Thank you Chair,
Let me start by thanking USG Hammarskjöld for her very clear statement.
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the governments of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Liechtenstein and my own country Norway.
At the outset, let me voice our support for the work of this Committee as an open and inclusive forum to discuss matters related to the implementation of the UN Headquarters Agreement between the United Nations and the United States.
We noted with regret the decision of the United States to deny and revoke visas from members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) ahead of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly.
We recall that the primary purpose of the Headquarters Agreement is to enable the United Nations at its headquarters in the United States, fully and efficiently, to discharge its responsibilities and fulfill its purposes. The full and effective participation by the representatives of all accredited delegations in the work of the United Nations is crucial to facilitating our common work in this multilateral forum.
We also recall the commitment and dedication of the United States to engage constructively with this Committee on matters related to its Host Country status and to uphold its obligations under the UN Headquarters Agreement, voiced by the United States on numerous previous occasions.
In light of the above considerations, we urge the United States to reconsider the decision and to do so quickly.
Thank you, Chair.