I have the honour to refer to the arrangements concerning the organization of the
United Nations Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System Rapid Deployment Level Workshop
(hereinafter referred to as “the Workshop”). The Workshop falls within the scope of
the mandate of General Assembly resolutions 46/48 of 9 December 1991, 48/42 of 10
December 1993 and 49/37 of 9 February 1995.
The Workshop, organized by the United Nations, represented by the Department of Peace
Operations (hereinafter referred to as “the United Nations”), in cooperation with
the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, represented by the Permanent
Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations (hereinafter referred
to as “the Government”), shall be held at the Jan van Linzel Complex, Brasserskade
227A, 2497 NX The Hague, the Netherlands from 11 to 16 October 2024.
The purpose of the Workshop shall be to provide participants with the knowledge and
expertise to plan and generate military and police units selected from the of United
Nations Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System Rapid Deployment Level.
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1. The Workshop shall be attended by the following 29 participants invited by the United
Nations:
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a) Up to 7 representatives of United Nations Member States who shall participate as students;
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b) Up to 5 representatives from the Government who shall participate as students;
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c) Up to 16 United Nations officials as instructors, facilitators and students;
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d) Up to 2 participants from United Nations Member States as observers.
The final list of participants shall be determined by the United Nations, in consultation
with the Government, prior to the holding of the Workshop.
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2. The Workshop shall be conducted in English.
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3. The United Nations shall be responsible for:
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a) Preparing the Workshop programme, selecting, inviting and appointing facilitators
and observers specified in sub-paragraphs 1(c) and 1(d), selecting and inviting students
specified in sub-paragraph 1(a), inviting students specified in sub-paragraph 1(b),
conducting the Workshop, and preparing the final report;
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b) Arranging and covering the costs for the round-trip air travel for all the participants
specified in sub-paragraph 1(a) and 1(c);
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c) Covering the costs related to the applicable daily subsistence allowance and terminal
expenses in accordance with the prevailing United Nations rates offor1 participants specified in sub-paragraphs 1(a) and 1(c);
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d) Providing soft copies of the United Nations training material and Workshop certificates.
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4. The Government shall be responsible for:
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a) Providing and covering the cost of the Workshop venue, including arranging the provision
of one plenary conference room, four breakout rooms, one secretariat office, one coffee
break area, and one plenary dining room;
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b) Providing and covering the costs of accommodation for all the participants referred
to in paragraph 1.
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c) Arranging the provision of internet, including wireless access, telephone access,
reproduction of workshop materials, office equipment and installations, Workshop facility
set-up, stationery, and office supplies;
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d) Arranging the provision of one heavy-duty photocopier, three computers, three projectors
with screens, one whiteboard, six flipcharts, and microphones for the plenary;
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e) Providing the flag of the United Nations;
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f) Appointing one liaison officer and one administrative staff;
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g) Ensuring that adequate sanitation standards and hygiene protocols are in place for
the Workshop;
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h) Providing adequate medical facilities with personnel qualified in first aid and in
handling emergencies within or outside the Workshop venue and ensuring immediate transportation
and admission to a proximate hospital for serious emergencies whenever required by
any participant.
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5. I wish to propose that the following terms shall apply to the Workshop:
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a)
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(i) The Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations adopted by the General Assembly on 13 February 1946 (hereinafter referred to as “the
Convention”), to which the Kingdom of the Netherlands is a party, shall be applicable
in respect of the Workshop. In particular, representatives of States shall enjoy the
privileges and immunities accorded under Article IV of the Convention. The participants invited by the United Nations shall enjoy the privileges and immunities
accorded to experts on mission for the United Nations under Articles VI and VII of the Convention. Officials of the United Nations participating in or performing functions in connection
with the Workshop shall enjoy the privileges and immunities provided under Articles V and VII of the Convention;
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(ii) Without prejudice to the provisions of the Convention, all participants and persons performing functions in connection with the Workshop
shall enjoy such privileges and immunities, facilities and courtesies as are necessary
for the independent exercise of their functions in connection with the Workshop;
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(iii) Personnel provided by the Government pursuant to this Agreement shall enjoy immunity
from legal process in respect of words spoken or written or any act performed by them
in their official capacity in connection with the Workshop.
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b) All participants and all persons performing functions in connection with the Workshop
shall have the right to unimpeded entry into and exit from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Visas and entry permits, where required, shall be granted free of charge and as speedily
as possible, provided that the general procedures governing the entry and the granting
of visas are fulfilled. Arrangements shall also be made to ensure that visas for the
duration of the Workshop are delivered at the airport of arrival to those who are
unable to obtain them prior to their arrival. Exit permits, where required, shall
be granted free of charge, as speedily as possible and in any case not later than
three days before the closing of the Workshop.
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6. The Government will, at its own expense, furnish such police protection as may be
required to ensure the effective functioning of the Workshop in an atmosphere of security
and tranquility free from interference of any kind. While such police services will
be under the direct supervision and control of a senior officer provided by the Government,
this Officer will work in close cooperation with a designated senior official of the
United Nations. The Government shall, at its own expense, furnish standard security
service to ensure the effective functioning of the Workshop in an atmosphere of security
and tranquility free from interference of any kind. Such security services are under
the direct supervision and control of a senior officer provided by the Government.
This Officer will work in close cooperation with a designated senior official of the
United Nations.
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7. In the event that circumstances, and concerns arise as a result of exceptional circumstances
whereby:
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a) the United Nations and the Government mutually agree that the Workshop is unable to
proceed as scheduled or are required to be held in another format; or
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b) either the United Nations or the Government, upon 10 days minimum advance notice in
writing to the other, requests a postponement, cancellation or modification of format
of the Workshop;
the United Nations and the Government will consult and mutually agree on the settlement
of any matters arising as a result of such postponement, cancellation or modification
of format of the Workshop and, in the case of a postponement or modification of format,
this Agreement will be applicable and be modified to stipulate the new dates or format
of the Workshop, once mutually agreed, by exchange of letters between the United Nations
and the Government.
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8. In the event of a postponement or cancellation of the Workshop pursuant to paragraph
7, the United Nations will not be liable to pay or compensate the Government for any
goods, services or facilities procured, or costs incurred whatsoever, in relation
to or resulting from the Workshop or pursuant to this Agreement.
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9. The Government shall be responsible for dealing with any action, claim or other demand
against the United Nations or its officials and arising out of:
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a) injury to persons or damage to or loss of property in the Workshop premises that are
provided by or are under the control of the Government for the Workshop;
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b) the employment for the Workshop of personnel provided or arranged by the Government;
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c) postponement or cancellation of the Workshop pursuant to paragraph 7 above;
and the Government shall indemnify and hold harmless the United Nations and its officials
in respect of any such action, claim or other demand.
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10. Any dispute concerning the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement, except
for a dispute subject to Section 30 of the Convention or to any other applicable agreement, will be resolved by negotiations or any other
mutually agreed mode of settlement. Any such dispute that is not settled by negotiations
or any other agreed mode of settlement shall be submitted at the request of either
party for a 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 the Chairperson,
then such arbitrators 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 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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11. I further propose that upon receipt of your Government’s confirmation in writing of
the above, this exchange of letters shall constitute an Agreement between the United
Nations and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, on the holding of the United Nations Peacekeeping
Capability Readiness System Rapid Deployment Level Workshop, which will enter into
force on the date of your reply and shall remain in force for the duration of the
Workshop, and for such additional period as is necessary for its preparation and for
all matters relating to any of its provisions to be settled. The total duration of
this Agreement, however, shall not exceed one year.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
Ms. Yoka M.G. Brandt
