Host Nation Agreements

Abstract

An international organization and its personnel are permitted to enter upon the territory of a state and to establish and operate temporary or permanent facilities within that territory for either of two major reasons. The first of these is to provide a service to the receiving nation at its request or with its acquiescence, i.e., provision of relief measures, technical assistance or peacekeeping functions. The second purpose is to provide for a permanent or transitory headquarters, field office, regional office or conference facility. In the latter arrangement, the individual state receives certain benefits beyond those enjoyed by its fellow member states such as new employment opportunities, prestige in the international community, a relative surge in tourist and services industries and many other intangible benefits that may be associated with hosting an international organization. However, at the same time, the state incurs certain liabilities. These include a loss of tax revenue, additional security problems relating to the protection to be afforded the headquarters seat and the persons who frequent it, and other infringements on its sovereignty associated with the hosting of an international or diplomatic entity.