Preparatory Commission for the	PC-IX/HC/4
Organisation for the Prohibition	3 November 1994
of Chemical Weapons	Original:  ENGLISH

Ninth Session

(5 - 9 December 1994)

NOTE BY THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

LETTER FROM THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE NETHERLANDS CONCERNING THE

OPCW BUILDING

Member States were provided with sight of a draft letter to be forwarded to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands by the Chairman of the Commission and the Executive Secretary on the question of the terms for the use of the land at the Catsheuvel site, the turnkey costs of the building, and seeking assurances from the Host Country as to the continued availability of conference facilities at an affordable cost at the nearby Netherlands Congress Centre (Attachment 3 to PC-VIII/HC/3).  The letter from the Chairman of the Commission and the Executive Secretary was forwarded to the Minister on 9 September 1994.  A copy of the reply from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, addressed to the Chairman of the Commission and the Executive Secretary, is attached.

Attachment

Letter dated 26 October 1994 from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands addressed to the Chairman of the Commission and the Executive Secretary.

LETTER FROM THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE NETHERLANDS, DATED 26 OCTOBER 1994, ADDRESSED TO THE CHAIRMAN AND THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE PREPARATORY COMMISSION FOR THE OPCW

Chairman and Executive Secretary,

With reference to your esteemed letter 166/94 of 9 September 1994 regarding the permanent Headquarters building for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, I inform you as follows.

The annexes to the "Paris Resolution" containing "the Netherlands bid" constitute the framework within which issues concerning, in particular, the Commission's headquarters or facilities for the Conferences of the States Parties are to be dealt with.  It is in this framework that a comprehensive package has been presented to you aimed at reaching a solution for the outstanding issues, including those mentioned in your letter.

This package takes into consideration the view of member states of the Commission that they do not expect to pay a commercial price for the use of the site for the permanent accommodation.  The arrangement results in a payment/rent for the building that includes no component for the land.  The land will be made available free of charge for a period of 99 years.  This will probably result in a rental price which will be lower than the guaranteed price of US$ 250, = mentioned in Annex 3 of the Paris resolution.

The turn key costs as contained in the Programme of Requirements, established by the Preparatory Commission, have been included in the package as tabled.

In the Netherlands bid it is stated that a Conference Room will be made available.  The Netherlands side has presented a specification during the September 1994 session of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country.  A further report will be presented during the forthcoming session of the Committee, in particular concerning the availability of suitable facilities at the Netherlands Congress Centre beyond the period when they are to be provided under the Netherlands bid.

In view of the aforementioned, I trust that the forthcoming Plenary of the Preparatory Commission for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in December next will be in a position to give its full approval to the new building project.

                                                                                    Yours sincerely,

                                                                                    [signed]

                                                                                    Mr. H.A.F.M.O. van Mierlo

                                                                                    Minister for Foreign Affairs