UN HOST COUNTRY COMMITTEE MEETING OCTOBER 31, 2007

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000975

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR IO/UNP - S EDMONDSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OFDP UN
SUBJECT: UN HOST COUNTRY COMMITTEE MEETING OCTOBER 31, 2007


1. Summary: At its 235th meeting on October 31, 2007, the
19-member UN Committee on Relations with the Host Country
adopted the annual draft Report of the Committee summarizing
Committee meetings during the previous year and including
recommendations and conclusions. USUN Minister-Counselor for
Host Country Affairs represented the United States. Only
three non-Committee member states, Belarus, Syria, and
Portugal, participated as observers. Russia raised the issues
of gasoline tax exemptions for diplomats and the recent
change in the free parking policy for diplomats at JFK
airport. End summary.

Consideration and adoption of the Report of the Committee
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2. The Rapporteur of the Committee, Ana Marcela Calderon
(Costa Rica) introduced the report, and Polly Ioannou
(Cyprus),the facilitator of the negotiations, reported on
the consultations regarding the text, noting changes made
during the negotiations. The Committee adopted the report,
which will be submitted to the Sixth Committee on November
12, 2007 and then forwarded to the General Assembly.

Russia questions gasoline tax and JFK parking fees
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3. The Russian Federation raised the issue of gasoline tax
exemptions for diplomats, which Italy had raised at the
previous Committee meeting. The Russian MUN had received its
first bill and reported that taxes were being levied. Russia
argued that this policy was contrary to the tax exempt status
enjoyed by diplomats under international law, and requested
that the Host Country ensure that New York authorities comply
with the relevant treaty provisions.


4. The Russians also complained that authorities at JFK
airport had started collecting parking fees from diplomatic
vehicles without giving notice of the change in policy to UN
Missions. Russia argued that the change negatively affected
the functioning of its Mission, and was especially
undesirable since diplomatic vehicles are exempt from such
fees in Moscow. Russia called on the Host Country to provide
further information as it becomes available.


5. USUN Minister-Counselor informed the Committee that the
Host Country agreed that the failure to exempt diplomats from
the gasoline tax is inconsistent with international treaties.
He further informed the Committee that the State of New York
still recognizes the exemption, and that gasoline companies'
misinterpretation of a recent decision by New York's highest
court had caused a change in the manner in which an exemption
can be obtained. The decision made it illegal for third
parties (the gasoline companies) to request a tax exemption
for an individual or party. The diplomats must now request
this exemption themselves. The Office of Foreign Missions has
been informed by NY State authorities that the legislation
needed to resolve the problem should pass during the next
special session of the New York State Assembly. All exemption
practices are then expected to revert to normal after the
Governor of New York signs the legislation. In the interim
diplomats should save relevant records in order to claim
reimbursement.


6. Regarding airport parking, USUN Minister-Counselor
explained that the United States Mission was aware of neither
the JFK policy to exempt diplomats from parking fees nor the
subsequent change in that policy until recently. Initial
conversations with the Port Authority suggested that JFK
airport has had a provision in place for years authorizing
the exemption of parking fees for Ambassadors,
Counsuls-General, Heads of State, and others of similarly
high rank. USUN Minister-Counselor called on affected member
states to provide USUN with as much information as possible
regarding areas in the airport where fees were now being
charged and were not previously. USUN Minister-Counselor also
cautioned the Committee that since the Port Authority of New
York and New Jersey is not a federal agency, USUN's power to
act on this matter may be limited. More information on this
issue will be provided to the Committee when available.

Next Committee Meeting
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7. The next Host Country Committee meeting will be scheduled
for early January.
Khalilzad