VZCZCXYZ0013
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0300/01 0822206
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 232206Z MAR 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6156
INFO RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1287
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 1168
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1258

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000300 
 
SIPDIS 
 
IO/UNP FOR S. EDMONDSON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OFDP PREL
SUBJECT: UN COMMITTEE ON RELATIONS WITH THE HOST COUNTRY 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  The Committee heard a chorus of complaints, 
including from the Cypriot Chairman, re parking tickets 
issued to chauffeurs picking up UN Perm Reps at their 
residences.  Delegates appealed to the Host Country for a 
solution so missions could carry out their normal duties. 
Secondary screenings for diplomats departing NYC area 
airports, taxes on gasoline company credit card bills, and 
DOS drivers' licensees for non-diplomats were also raised. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
DIPLOMATIC PARKING 
 
¶2.     The UN Committee on Relations with the Host Country 
held its 241st meeting on March 12, 2009.  France took the 
floor and described as "almost harassment" the frequency with 
which its Perm Rep's chauffeur has been receiving tickets 
while picking up the Ambassador from his residence. 
Additionally, tickets were not given to the driver but mailed 
to the French Mission later.  The GOF requested that the Host 
Country find a solution to this problem so that the mission 
could fulfill its duties in a normal way, and suggested 
establishing parking at the Perm Rep's residence on Park 
Avenue. 
 
¶3.     Russia highlighted its consistent complaints, since 
the Parking Program's establishment, that the program was not 
in line with diplomatic norms.  The delegate noted the 2002 
UN Legal Adviser's opinion which raised concerns re its 
implementation.  Russia also cited local media reports that 
NYC authorities had increased issuance of parking tickets as 
a way to solve NYC's financial problems and said that, if 
true, this was unacceptable. 
 
¶4.  The Cyprus delegate said her Ambassador's driver was also 
frequently ticketed for double-parking when picking up the 
Ambassador at his residence.  She complained that the traffic 
agent appeared to lie in wait for the vehicle each morning. 
She also sought a solution from the Host Country.  Cypriot 
Chairman AMB Hadjimichael, speaking from the podium, added 
his personal account of tickets issued in this manner. 
 
¶5.  Bulgaria and Mongolia similarly complained of parking 
tickets not given to drivers at the time of issuance but 
mailed to the missions later.  The Bulgarians asked if this 
was legal and the Mongolians complained that parking tickets 
issued to drivers performing their duties were not dismissed 
when contested. 
 
USUN and NYC Response 
 
¶6.  USUN/HC MinCouns took note of the concerns and said that 
he would discuss the matter with the City.  He reminded 
Missions that the 2002 Parking Program provide parking spaces 
in close proximity to each UN Mission office but the City 
could not provide street parking at official residences, for 
a variety of reasons, particularly on main traffic arteries 
such as Park Avenue where parking is prohibited.  Under the 
2002 Parking Program, the City removed residential parking 
spaces to provide parking at the 191 UN Missions' offices. 
USDEL said that USUN had not noticed any major increase in 
the number of parking tickers issued and outstanding and 
cautioned members of the diplomatic community from placing 
much credibility in press reports that the City of New York 
has begun, in a systematic way, to increase the number of 
parking tickets issued to the public as a way to increase 
municipal revenue. NYC Commissioner for the UN, Marjorie 
Bloomberg Tiven, said that it was the first she was hearing 
of these problems and she suggested that Missions call her 
office when such matters arose so the City could respond. 
 
OTHER MATTERS 
 
¶7.  China again complained that gasoline company credit cards 
still were not deducting sales tax from monthly bills.  USUN 
Del informed the Committee that New York State legislation 
had reinstated a process for tax deductions but not every oil 
company was on board yet with the procedures.  He said DOS 
was working with Citigroup, the card issuer for several of 
the major U.S. gas companies, and was hopeful the matter 
would be resolved soon.  China restated its complaint re 
OFM's rules prohibiting non-diplomats from receiving DOS 
drivers' licenses.  USUN replied that OFM offers assistance 
to Missions having difficulties obtaining state-issued 
drivers' permits. 
 
¶8.   Libya asked for an explanation of the quadruple "S" 
notation on airplane boarding passes which selects 
individuals for secondary pre-boarding screening.  Iran 
questioned why diplomats from certain countries were singled 
 
out for secondary screening.  USDEL responded that the 
selection criteria were confidential for national and 
passenger security reasons.  USDEL reminded the Committee 
that USUN had circulated a diplomatic note explaining that 
diplomats could seek out TSA supervisors for special 
courtesies.  The Iranian delegate said this process was 
ineffective.  USDEL requested that diplomats experiencing 
difficulties contact his office immediately so that problems 
could be addressed. 
 
¶9.  Comment: Following the meeting, NYC Commissioner Tiven 
said she had taken detailed notes on the diplomatic parking 
complaints.  She said her office had extended itself to 
assist Cyprus in the past and was surprised at the statements 
made in the Committee.  The Russian's unflattering 
interventions on parking may have been particularly untimely, 
since they have been appealing for months for NYC to install 
special "No Parking" signs at their recently acquired 
Ambassador's residence.  The Department recently wrote to the 
Commissioner to support the Russian request. 
Wolff