Mr. Chairman,
The Cuban delegation is grateful to you for convening this meeting of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country, and we seize this opportunity to reiterate once again our full support and express our best wishes in your tenure in this year that has just begun.
As members of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country, we work to ensure that it timely addresses all issues that arise in the relations among the Organization, the Member States and the Host Country.
Mr. Chairman,
Cuba reiterates that the policies to apply movement restrictions to diplomats from different countries accredited to the United Nations is unfair, selective, discriminatory, politically motivated and openly contravenes the obligations of the Host Country contained in the Headquarters Agreement and the customary norms of Diplomatic Law .
The Host Country continues to fail to take concrete steps in order to eliminate this unjustifiable measure that prevents personnel from several countries, including the Cuban staff, from moving beyond the area within the 25-mile radius from Columbus Circle. Likewise, beyond the simple matter of information, it constrains them to an authorization application process that takes time to be issued and, in many cases, is denied.
This arbitrary and unjustified limit is contrary to the general rule on the free movement of diplomats, generates additional problems in the diplomatic performance of the Missions and must be immediately removed.
Mr. Chairman,
In this regard, Cuba recalls that Article 26 of the Vienna Convention establishes that without prejudice to its laws and regulations concerning areas of prohibited and regulated access for reasons of national security, the receiving State must guarantee all the members of the mission freedom of movement and transit throughout its territory. Likewise, the Headquarters Agreement establishes in section 12 that its provisions will be applicable regardless of the existing relations between the Governments of the representatives or officials and the United States Government.
Mr. Chairman,
Cuba once again calls for actions through dialogue and respect for international law that greatly contribute to improved diplomatic relations of the countries accredited to the United Nations, within a framework of security and strict compliance with the provisions of the Vienna Conventions and the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States concerning the Headquarters of the Organization.
On the other hand, Cuba reiterates that respect for diplomatic properties is of vital importance and special sensitivity for the effective exercise of the functions of the missions and their diplomatic agents to the United Nations.
In this regard, Cuba once again rejects any act that infringes diplomatic immunity, both for locals and for diplomatic agents, and encourages the adoption of all relevant measures aimed at preventing the occurrence of such acts.
Cuba believes that the Host Country is under an obligation to take all appropriate steps to fulfill its international obligations, according to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961.
To conclude, we reiterate our commitment to working with all the Members of the Committee in order to enforce the relevant provisions of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the United Nations Headquarters Agreement, with transparency, without discrimination and in full respect for the sovereignty of States and the Organization.
Thank you very much