The Preparatory Commission
and the United Nations conclude
an agreement to regulate
their relationship

An Agreement to Regulate the Relationship between the United Nations and the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) was signed in New York today, by the Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission, Wolfgang Hoffmann, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan. This is the first relationship agreement which the United Nations has concluded with a preparatory commission, or organization preparing for the establishment of another international organization, which, in the case of the Preparatory Commission, is the future CTBTO. It is also the first relationship agreement the United Nations has concluded with an autonomous international organization responsible for verification activities since the conclusion of the relationship agreement between the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency in 1957. Although the Preparatory Commission is not part of the United Nations system, the conclusion of this Agreement brings the Preparatory Commission into formal working relationship with the United Nations and provides a framework for cooperation between the two organizations. This cooperation will facilitate the Commission´s task of carrying out the necessary preparations for the effective implementation of the CTBT*. The Agreement thus represents an important milestone for the Commission´s work. In terms of the Agreement, the two organizations agree to cooperate closely and to consult and to maintain a close working relationship on matters of mutual interest and concern. As is customary in relationship agreements concluded between international organizations, the Agreement provides for reciprocal representation of the executive heads of each organization or their representatives at meetings convened by the other organization. Each organization may propose agenda items for the consideration of the other and exchange information, publications and documents of mutual interest. The Preparatory Commission also undertakes to keep the United Nations informed of its activities, which the Executive Secretary does at present in his annual address to the First Committee of the General Assembly. Of particular importance to the Preparatory Commission in its global activities is that the United Nations have agreed that officials of the Preparatory Commission will be entitled to use the United Nations laissez-passer as a valid travel document because of the special nature and universality of the Commission´s work. The Agreement will enter into force upon its approval by the Preparatory Commission and the General Assembly of the United Nations. The Preparatory Commission approved the Agreement during its eleventh session held from 2 to 5 May 2000 and it is expected that the General Assembly will consider the issue during the present session. * The Commission is responsible for carrying out the necessary preparations to ensure the operationalization of the Treaty´s global verification regime of 337 monitoring facilities hosted by some 89 States.

For further information on the CTBTO, please see www.ctbto.org or contact:
Annika Thunborg, Chief, Public Information  
T    +43 1 26030-6375  
E    annika.thunborg@ctbto.org
M    +43 699 1459 6375       
I    www.ctbto.org