Overeenkomst tussen de Regering van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden en de Verenigde Naties betreffende de Negentiende Bijeenkomst van de Staten die partij zijn bij het Verdrag inzake het verbod van het gebruik, de aanleg van voorraden, de productie en de overdracht van anti-personeelmijnen en inzake de vernietiging van deze wapens

Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United Nations regarding the Nineteenth Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction

WHEREAS the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (hereinafter referred to as “the Convention”) was concluded at Oslo on 18 September 1997;

WHEREAS the Convention, pursuant to its Article 17, paragraph 1, entered into force on 1 March 1999, i.e., the first day of the sixth month after the month in which the 40th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession had been deposited;

WHEREAS, in accordance with Article 11, paragraph 2 of the Convention, the First Meeting of the States Parties was convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations within one year after the entry into force of the Convention in Maputo, Mozambique, from 3 to 7 May 1999;

WHEREAS, in accordance with Article 11, paragraph 2 of the Convention, subsequent Meetings were convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations annually until the First Review Conference as follows: in Geneva, Switzerland, from 11 to 15 September 2000; in Managua, Nicaragua, from 18 to 21 September 2001; in Geneva, Switzerland, from 16 to 20 September 2002; in Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand, from 15 to 19 September 2003;

WHEREAS, in accordance with Article 12 of the Convention, the First Review Conference was convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations five years after the entry into force of this Convention in Nairobi, Kenya, from 29 November to 3 December 2004;

WHEREAS, in accordance with the relevant decision of the First Review Conference, as contained in the Final Report of the Conference (APLC/CONF/2004/5, paragraph 32 (a)), subsequent meetings were convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations annually until the Second Review Conference, as follows: in Zagreb, Croatia, from 28 November to 2 December 2005; in Geneva, Switzerland, from 18 to 22 September 2006; at the Dead Sea, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, from 18 November to 22 November 2007; and in Geneva, Switzerland, from 24 to 28 November 2008;

WHEREAS, in accordance with Article 12, paragraph 1, of the Convention, and the relevant decision by the Ninth Meeting of the States Parties, as contained in the Final Report of the Meeting (APLC/MSP.9/2008/4, paragraph 33), the Second Review Conference was convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Cartagena, Colombia, from 30 November to 4 December 2009;

WHEREAS, in accordance with the relevant decision of the Second Review Conference that Meetings of the States Parties shall be convened annually until the Third Review Conference, as contained in the Final Report of the Conference (APLC/CONF/2009/9, paragraph 29 (i)), subsequent meetings were convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations as follows: in Geneva, Switzerland, from 29 November to 3 December 2010; in Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia, from 28 November to 2 December 2011; and in Geneva, Switzerland, from 3 to 7 December 2012, and from 2 to 5 December 2013;

WHEREAS, in accordance with the decision of the Thirteenth Meeting of the States Parties, as contained in its Final Report (APLC/MSP.13/2013/6, paragraph 32) the Third Review Conference of the States Parties was convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Maputo, Mozambique, from 23 to 27 June 2014;

WHEREAS, in accordance with the relevant decision of the Third Review Conference that, beginning in 2015, a Meeting of the States Parties will be convened each year at the end of November or beginning of December until the end of 2018, as contained in the Final Report of the Conference (APLC/CONF/2014/4, paragraph 31), subsequent meetings were convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations as follows: in Geneva, Switzerland, from 30 November to 4 December 2015; in Santiago, Chile, from 28 November to 2 December 2016; in Vienna, Austria, from 18 to 21 December 2017; and in Geneva, Switzerland, from 26 to 30 November 2018;

WHEREAS, in accordance with the decision of the Seventeenth Meeting of the States Parties, as contained in its Final Report (APLC/MSP.17/2018/12, paragraph 48) the Fourth Review Conference of the States Parties was convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Oslo, Norway, from 25 to 29 November 2019;

WHEREAS, in accordance with the relevant decision of the Fourth Review Conference that a Meeting of the States Parties will be convened each year at the end of November or beginning of December until the Fifth Review Conference (APLC/CONF/2019/5, paragraph 34 (i)), a subsequent meeting was convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, from 16 to 20 November 2020;

WHEREAS the General Assembly of the United Nations, by resolution 75/52 of 7 December 2020, requested the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in accordance with Article 12, paragraph 1, of the Convention, to undertake the preparations necessary to convene the Nineteenth Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention and, on behalf of the States parties and in accordance with Article 12, paragraph 3, of the Convention, to invite States not parties to the Convention, as well as the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations, to attend the Nineteenth Meeting of the States Parties as observers;

WHEREAS, in accordance with the decision of the Eighteenth Meeting of the States Parties, as contained in its Final Report (APLC/MSP.18/2020/10, paragraph 108), and resolution 75/52 of the General Assembly of the United Nations, the Nineteenth Meeting of the States Parties is convened to take place in The Hague, the Netherlands, from 15 to 19 November 2021;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Article 14, paragraph 1 of the Convention, the costs of the Nineteenth Meeting, as adopted by the States parties and contained in APLC/CONF/2019/4, shall be borne by the States Parties and States not parties to the Convention participating therein, in accordance with the United Nations scale of assessments adjusted appropriately;

NOW THEREFORE, the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (the “Government”) and the United Nations, represented by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (the “United Nations”), , hereinafter each referred to as a “Party” and jointly referred to as the “Parties”, hereby agree as follows:

Article

I

Date, venue and format of the Meeting

Article

II

Attendance

Article

III

Premises, equipment, utilities and supplies

Article

IV

Accommodation

The Government shall ensure that adequate accommodation in hotels or residences is available upon reasonable notice at commercial rates for persons organizing, servicing, participating in, or attending the Meeting.

Article

V

Medical Facilities, sanitation standards and hygiene protocols

Article

VI

Transport

Article

VII

Police protection

The Government shall furnish such police protection as may be required to ensure the effective functioning of the Meeting in an atmosphere of security and tranquility, free from interference of any kind. While such police services shall be under the supervision and control of a senior officer provided by the Government, this officer shall work in close cooperation with a designated senior official of the United Nations.

Article

VIII

Local personnel

Article

IX

Financial arrangements

Article

X

Implications of the COVID-19 pandemic

Article

XI

Liability

Article

XII

Privileges and immunities

Article

XIII

Settlement of disputes

Any dispute between the United Nations and the Government concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement, except for a dispute subject to Section 30 of the General Convention or to any other applicable agreement, shall, unless the Parties otherwise agree, be resolved by negotiations or any other agreed mode of settlement. Any such dispute that is not settled by negotiation or other agreed mode of settlement shall be submitted at the request of either Party for final decision to a tribunal of three arbitrators, one of whom shall be appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, one by the Government, and the third, who shall be the Chairperson, by the other two arbitrators. If either Party does not appoint an arbitrator within three months of the other Party having notified the name of its arbitrator, or if the first two arbitrators do not within three months of the appointment or nomination of the second one of them appoint a Chairperson, then such arbitrator shall be nominated by the President of the International Court of Justice at the request of either Party to the dispute. Except as otherwise agreed by the Parties, the tribunal shall adopt its own rules of procedure, provide for the reimbursement of its members and the distribution of expenses between the Parties, and take all the decisions by a two-thirds majority. Its decisions on all questions of procedure and substance shall be final and, even if rendered in default of one of the Parties, be binding on both of them.

Article

XIV

Annex

The Annex of the present Agreement shall form an integral part of the Agreement, and unless expressly provided otherwise, a reference to this Agreement constitutes, at the same time a reference to any Annex hereto.

Article

XV

Final provisions

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned being duly authorized plenipotentiary of the Government and duly appointed representative of the United Nations, have on behalf of the Parties signed the present Agreement in two copies in the English language.

DONE on this 12th day of November two thousand and twenty-one.

For the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands,

TOM DE BRUIJN

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation

For the United Nations,

IZUMI NAKAMITSU

Under Secretary-General

High Representative for Disarmament Affairs

Annex

Premises, equipment, utilities and supplies, as well as local personnel to be made available by the Netherlands to assist the United Nations staff

I. Conference rooms

  • 1.

    Plenary Hall (King Willem Alexander) shall be equipped as follows:

    • a.

      Seats and earphones for about 300 delegates, as follows: seats for 150 delegations (of States, UN and Specialized Agencies, other intergovernmental organizations and NGOs) shall be made available on the main floor, with a table and one seat per delegation as well as one microphone per table. Additional overflow seats for approximately 150 delegates shall be set on the balcony of the Plenary Hall. The tables and seats shall be placed at a sufficient social distance.

    • b.

      The podium (King Willem Alexander Stage) shall be equipped with five seats at a table and a row of seats behind the table and seats. The podium shall be equipped with 3-5 microphones. The podium shall be easily accessible for wheelchairs. One standing lectern wired for simultaneous interpretation shall also be made available to be used only in the case of VIP speakers at the opening plenary. There shall be a backdrop with the logo of the Meeting behind the podium. Screens shall be placed in front of the podium to allow for on-line participation. Three flagpole holders shall be arranged for the UN, the Dutch and the Convention flags.

    • c.

      Interpretation booths of which the general characteristics are specified in the ISO 2603.2016 shall be made available as well as equipment for simultaneous interpretation in the six languages of the Meeting, including equipment for remote simultaneous interpretation (RSI), which shall include the necessary PCs for RSI moderators, as well as equipment for digital sound recordings of the English and the floor channels. Interpreters shall be able to switch to seven channels, i.e. the original language (the “floor” channel) as well as the six language channels. The Arabic and Chinese booths shall be equipped with a system which allows the interpreters to override either the English or French booth so that they can work into those languages without physically moving to either booth. Strong and stable internet connection and reliable RSI shall be made available to allow remote participation.

    • d.

      A sound amplification system so that the “floor” channel is heard around the room by available loudspeakers, and audio-visual infrastructure and equipment shall be made available, including the capacity to follow on-line participation, to show DVDs and to make Power Point presentations. The above shall also include large screen(s) connected to the audio-visual infrastructure, as well as a PC from which the Power Point and other audio-visual presentations can be followed.

    • e.

      Two desks and chairs shall be placed on both sides of the podium for the conference officers and the ISU staff. The desks shall be wired for reception of interpretation. They shall also have one PC with printer/scanner and internet connection and earphones for reception of interpretation and one medium-size photocopier which shall be located in the vicinity (somewhere in the backstage area, close to the desks).

  • 2.

    Side events room I/Press room (Yangtze 1&2): theatre style for about 50 participants with a center-aisle so that a straight camera shot to the front of the room shall be made possible; a slightly elevated podium for 4-6 persons with a ramp for easy access to the podium by wheelchairs; a backdrop with the logo of the Meeting behind the podium; adequate sound amplification system; direct audio fits; one PC connected to a projector and a screen for audio-visual presentations, including on-line participation; tables at the far end of the room for documents distribution, as well as outside the room for catering.

  • 3.

    Side events room II (Amazon): theatre style for about 50 participants, a slightly elevated podium for 3-5 persons; adequate sound amplification system, including wireless microphones; one PC connected to a projector and a screen for audio-visual presentations, including on-line participation; tables close to the entrance for documents/materials distribution.

  • 4.

    Side events room III (Onyx): theatre style for about 50 participants with a slightly elevated podium for 3-5 persons; adequate sound amplification system, including wireless microphones; one PC connected to a projector and a screen for audio-visual presentations, including on-line participation; tables close to the entrance for documents/materials distribution.

  • 5.

    Side events room IV (Oceania): theatre style for about 50 participants with a slightly elevated podium for 3-5 persons; adequate sound amplification system, including wireless microphones; one PC connected to a projector and a screen for audio-visual presentations, including on-line participation; tables close to the entrance for documents/materials distribution.

    All places shall respond to high standards in terms of physical accessibility (including accessibility into and within each meeting room, ramps where necessary including at the main entrance of the building and to the podium of the Plenary Hall, etc.) and to social distancing requirement.

II. Office space and equipment

  • 1.

    Office of the President (Africa): one workstation, VIP lounge furniture and equipment, as necessary and square box table with seats.

  • 2.

    Secretary-General and President Substantive support staff offices / The Government’s team (Antarctica): workstations as required; furniture and equipment, as necessary.

  • 3.

    Office of the Executive Secretary/UNODA staff (Europe 2): one workstation and available photocopier/scanner/printer.

  • 4.

    Office of the ISU (Europe 1): one workstation and available printer.

  • 5.

    Office of the ISU (Asia): three workstations and available printer and one medium-size photocopier/scanner.

  • 5.

    Interpreters lounge (Murrey): lounge area to accommodate about 8-10 interpreters; one small board for posting assignments.

  • 6.

    Sponsorship programme (Thames): at least one lockable drawer; furniture and equipment, as necessary.

  • 7.

    UN Mine Action Team Office (Seine): table with chairs.

  • 8.

    ICBL office (South America): table with chairs.

  • 9.

    Bilateral meeting room I (North America): furniture and equipment as necessary.

  • 10.

    Bilateral meeting room II (Central America): furniture and equipment as necessary.

  • 11.

    VIP office I (Nile): furniture and equipment as necessary.

  • 12.

    VIP office II (Volga I and II): furniture equipment as necessary.

III. Other facilities

  • 1.

    Registration centre and security access (Princess Amalia/ Princess Ariane): equipment as necessary.

  • 2.

    Infodesk / List of participants (KWA foyer, Level 0): PCs and equipment as necessary.

  • 3.

    Documents Reproduction area: heavy-duty photocopier(s) and reams of A4 paper; furniture and equipment as necessary. The meeting is paper-smart, however, a limited number of documents shall be reproduced for distribution in the room (list of participants, final report, and draft decisions).

  • 4.

    First aid room (EHBO ruimte).

  • 5.

    Media Center.

  • 6.

    Business centre area: 4-6 PCs with Internet access and a printer (in the Oceania foyer).

  • 7.

    Exhibition areas: exhibition tables and boards as appropriate.

  • 8.

    Catering area.

  • 9.

    Notice board(s) to display the daily programme of the meetings.

IV. Basic office and electrical supplies

Pads, pencils, pencil sharpeners, staplers, scissors, cellophane tape, thumb tacks, water jars, glasses and trays for conference rooms and interpreters’ booths; sufficient paper and toner for printers and photocopiers; memory cards or recordable CDs for sound recording/archives. Surge protectors for all electrical equipment, i.e., computers, printers, photocopiers, telefax machines, etc., shall be provided.

V. Security

Equipment needs shall be determined by the Government in consultation with the United Nations Security Liaison official designated for the Meeting.

VI. Local Personnel

Local personnel (students) shall be assigned by the Government to assist the Secretariat in the efficient servicing of the Meeting. This would include, inter alia, the following:

  • 1.

    1–2 secretaries fluent in English (for the list of participants).

  • 2.

    3–4 assistant conference room officers fluent in English.

  • 3.

    Registration officers, sound engineer/technicians for maintenance of sound recording and of simultaneous interpretation equipment, the local area network, and the photocopying equipment, RSI moderator, and whatever specialists may be needed for the normal functioning of the premises and the equipment.

  • 4.

    Security staff.