjoy immunity from legal process in respect of words spoken or written and any act performed by them in connection with their participation in the Forum.

3. The representatives of the specialised agencies of the United Nations, referred to in paragraph I(1)(d), above, shall enjoy the privileges and immunities provided under Articles VI and VIII of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialised Agencies.

4. The participants referred to in paragraph I (1)(c), (e), (f), (g) and (j), above, shall enjoy immunity from legal process in respect of words spoken or written and any act performed by them in connection with their participation in the Forum.

5. The local contractor and personnel engaged to provide services for the Forum under paragraph III (5), above, shall enjoy immunity from legal process in respect of words spoken or written and any act performed by them in connection with the Forum.

6. The Government shall impose no impediments to the transit to and from meetings of persons whose presence at the Forum is authorized by UNFPA and shall grant, without distinction on the ground of nationality, race, sex, religion and political affiliation, any visas required for such persons promptly and without charge, provided that the general conditions concerning entry are fulfilled. They shall be granted facilities for speedy travel.

7. For the purpose of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, the Forum premises shall be deemed to constitute premises of the United Nations in the sense of Section 3 of the Convention and access thereto shall be subject to the authority and control of the United Nations. The premises shall be inviolable for the duration of the Forum, including the preparatory stage and the winding-up.

8. Without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all participants enjoying privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the Netherlands. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of the Netherlands.

VII Settlement of Disputes

Any dispute concerning the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement, except for a dispute subject to the appropriate provisions of the Convention or of any other applicable agreement shall, unless the Parties otherwise agree, be submitted to a tribunal of three arbitrators, one of whom shall be appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, one by the Government, and the third, who shall be the chairman, by the other two arbitrators. If either Party does not appoint an arbitrator within three months of the other Party having notified the name of its arbitrator, or, if the first two arbitrators do not within three months of the appointment or nomination of the second of them appoint the chairman, then such arbitrator shall be nominated by the President of the International Court of Justice at the request of either Party to the dispute.

Except as otherwise agreed by the Parties, the tribunal shall adopt its own rules of procedures, provide for the reimbursement of its members and the distribution of expenses between the Parties, and take all decisions by a two-thirds majority. Its decisions on all questions of procedure and substance shall be final, and, even if rendered in default of one of the Parties, be binding on both of them.

I propose that upon receipt of your confirmation in writing of the above, this exchange of letters shall constitute an Agreement between the United Nations and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which shall enter into force on the date of your reply and shall remain in force for the duration of the Forum and for such additional period as is necessary for its preparation and for all matters relating to any of its provisions to be settled.

Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

(sd.) NAFIS SADIK

Nafis Sadik, M.D. Executive Director

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Nr. II

Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of The Netherlands to the United Nations

Madam,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today, which reads as follows:

(Zoals Nr. I)

In reply to your letter, I hereby confirm, on behalf of the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the above and that this exchange of letters shall constitute an Agreement between the United Nations and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which shall enter into force on the date of this reply and shall remain in force for the duration of the Forum and for such additional period as is necessary for its preparation and for all matters relating to any of its provisions to be settled. The total duration of this Agreement shall not exceed one year.

Accept, Madam, the assurances of my highest consideration.

(sd.) P. VAN WALSUM

Peter van Walsum

Ambassador Permanent Representative

New York, 4 February 1999

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D. PARLEMENT

Het in de brieven vervatte verdrag behoeft ingevolge artikel 7, onderdeel c, van de Rijkswet goedkeuring en bekendmaking verdragen niet de goedkeuring van de Staten-Generaal, alvorens in werking te kunnen treden.

G. INWERKINGTREDING

De bepalingen van het in de brieven vervatte verdrag zijn ingevolge het in de voorlaatste alinea van brief Nr. II gestelde op 4 februari 1999 in werking getreden.

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

J. GEGEVENS

Van het op 13 februari 1946 te Londen tot stand gekomen Verdrag nopens de voorrechten en immuniteiten van de Verenigde Naties, naar welk Verdrag wordt verwezen in paragraaf VI van de onderhavige brieven, zijn tekst en vertaling geplaatst in Stb. I 224; zie ook, laatstelijk, Trb. 1994, 210.

Van het op 21 november 1947 te New York tot stand gekomen Verdrag nopens de voorrechten en immuniteiten van de gespecialiseerde organisaties, naar welk Verdrag wordt verwezen in paragraaf VI van de onderhavige brieven, zijn tekst en vertaling geplaatst inStb.  J 67; zie ook, laatstelijk, Trb. 1994, 211.

In paragraaf VII van de brieven wordt verwezen naar de Secretaris-Generaal van de Verenigde Naties. De Engelse en de Franse tekst, zoals gewijzigd, van het op 26 juni 1945 te San Francisco tot stand gekomen Handvest van die Organisatie zijn geplaatst in Trb. 1979, 37 en de vertaling in Trb. 1987, 113; zie ook, laatstelijk, Trb. 1998, 145. In paragraaf VII van de brieven wordt eveneens verwezen naar de President van het Internationaal Gerechtshof. De Engelse en de Franse tekst van het op 26 juni 1945 te San Francisco tot stand gekomen Statuut van dat Hof zijn geplaatst in Trb. 1971, 55 en de vertaling in Trb. 1987, 114; zie ook, laatstelijk, Trb. 1997, 106.

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 zal zijn bekendgemaakt in Nederland op de dag na de datum van uitgifte van dit Tractatenblad.

Uitgegeven de tweeëntwintigste april 1999

De Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken,

J. J. VAN AARTSEN

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1 Niet afgedrukt.