FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Rome, 2 December 2019
AGA-807(Agm)
Excellency,
I have the honour to refer to the communication of 31 October 2019 from Dr Hendrik-Jan
Roest, Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality,
conveying your Government’s willingness to provide host facilities for the 99th Session
of the Executive Committee of the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth
Disease (EuFMD). It is proposed to hold the Session in The Hague from 8 to 9 April
2020.
I very much appreciate the generous offer made by your Government.
The Session is being convened under the provisions of Article X of the EuFMD Constitution.
The Chairperson (Ireland) and all the Members of the Executive Committee, who are
nationals of the following FAO Member Nations, will be invited: Hungary, France, Netherlands,
North Macedonia, Estonia, Greece, Spain and Turkey. An invitation to attend in an
observer capacity will also be sent to: Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
of the European Commission (DG SANTE), the National Reference Laboratory for Foot-and-Mouth
Disease in Italy (IZSLER), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the World Reference Laboratory
for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (WRLFMD).
The total number of participants is expected to be between 10 and 15.
The Session will be conducted in English.
In order to ensure the smooth functioning of the Session, I should appreciate it if
your Government would undertake to apply the following provisions:
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1. The Government will exercise all reasonable care to ensure security on the premises
in which the Session takes place and to ensure the safety of the officials of FAO
and participants concerned while on such premises. The Government will take whatever
steps may be reasonably required in the circumstances to ensure such security and
such safety, including such supervision of the premises as may be warranted.
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2. The Government recognizes that the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies of 21 November
1947 (hereinafter referred to as “the Convention”) will be applicable to the Session.
Accordingly, representatives of Governments and officials of FAO performing official
functions in connection with the Session will enjoy the privileges and immunities
provided by Articles V and VI of the Convention. FAO declares that participants from organizations are experts on mission within
the meaning of Annex II and VII to the Convention, and consequently it is agreed that
they will enjoy the privileges and immunities provided by those Annexes.
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3. Without prejudice to the provisions of the Convention, all persons performing functions
in connection with the Session shall enjoy immunity from legal process in respect
of words spoken or written in connection with their functions during the Session.
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4. Grant visas and all necessary facilities to delegates, observers and consultants attending
the Session, provided that the general conditions governing the granting of visas
are fulfilled.
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5. The Government will deal with any action, claim, or other demand against FAO or its
personnel arising out of:
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i) injury to person or damage to property in the premises provided for the Session;
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ii) injury to person or damage to property incurred in using the transportation provided
by the Government for the Session;
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ii) the employment by the Government of temporary personnel for the Government.
The Government will hold harmless FAO and its personnel in respect of any such action,
claim or demand, unless these damages were caused by gross negligence or intentionally
caused by personnel of FAO.
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6. Without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all participants
enjoying privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the Netherlands.
They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of the Netherlands.
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7. Any dispute concerning the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement, except
for a dispute subject to the appropriate provisions of the Convention or of any other
applicable agreement, will, unless the parties otherwise agree, be submitted to a
tribunal of three arbitrators, one of whom will be appointed by the Director-General
of FAO, one by the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the third, who
will be the chairman, 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 the chairman, then such arbitrator
will be nominated by the Secretary-General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration 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 reimbursement of
its members and the distribution of expenses between the parties, and take all 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.
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8. Nominate a Liaison Officer who will be responsible for the coordination of local facilities
and arrangements for the Session.
I should appreciate receiving your Government's acceptance of the above responsibilities
by email, as soon as possible (Official-Correspondence-Group@fao.org), so that invitations
and documents may be prepared and issued in good time. This letter and your reply
will constitute the Agreement covering the 99th Session of the Executive Committee
of the EuFMD.
Accept, Excellency, the assurance of my highest consideration.
RAKESH MUTHOO
DirectorConference, Council and Protocol Affairs
His Excellency
Johannes Petrus Hoogeveen
Ambassador
Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to FAO
Rome
