On April 1, the Mazhilis (Lower Chamber of Parliament) approved a draft law “On ratification of the Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies”, Toppress.kz correspondent reports.
Addressing the plenary session, Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi stressed that the creation of special conditions for the activities of the UN specialized agencies in Kazakhstan will contribute to the expansion and deepening of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
He emphasized that the nineteen UN specialized agencies play an important part in the organisation’s system. At the moment Kazakhstan is a member of all UN specialized agencies and their related bodies. Some of their representative offices, including WHO, FAO, IBRD, IMF, IFC, UNESCO, ILO, have been successfully operating in the country.
According to the Convention, the UN specialized agencies, their assets, incomes and other property are exempt from all direct taxes. In addition, officials of the specialized agencies enjoy the same privileges and immunities as the United Nations officials.
The Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies was adopted by GA resolution 179 (II) on November 21, 1947, to extend similar privileges to the specialized agencies of the UN.
The draft law was sent to the Senate for further consideration.