Agreement between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the International Nickel Study
Group concerning the Headquarters of the Group
[Regeling vervallen per 31-12-2005]
The Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
and
The International Nickel Study Group,
Bearing in mind that the terms of reference of the International Nickel Study Group
as adopted on 2 May 1986 by the United Nations Conference on Nickel, 1985, contains
provisions regarding the legal status of the Group in the host country.
Having regard to the decision of the Inaugural Meeting of the International Nickel
Study Group to establish the Headquarters of the Group in the Kingdom of the Netherlands
in accordance with paragraph 7 of its terms of reference;
Taking into account that the establishment of the Headquarters of the Group in the
territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands makes further provisions desirable,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1. Definitions
[Regeling vervallen per 31-12-2005]
In this Agreement:
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a. "the terms of reference of 1986" means the terms of reference of the International
Nickel Study Group as adopted on 2 May 1986 by the United Nations Conference on Nickel,
1985;
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b. "the Group" means the International Nickel Study Group;
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c. "the Government" means the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands;
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d. "staff members" means persons appointed or recruited for employment by the Group for
the carrying out of its official activities, with the exclusion of persons in domestic
service of the Group and persons recruited locally and assigned to hourly rates of
pay;
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e. "representatives of members" means heads of delegations and alternates of members
of the Group, as well as government and industry advisers in their capacity of members
of delegation;
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f. "official activities of the Group" means those activities undertaken pursuant to the
terms of reference of 1986, including the Group's administrative activities;
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g. "premises of the Group" means buildings, parts of buildings, as well as conference
facilities in use outside of the buildings normally occupied by the Group for the
fulfilment of its official functions.
Article 2. Legal status
[Regeling vervallen per 31-12-2005]
The Group shall have legal personality in the Netherlands. It shall, in particular,
have the capacity to enter into contracts and to acquire and to dispose of movable
and immovable property in the Netherlands, and to institute legal proceedings.
Article 3. Inviolability of the premises
[Regeling vervallen per 31-12-2005]
The premises of the Group shall be inviolable. Any person authorized to enter any
place under any legal provision or on the strength of the law shall not exercise that
authority in respect of the premises of the Group unless permission to do so has been
given by or on behalf of the Secretary-General. Such permission may, however, be assumed
in case of fire or other emergencies requiring prompt protective action.
In other cases the Secretary-General or the person acting on his behalf will give
serious consideration to a request for permission from the Netherlands authorities
to enter the premises, without prejudice to the interests of the Group.
Article 4. Inviolability of the archives
[Regeling vervallen per 31-12-2005]
The archives of the Group, wherever located, shall be inviolable. Inviolability of
the archives shall apply to all records, correspondence, documents, manuscripts, photographs,
films, recordings and computer data and computer files belonging to or held by the
Group.
Article 5. Immunity from juridical proceedings
[Regeling vervallen per 31-12-2005]
Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 13 of the terms of reference of 1986,
the Group, its property and assets, wherever located and by whomsoever held, shall
enjoy the same immunity from legal process as foreign states, their properties and
assets in the Netherlands enjoy in accordance with international law.
In any event, immunity shall not extend to a civil action by a third party for damage
arising from an accident caused by a motor-vehicle belonging to or operated on behalf
of the Group or to a motor-traffic offence involving such a vehicle.
Article 6. Communications
[Regeling vervallen per 31-12-2005]
Article 7. Publications
[Regeling vervallen per 31-12-2005]
The circulation of publications and other information material sent by or to the Group,
in the fulfilment of its purposes, shall not be restricted in any way.
Article 8. Exemption from taxes and duties
[Regeling vervallen per 31-12-2005]
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3 Goods acquired or imported under paragraph 1 of this article shall not be sold, given
away, or otherwise disposed of, except in accordance with conditions agreed upon with
the Government.
Article 9. Freedom of assets from restriction
[Regeling vervallen per 31-12-2005]
Without being restricted by financial controls, regulations or moratoria of any kind
the Group may:
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a. hold funds, gold or currency of any kind and operate accounts in any currency;
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b. freely transfer its funds, gold or currency to or from the Netherlands or within the
Netherlands and convert any currency held by it into any other currency.
Article 10. Representatives of members
[Regeling vervallen per 31-12-2005]
The representatives of members of the Group:
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a. shall be immune from legal process with respect to acts performed by them in their
official capacity, including words written or spoken, even after the termination of
their mission. This immunity, however, shall not apply in case of a civil action by
a third party for damage arising from an accident caused by a motor-vehicle belonging
to or driven by him or her.
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b. shall enjoy inviolability of all their official papers and documents.
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c. shall be granted visa free from charges.
Article 11. Secretary-General
[Regeling vervallen per 31-12-2005]
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1 The Secretary-General shall, together with members of the family forming part of his
household, not being servants, enjoy the privileges and immunities to which a Head
of a diplomatic Mission in the Kingdom of the Netherlands is entitled, unless they
are either a Netherlands national or a permanent resident of the Netherlands.
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3 The members of the family referred to in paragraph 1 of this article shall not, when
they practise a professional or commercial activity for personal profit, enjoy immunity
from administrative and civil jurisdiction in respect of acts performed in the course
of or in connection with the practice of such activities.
However the immunity with regard to the execution of the judgement will stand unless
waived in accordance with paragraph 2 of article 15.
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5 Except insofar as additional immunities may be granted by the Netherlands Government,
the Secretary-General, who is a Netherlands national or permanently resident in the
Netherlands shall enjoy only immunity from jurisdiction and inviolability in respect
of official acts performed in the exercise of his functions.
Article 12. Staff members
[Regeling vervallen per 31-12-2005]
Article 13. Experts
[Regeling vervallen per 31-12-2005]
Experts (other than staff members) in the exercise of their functions in connection
with the Group or in carrying out missions for the Group shall enjoy the following
privileges and immunities to the extent that they are necessary for the carrying out
of their functions, including journeys made in carrying out their functions and in
the course of such missions:
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a. even after they have ceased to be employed by the Group immunity from jurisdiction
in respect of acts done by them in the exercise of their functions, including words
written or spoken, except in the case of a motor-traffic offence committed by an expert
or in the case of damage caused by a motor-vehicle belonging to or driven by him;
-
b. inviolability for all their official papers and documents; and
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c. shall be granted visa free from charges.
Article 14. Notification
[Regeling vervallen per 31-12-2005]
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2 The privileges and immunities granted to the respective categories of persons referred
to under paragraph 1 of this article will be implemented upon arrival of such persons
and will be repealed two weeks after notification to the Ministry that either the
person has terminated his or her function with the Group, or has ceased to be a member
of the family of a person referred to under paragraph 1, sub a, or has left the employ
of such a person. In any case, privileges and immunities will be repealed immediately
after final departure of the persons concerned.
Article 15. Social security
[Regeling vervallen per 31-12-2005]
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2 In the event that the Group shall have established its own social security system
or shall have adhered to a social security scheme in both cases offering coverage
comparable to the coverage under Netherlands legislation, the Group and its employees
to whom the aforementioned scheme applies, shall be exempt from social security provisions
in force in the Netherlands, unless the employee takes up a gainful activity in the
Netherlands.
Article 16. General provisions
[Regeling vervallen per 31-12-2005]
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1 The immunities, and privileges provided for in this Agreement are granted in the interest
of the Group and not for the personal benefit of the individuals themselves. It is
the duty of the Group and all persons enjoying such immunities and privileges to observe
in all other respects the laws and regulations of the Netherlands.
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2 The Secretary-General shall have the right and the duty to waive the immunity of the
Group and any staff member, in cases where the immunity would impede the course of
justice and can be waived without prejudice to the interests of the Group. In respect
of the Secretary-General of the Group the Group has a similar right and duty.
Article 17. Implementation, modification and revision
[Regeling vervallen per 31-12-2005]
At the request of either Party, consultations shall take place with respect to the
implementation, modification or revision of this Agreement.
Any understanding, modification or revision may be given effect by an exchange of
notes between the Government and the SecretaryGeneral.
Article 18. Termination
[Regeling vervallen per 31-12-2005]
This Agreement will be terminated in the event of the Headquarters being moved from
the territory of the Netherlands. The provisions of this Agreement relevant in connection
with the orderly termination of the operations of the Group in the Netherlands and
the disposal of its property shall, however, remain applicable as long as necessary,
but no longer than six months after notification to the Government that the Group
will terminate its operation in the Netherlands.
Article 19. Entry into force
[Regeling vervallen per 31-12-2005]
