EU Presidency Statement - Relations with Host Country

STATEMENT ON THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON RELATIONS WITH THE HOST COUNTRY BY THE UNITED KINGDOM ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SIXTH COMMITTEE, New York

Mr Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The following countries align themselves with this statement: the acceding countries Bulgaria and Romania; the candidate countries Croatia* and Turkey; the countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; the EFTA country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area; and other aligning countries Moldova and Ukraine.

Mr Chairman,

The European Union wishes to express its appreciation for the work of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country. The Committee remains an important forum for discussing and resolving problems which might arise for Delegations and Missions accredited to the United Nations in New York.

The European Union would like to thank the host country for its efforts to accommodate the interests and requirements of the diplomatic community in New York. We thank the Chairman of the Committee His Excellency Ambassador Mavroyiannis of Cyprus for his presentation of the report. We should also like to pay tribute to Her Excellency Ambassador Castro de Barish of Costa Rica for her many years of service and wish her well in her retirement.

Mr Chairman,

The Committee has dealt with a diverse range of issues relating to transportation, immigration and customs procedures, entry visas, exemption from taxes and travel regulations. The European Union has studied carefully the report of the Committee and supports its recommendations and conclusions. The European Union hopes that the Committee will continue to work in a spirit of co-operation to resolve issues raised. We have full confidence in the host country's commitment to take any necessary measures to ensure the effective functioning of Missions.

Thank you Mr Chairman.


* Croatia continues to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

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