Verdrag tussen het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden, ten behoeve van Curaçao, en de Wereld Meteorologische Organisatie, betreffende de maatregelen voor de zestiende zitting van de WMO Regional Association IV (Noord-Amerika, Centraal Amerika en de Caraïben)

1

In accordance with the WMO Convention, General Regulations and relevant resolutions and decisions of its constituent bodies, the session shall be open to the participation of:

• a)

  duly accredited representatives or observers of:

  • (i)

    all WMO Members;

  • (ii)

    Non-Member States and territories invited in accordance with General Regulation 20;

  • (iii)

    Palestine Liberation Organization in accordance with Resolution 39 of the Seventh Congress of the WMO;

  • (iv)

    Intergovernmental and non-governmental international organizations concerned by virtue of standing invitations or upon invitation approved by the President of the constituent body concerned; and

• b)

  members of the WMO Secretariat designated by the Secretary-General of WMO to serve the session,

• c)

  as well as experts or other persons performing a mission for WMO in connection with the session invited in accordance with General Regulation 19.

2

The WMO shall provide the Government prior to the commencement of the session with a list containing the names of all persons referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article. Thereafter, the WMO shall inform the Government as soon as possible of any changes to the list of participants to the session.

3

All persons referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall enjoy immunity from legal process in respect of words spoken or written and any act performed by them in connection with their participation in the session. Throughout the duration of their participation in the session, including the time required by travel on the territory of Curaçao, they shall not be subject to any measure or arrest or expulsion for the conduct in the exercise of their function or mission.

4

The Government shall make the necessary arrangements in order to facilitate that participants in the session obtain their visas in due time.

5

All persons referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall have the right to take out of Curaçao at the time of their departure, without any restriction, any unexpended portions of the funds they brought into Curaçao in connection with the session and to reconvert any such funds at the current exchange rate.

6

In the event of an international crisis during the session, the Government shall give all persons referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, repatriation facilities comparable to those granted to diplomatic agents.

1

The Government shall arrange for the provision, at its expense, of appropriate premises, including conference rooms for formal and informal meetings, office space, working areas and other related facilities, as well as the equipment and supplies as are required for the effective functioning of the session as specified in Annex II to this Agreement. The premises, equipment and supplies shall remain at the disposal of the WMO 24 hours a day, including two days prior to the session and, on request, up to a maximum of two days after its close.

2

The main conference room shall be equipped with ISO standards booths for simultaneous interpretation in English and Spanish, and shall have facilities for sound recording in two languages (original and English). The room shall also be equipped with a free wireless access-to-internet system for a sustained and uninterrupted use by all participants for the effective functioning of a paperless session.

3

The Government shall, at its expense, furnish, equip and maintain in good repair all these premises and facilities in a manner adequate for the effective conduct of the session.

4

The Government shall assume responsibility for the provision of telecommunication facilities required for the effective functioning of the session and shall meet the costs of all communications made by the WMO for the purpose of the session as authorized by or on behalf of the representative of the Secretary-General at the session.

5

The Government shall arrange for the provision, if possible within the conference area, of bank, post office, travel agent, telephone, fax and internet access facilities.

1

Medical facilities adequate for first aid in emergencies shall be available within the conference area.

2

For serious emergencies, the Government shall ensure immediate transportation and admission to a hospital.

3

The cost of the items set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, as well as medical insurance, will be at one’s own expense.

1

The Government shall make arrangements for the provision of transport between the Curaçao International Airport, the principal hotels and the conference area for the members of the WMO Secretariat servicing the session upon their arrival and departure.

2

The Government shall ensure the availability of transport for all participants and those attending the session between the Curaçao International Airport, the principal hotels and the conference area.

3

The Government shall provide an adequate number of cars with drivers for official use by the principal officers and the Secretariat of the session, as well as such other local transportation as is required by the Secretariat for the effective functioning of the session.

1

The Government shall appoint a liaison officer who shall be responsible, in consultation with the WMO, for making and carrying out the administrative and personnel arrangements for the session as required under this Agreement.

2

The Government shall recruit and provide an adequate number of local staff such as clerks, personnel for the reproduction and distribution of documents, if necessary, sound operators, ushers, messengers, cleaners, secretaries, typists and other personnel required for the proper functioning of the session.

3

The exact requirements in this respect will be established by the WMO in consultation with the Government and will be specified in Annex II.

4

The personnel provided by the Government under the present Article shall enjoy the immunity from legal process in respect of words spoken or written and any act performed by them for WMO in connection with the session.

1

The Government shall allow the temporary importation, tax-free and duty-free, of all equipment, supplies and publications and shall waive import duties and taxes on supplies necessary for the session. It shall issue without delay any necessary import and export permits for this purpose.

2

The WMO may transfer funds to Curaçao for the purposes of the session in the quantities required to cover its expenses and, at the end of the session, transfer out of Curaçao any balance of funds not utilized in the course of the session.

1

The conference premises specified in Article IV, paragraph 1, above, shall be deemed to constitute premises of the WMO and access thereto shall be subject to the authority of the WMO. The premises shall be inviolable for the duration of the session, including the preparatory stage and the winding-up.

2

The appropriate authorities of the Government shall exercise due diligence to ensure that the tranquillity of the session and its participants is not disturbed by any person or persons attempting unauthorized entry or creating disturbances in the immediate vicinity of the premises; if so requested by the representative of the Secretary-General at the session, they shall assist in the preservation of law and order in the premises.

1

The Government shall bear the actual additional costs incurred to hold the session in Curaçao, rather than at WMO Office in San Jose in Costa Rica. Such costs, which are provisionally estimated at 9,012.3 Swiss francs according to the breakdown in Annex I, shall include the actual costs of travel and associated entitlements of the WMO officials assigned to plan for or attend the session, as well as the costs of shipping any necessary equipment and supplies in accordance with the WMO Staff Regulations and Rules and its related administrative practices regarding travel standard as well as baggage, subsistence and terminal allowances.

2

After the session, the WMO shall provide the Government with a detailed statement of accounts showing the actual costs incurred by the WMO, in Swiss francs, using the United Nations official rate of exchange at the time the payments are made. If the actual cost is higher that the additional cost referred to in paragraph 1 of the present Article, the Government shall remit the amount due to WMO within one month of the receipt of the detailed accounts; if it is lower, the WMO will refund the difference to the Government within one month of the establishment of the detailed accounts, or shall dispose of it as instructed by the Government.

3

The final accounts shall be subject to audit as provided in the WMO Financial Regulations, and the final adjustment of accounts shall be subject to any observations which may arise from the audit carried out by the External Auditor of the WMO, whose determination shall be accepted as final by both WMO and the Government.

1

The Government shall be responsible for dealing with any action, claim or other demand against the WMO or its officials and arising out of:

• a)

  Injury to persons or damage to or loss of property in the premises referred to in Article IV that are provided by or are under the control of the Government;

• b)

  Injury to persons or damage to or loss of property caused by, or incurred in, using the transport services referred to in Article VII that are provided by or are under the control of the Government;

• c)

  The employment for the session of the personnel provided by the Government under Article VIII.

2

The Government shall indemnify and hold harmless the WMO and its officials in respect of such action, claim or other demand, except where such damage, loss or injury is caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of the WMO and its personnel.

1

Any dispute between the WMO and the Government concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement that is not settled by negotiation or other agreed mode of settlement shall be referred at the request of either party for final decision to a tribunal of three arbitrators, one to be appointed by the Secretary-General of WMO, one to be appointed by the Government and the third, who shall be the chairman, to be chosen by the first two; if either party fails to appoint an arbitrator within 60 days of the appointment by the other party, or if these two arbitrators should fail to agree on the third arbitrator within 60 days of their appointment, the President of the International Court of Justice may make any necessary appointments at the request of either party. Arbitration shall take place in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), as in force on the date of signature of this agreement.

2

The Parties shall accept the Tribunal’s decision as final and binding.

1

This Agreement may be modified by written agreement between the WMO and the Government.

2

This Agreement shall enter into force immediately upon signature by the Parties and shall remain in force for the duration of the session and for such additional period as is necessary for all matters relating to any of its provisions to be settled, the total duration of this Agreement, however, not to exceed one year.