MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
The Hague, 16 December 1992
Dear Mr Secretary General,
I have the honour to refer to the discussions between you and representatives of the
Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands concerning the addition of further privileges
and immunities to those in the agreement constituted by the exchange of notes of 1
December 1959 (Dutch Treaties Series 1958, 181) between the Netherlands Minister for
Foreign Affairs and the Secretary-General of the Hague Conference on Private International
Law, regarding the privileges and immunities of the organs of the Conference.
In the light of the understanding reached in those discussions, I have the honour
to propose that the privileges and immunities as set out in the Annex be added to
those in the agreement constituted by the exchange of notes of 1 December 1959.
I have the honour to propose that if this is acceptable, this note and your note in
reply indicating such acceptance shall constitute an agreement between the Government
of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Hague Conference on Private International
Law, which shall enter into force on the date of receipt of your note in reply and
shall be terminated in the event that the Permanent Bureau is transferred from the
territory of the Netherlands.
With respect to the Kingdom of the Netherlands the agreement constituted by this exchange
of notes shall apply to the part of the Kingdom in Europe only.
In explanation of the text of Point III of the Annex, the following is hereby confirmed:
The proposed text is similar to the provisions of other agreements between the Netherlands
and international organizations, having their seat in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands Government is willing to exempt the personnel of international organizations
and the members of their households from obligatory participation in the Netherlands
social insurance schemes, taking into account that the social security coverage by
the international organizations is comparable to the coverage offered by the Netherlands
schemes. The Netherlands Government has given its consent for exempting the personnel
of the Hague Conference by letter of 1 March 1967.
This exemption will be maintained after the agreement constituted by this exchange
of notes on immunities and privileges (with the text of Point III of the Annex) between
the Netherlands and the Hague Conference has entered into force, notwithstanding the
developments that have taken place in the Netherlands schemes ever since.
The present Pension scheme rules of the Hague Conference, that entered into force
on 1 June 1981, will also be deemed to offer comparable coverage.
As was discussed on 6 October 1992 between you and representatives of the Ministries
of Foreign Affairs and of Social Affairs and Employment, there is one point of concern
on the matter for the Netherlands Government: the health insurance, i.e. the insurance
for medical etc. care (benefits in kind) offered by the Hague Conference, does not
contain the benefits covered under the Exceptional Medical Expenses Act (AWBZ), such
as long term-hospitalization.
It is advised to provide for supplementary insurance for your personnel in this respect.
Please, Mr Secretary-General, accept the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.
(sd.) H. VAN DEN BROEK
H. van den Broek
Mr. G. A. L. Droz
Secretary-General of the
Hague Conference on
Private International Law
at The Hague
