Statement by Gennady Kuzmin, Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN, during the virtual informals of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country
Mr. Chairman,
Mr. Under-Secretary General,
We have called this urgent informal meeting of the Committee together with delegations of Iran and Cuba in order to discuss violations of the UN Headquarters Agreement and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations by the Host Country that are ongoing against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The members of the Committee are well aware of these problems. They have been on the agenda of each meeting of the Committee for years: non-issuance of visas, application of travel restrictions and seizure of the diplomatic property of the Russian Federation.
Today many of these issues are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictive measures.
We are appalled by the fact that notwithstanding the COVID-19 pandemic the United States continues to insist on its ultimatum to the Iranian Mission to move its staff members by 15 of August to reside in a new zone designated by the host country. This request does not only violate the UN Headquarters Agreement, the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, disregard the recommendations of this Committee and also General Assembly resolution 74/195, but also is against morals and humanity. We strongly call on the United States to revoke such a demand and respect its international obligations.
Mr. Chairman,
If you allow me, now I would turn to the matter that caused our delegation to call the meeting of the Committee. As you know, the United States authorities illegally seized the diplomatic property of the Russian Federation in Upper Brookville, NY and continue to deny any access to these premises for the representatives of the Russian Federation for almost 4 years. The United States continuously recognized diplomatic status, privileges and immunities of this real property. No observations or complaints from the host country regarding the use of the property have ever been received. The measures taken with respect to Russian Mission's premises are in clear violation of the obligations of the host country under the UN Headquarters Agreement as well as the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Washington openly rejects to discuss and address this issue.
Mr. Chairman,
Mr. Under-Secretary General,
When the Governor of the State of New York declared state of emergency due to the growing COVID-19 pandemic, we requested the return of the mentioned property for the use by the personnel of the mission to diminish the risk associated with the spread of the coronavirus. The Note Verbale has been addressed to the United States Mission to that effect. Now we have requested its circulation as a document of the General Assembly. We did hope that at least humanitarian considerations let alone legal obligations would prevail over political motives. But the United States did not respond to the Note Verbale of the Russian Mission, letting our Embassy in Washington know that we are not to expect a positive reaction.
Thus, the Host Country does not have any intention to resolve this issue or even mitigate the consequences of the current difficult situation for the diplomats that experience the effects of the pandemic. Leaving aside for a moment the legal obligations, such an attitude is not worthy of the status and integrity of the Host Country. Needless to say that it is in blunt disregard of the recommendations of this Committee and the General Assembly resolution 74/195 that in view of the privileges and immunities applicable to the premises of the permanent mission urged “the host country to remove without delay any restrictions applied to the premises of a permanent mission inconsistent with those privileges and immunities, and in that regard to ensure respect for such privileges and immunities”.
Thus, the United States openly ignored the recommendations and decisions of the Committee and the General Assembly. This unacceptable policy is hampering the exercise of the rights and privileges of members of the United Nations.
Let me also take this opportunity to inform the members of the Committee that our Permanent Representative sent a letter to the Secretary-General requesting him to interfere in the situation and facilitate the return of the property.
Mr. Chairman,
Mr. Under-Secretary General,
We would also like to advise the Committee of the meeting of the Permanent Representatives of Russia, Cuba, Iran, Venezuela and Syria with the Secretary-General in the presence of the Chair of the Host Country Committee that took place on the 10th of March. During this meeting we conveyed our serious concerns regarding the crisis in the implementation of the Host Country obligations under the Headquarters Agreement in light of other applicable norms of international law, in particular the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961.
The Secretary-General reassured us that he would take practical measures to resolve the situation. Should they fail he will use Section 21 of the Headquarters Agreement, as it was prescribed by General Assembly resolution 74/195.
We do understand that we all operate under COVID-19 restrictions. However, the violations are on-going and even becoming more serious under the circumstances. In this regard, we would like to ask Under-Secretary General Soares, what has been done for the resolution of the above-stated serious issues.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Additional remark under agenda item 4:
We would like to express serious concern regarding security situation around diplomatic presence of Cuba on the territory of the United States, including its Permanent Mission, in view of an armed attack on the Embassy of Cuba in Washington.
We call on the host country to take all necessary measures to protect the diplomatic missions and personnel of Cuba as well as of other Missions to the United Nations.
