Preparatory Commission for the                                  PC-XIV/A/WP.5        
Organisation for the Prohibition                                21 May 1996          
of Chemical Weapons                                             Original:  ENGLISH   
                                                                                     

(22 - 26 July 1996)

EXPERT GROUP ON THE OPCW HEADQUARTERS AGREEMENT

FOURTH REPORT

1. Introduction

1.1 The Expert Group on the OPCW Headquarters Agreement met in The Hague on 20 and 21 May 1996 to consider the report on the consultations between the Host Country and the Secretariat regarding the draft OPCW Headquarters Agreement.

1.2 Professor Natalino Ronzitti of Italy continued as Chairman of the Expert Group.

2. The draft OPCW Headquarters Agreement

2.1 The Group considered the red-lined version of the draft OPCW Headquarters Agreement dated 13 May 1996, which included a new Separate Arrangement developed by the Secretariat and the Host Country elaborating certain aspects of the draft agreement. This version of the draft OPCW Headquarters Agreement reflected the outcome of the consultations on that subject between the Host Country and the Secretariat.

2.2 Delegations made a number of proposals and suggestions regarding the draft OPCW Headquarters Agreement.

2.3 Without prejudice to the need to approve the draft OPCW Headquarters Agreement as a whole, the Group reached provisional understanding on some of the paragraphs of the draft agreement. It could not reach consensus on the following: paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 5; paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Article 11; Article 13; paragraphs 1, 3 and 5 of Article 14; paragraph 4 of Article 16; paragraph 2 of Article 17; Article 18; paragraph 1 of Article 19; paragraph 3 of Article 21; paragraph 2 of Article 23; paragraph 5 of Article 25; paragraph 3 of Article 26, and subparagraph 3(b) of the Separate Arrangement.

2.4 The Group decided that it should have another meeting during the next intersessional period, with a view to finalising its work.

3. The levying of taxes by States Parties on OPCW salaries and emoluments

The issue was raised of the levying of taxes by States Parties on OPCW salaries and emoluments paid to nationals of those States Parties who are OPCW officials. It was argued that the OPCW shall not pay any compensation to OPCW officials in such a situation, except from money reimbursed to the OPCW by such a State Party. The Group was of the view that this matter required further consideration, and should be dealt with within the context of the OPCW Staff Regulations.

4. Recommendation

The Group recommended that Working Group A schedule a further meeting of this Group during the next intersessional period.

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