UNGA/C-6: UNGA'S SIXTH (LEGAL) COMMITTEE ADOPTS 14

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001112 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNGA SUBJECT: UNGA/C-6: UNGA'S SIXTH (LEGAL) COMMITTEE ADOPTS 14 RESOLUTIONS AND CONCLUDES ITS WORK REF: A. STATE 120867 ¶B. STATE 120839 ¶C. STATE 120339 ¶D. STATE 119645 ¶E. STATE 119217 ¶F. STATE 117582 ¶G. STATE 117575 ¶1. Summary: The 63rd UNGA's Sixth Committee held its final meeting November 14. The Committee on Relations with the Host Country presented its report. During the meeting, the Sixth Committee adopted by consensus 14 draft resolutions. End Summary. REPORT OF THE HOST COMMITTEE -------------- ¶2. France (on behalf of the EU),Mauritius (on behalf of the African Group),Cuba, Iran, India, Russia, and the United States spoke in the debate on the Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country. Several delegations expressed concerns about the issues discussed in the Report including secondary screening at airports, timely issuance of visas, restrictions on travel for some delegations, exemption from property taxes in New York City, and parking. India noted its appeal of the Federal District court decision that existing regulations do not exempt residences, other than that of the head of Mission, from New York City property tax. Cuba and Iran highlighted their problems in getting visas for representatives and expressed their concern over "discriminatory" travel restrictions. Conversely, Russia thanked the United States for its support as the Host Country. ¶3. Per Department guidance, USUN affirmed its fulfillment of Host Country obligations and emphasized the continuing, increasingly successful, efforts to address concerns. USUN noted that personal, non-official travel falls outside the scope of the Host Country's obligations. Following the debate on the Host Country Committee's Report, the Sixth Committee agreed by consensus to recommend the Resolution on the Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country (A/C.6/63/L.18) for adoption by the General Assembly. OBSERVER STATUS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR SAVING THE ARAL SEA (IFSAS) -------------- -------------- ¶4. Ambassador S.M. Aslov, Permanent Representative of Tajikistan, had previously introduced the IFSAS observer status resolution to the Sixth Committee on November 5th, ¶2008. The IFSAS is an intergovernmental organization created in 1993. It thus meets the criteria established by UNGA decision 49/426, for observer status. IFSAS finances joint interstate ecological and scientific programs aimed at saving the Aral Sea. The Sixth Committee recommended by consensus that the General Assembly adopt the resolution approving observer status for IFSAS. (A/C.6/63/L.13). ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS -------------- ¶5. The Sixth Committee also recommended by consensus that the General Assembly adopt the following resolutions: - UNCITRAL-related resolutions: Omnibus Resolution on the Report of UNCITRAL (A/C.6/63/L.4); Legislative Guide on Secured Transactions (A/C.6/63/L.5); United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea (A/C.6/63/L.6); - International Law Commission related resolutions: Report of the International Law Commission (A/C.6/63/L.20 and an amendment thereto A/C.6/63/L.22),as orally amended; Law of Transboundary Aquifers (A/C.6/63/L.21); Nationality of Natural Persons in Relation to the Succession of States (A/C.6/63/L.14); - Criminal Accountability (A/C.6/63/L.10); - Consideration of Effective Measures to Enhance the Protection, Security and Safety of Diplomatic and Consular Missions and Representatives (A/C.6/63/L.12); - Status of the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Convention (A/C.6/63/L.15); - Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations (A/C.6/63/L.19); - The Rule of Law at the National and International Levels (A/C.6/63/L.17); and - Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism (A/C.6/63/L.11). In addition, the Sixth Committee also recommended by consensus that the General Assembly adopt the decision on the Administration of Justice at the United Nations (A/C.6/63/L.9.) and a decision on the schedule of work for the 64th session (A/C.6/63/L.16). The United States joined consensus, per Department instructions (Reftels). Texts of all the draft resolutions can be found on www.un.org through the UN Official Document System. EXPLANATIONS OF POSITION -------------- ¶6. Several countries offered explanations of position (EOP). On the Status of the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Convention (A/C.6/63/L.15),Egypt stated prior to adoption that it had been flexible on the aspects relating to the Third Protocol in order to facilitate consensus. However, the delegate highlighted perceived shortcomings regarding the situation in the Palestinian territory. After the resolution was adopted, Israel said that it would not respond to Egypt's EOP for now, and gave an EOP that noted that Israel had not joined the First and Second Protocols because the language therein had been politicized. ¶7. Four countries gave EOP's regarding Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism (A/C.6/63/L.11). Egypt, Iran, Cuba, and Tunisia expressed misgivings about the inclusion of references to NATO in preambular paragraph 22. The delegates argued that NATO was a military organization, unlike the other international organizations that the paragraph notes are working to prevent and suppress international terrorism. ELECTIONS AND REVITALIZATION OF THE GA -------------- ¶8. The Chair urged regional groups to consult in advance of the 64th UN General Assembly in order to provide nominations for officers of the Sixth Committee at least three months before the start of the next session. In conclusion, New Zealand and Mexico praised the efforts that were made to avoid overlaps of the Sixth Committee meetings with oceans-related meetings and other meetings with legal aspects. The representatives noted that this year the smaller delegations were able to participate fully in both Sixth Committee and General Assembly meetings. New Zealand and Mexico urged scheduling for the 64th General Assembly to continue this practice. The Sixth Committee also decided by consensus to adopt the provisional agenda for next year's session. (A/C.6/63/L.16). Wolff