Information for Delegations United Nations Headquarters New York, 1998 Note This booklet contains information of a general nature about United Nations Headquarters and is applicable throughout the fifty-third session. Changes to the booklet should be addressed to the General Assembly Servicing Branch, room S-2935D, ext. 32337. Fax: 963-4230. e-mail: [email protected]. This booklet is available on the Internet: United Nations Website (http://www.un.org/geninfo). ST/CS/48 September 1998 Contents I. Introductory information Credentials ................................. 17 Disabled, facilities for ........................ 7 Entrance ................................... 2 Grounds passes and admission to meetings ....... 2 Information (telephones and desk locations) ...... 4 Medical Services ............................ 5 Protocol and Liaison Service .................. 7 Security ................................... 3 II. The General Assembly and its Main Committees General Assembly (Office of the President) ...... 18 General Assembly (Secretariat arrangements) .... 19 General Assembly (Plenary and General Commit- tee meetings) ............................. 20 General Assembly (Main Committees) .......... 22 Other organs ............................... 29 III. Conference services Archives and records management ............. 41 Communications and materials, distribution of .... 38 Documents facilities ......................... 38 Interpretation ............................... 33 Journal .................................... 33 Meetings services ........................... 31 Records of meetings ......................... 35 Seating arrangements ........................ 32 iii Sound recordings ............................ 40 Speeches (prepared texts) ..................... 37 IV. Media, public and library services Library .................................... 65 Non-governmental organizations, services to ..... 61 Photo services and facilities ................... 60 Promotional services ......................... 62 Public information .......................... 44 Radio and television services and facilities ....... 57 Spokesman for the Secretary-General ........... 43 United Nations information centres, services pro- vided by ................................. 60 Visitors, services to .......................... 63 V. Facilities and services for delegations Banking facilities ........................... 88 Bookshop .................................. 89 City liaison and legal assistance ................ 86 Cloakrooms ................................ 72 Dining-room and cafeteria facilities ............. 73 Gift Centre ................................. 91 Guests .................................... 76 Hospitality ................................. 87 Lounges ................................... 72 Mail and messenger services .................. 77 Meditation room ............................ 90 Newsstand ................................. 89 Parking .................................... 81 Photocopier ................................ 76 Postal Administration ........................ 80 Publications, sale of ......................... 90 Quiet room ................................. 91 iv Sound reinforcement systems .................. 77 Telecommunications services .................. 78 Travel costs, reimbursement of ................ 85 Travel facilities ............................. 86 Transportation (local) ........................ 84 Typists’ rooms .............................. 76 United Nations premises, request for use of ...... 91 Video conferencing .......................... 77 Video projections ........................... 77 Index ..................................... 93 v I. Introductory information UnitedNationsHeadquartersoccupiesan18-acretractof land on Manhattan Island. The site is bounded on the south by 42nd Street, on the north by 48th Street, on the west by what was formerly a part of First Avenue and is known now as United Nations Plaza, and on the east by the East River and Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive. The site is owned by the United Nations and is international territory. The five main structures, all interconnected, comprising Headquarters are the General Assembly building, which contains, besides the plenary hall, a large conference room and four medium-sized meeting rooms; the long, low Conference building parallel to the river, which contains council chambers, conference rooms, lounges and restaurants; the 39-storey skyscraper office building, which houses the Secretariat; the Library building; and the staff cafeteria build- ing. The General Assembly Hall and the council chambers are on the second floor level while all the other conference rooms in both buildings are on the concourse level. All conference rooms, council chambers and the plenary hall may be reached from the Delegates’ Entrance in the General Assembly building. 1 Information for delegations Entrance In order to enter and to park at Headquarters, delegation cars must have United Nations diplomatic licence plates (“D” plates) plus a special identification decal (silver) for the fifty- third session of the General Assembly. (For information on obtaining parking decals, please see page 81.) Grounds passes and admission to meetings The Protocol and Liaison Service authorizes the issuance of grounds passes to members of delegations. (See pages 3 and 7.) Tickets for admission to the Public Gallery of the General Assembly Hall may also be obtained from the Protocol and Liaison Service upon written request by the permanent missions. Heads of State, Vice-Presidents, Crown Princes/ Princesses and Prime Ministers are provided with VIP passes without photographs. Cabinet Members are issued VIP passes with photos. Submission of two passport-size photographs in advance to the Protocol and Liaison Service is required. Spouses are entitled to the same type of pass. The Protocol and Liaison Service also authorizes grounds passes to representatives of United Nations specialized agencies, intergovernmental organizations and petitioners. Media correspondents with the written press, film, television, photo, radio and other media organizations are accredited by the Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit of the Media Division, Department of Public Information (room S-0250, ext. 36934, 36936, 36937, 33866, 32393 and 37146), where tickets entitling them to attend open meetings may also be obtained (ext. 37164). 2 Introductory information Designated representatives of non-governmental organ- izations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council are issued grounds passes through the Non-Govern- mental Organizations Section of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (room DC1-1076, ext. 34843 and 34846). Designated representatives of non-governmental organ- izations associated with the Department of Public Information are issued grounds passes on an annual basis through the Non-Governmental Organizations Section of the Promotion and Public Services Division of the Department of Public Information (DPI/NGO Resource Centre, room LlB-31, ext. 37234, 37078 and 37233). Security The United Nations Security and Safety Service operates on a 24-hour basis from room C-113 (ext. 36666), located on the main level of the Conference building. In addition to providing security and safety on a 24-hour basis at Headquar- ters, the Service will: (a) Issue grounds passes, which members of delegations may obtain on the first floor of the UNITAR building, 45th Street and First Avenue (First Avenue entrance) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. from the first day of the fifty-third session of the General Assembly until its recess in December and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. for the remainder of the year, after being authorized by the Protocol and Liaison Service; (b) Receive official telephone calls, telegrams and cables requiring follow-up action after normal working hours; 3 Information for delegations (c) Assist in locating and notifying the Organization’s sen- ior officials in an emergency; (d) Liaise with national security representatives regarding protection arrangements for dignitaries; (e) Liaise with local authorities whenever outside emergency assistance (e.g. ambulance, medical, police) is required; (f) Handle lost and found property. Lost property should be handed over to or claimed from the first floor of the UNITAR building (ext. 37533) during regular working hours. Missing grounds passes should be reported without de- lay to the Special Services Unit (room S-0101, ext. 37531). Delegates are reminded not to leave briefcases or any valuable items unattended in conference rooms. Information (Telephones and desk locations) The Information Unit (ext. 37113) will advise on: (a) The location and telephone numbers of delegations; (b) The office or official to be contacted for technical queries; (c) The location and telephone extensions of services, information media and United Nations clubs. For information concerning the location and telephone numbers of Secretariat members, dial “0”. (For further in- formation regarding the telephone system of various offices in the United Nations, please see page 78.) Information desks 4 Introductory information General Assembly building Public lobby (ext. 37758) UNDC 1 building Office lobby (ext. 38998) UNDC 2 building Office lobby (ext. 34989) UNICEF House Office lobby (326-7524) Bulletin boards displaying the programme of meetings are located on the first floor of the General Assembly building just inside the Delegates’