RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMITTEE AGAINST TERRORISM (CICTE) EXPLANATORY NOTE These Rules of Procedure provide a regulatory framework
for the provisions of the Statute adopted by the General Assembly through
resolution AG/RES. 1650 (XXIX-O/99). As provided in Article 1, in the
event of conflict between the Statute and these Rules of Procedure, the
Statute shall take precedence. As both instruments govern CICTE activities, these
Rules of Procedure attempt to avoid unnecessary duplication of provisions
already contained in the Statute. The following are examples: RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMITTEE AGAINST TERRORISM (CICTE) Chapter I General Provisions Article 1 These Rules of Procedure provide a regulatory framework
for the Statute adopted by the General Assembly through resolution AG/RES.
1650 (XXIX-O/99) and serve to provide specific rules for the operation,
administration, and procedures of CICTE for the achievement of its
objectives and purposes. In the event of conflict between the Statute and these
Rules of Procedure, the Statute shall take precedence. Chapter II Nature, Principles, and Purposes Article 2 The technical autonomy of CICTE established in the
Statute includes: Chapter III Composition and Structure Article 3 The principal representatives of the competent national
authorities of the OAS member states or, if necessary, their alternates
shall attend the sessions of CICTE. Article 4 Principal or alternate representatives shall have the
right to participate with voice and vote in all public and private
meetings of CICTE, including those of its committees, subcommittees, or
groups of experts, in accordance with these Rules of Procedure and any
special provisions that may be adopted for such meetings. Article 5 The principal or alternate representatives and the
respective advisors of each delegation shall be accredited by their
respective governments by means of written communications to the Secretary
General, granting the delegates full powers to participate in decisions on
matters considered by CICTE. Article 6 The principal representatives of the member states of
CICTE shall enjoy the privileges and immunities established in Article 134
of the Charter of the Organization of American States. Article 7 The permanent observers to the Organization of American
States shall have the right to participate in all meetings held by CICTE
with voice but without vote, except for meetings restricted to the member
states and meetings that are closed. Article 8 CICTE may establish such committees, subcommittees, or
groups of experts as it considers necessary, which shall be governed by
these Rules of Procedure, by the CICTE Statute, and, secondarily, by the
Rules of Procedure of the Permanent Council. Chapter IV The Secretariat Article 9 The technical and administrative personnel designated
by the Secretary General to provide secretariat services to CICTE in
accordance with Article 7 of the Statute shall be appointed by him in
accordance with the General Standards and other rules or regulations
governing the operations of the General Secretariat. To that end, the Secretary General shall designate
suitable personnel, including a staff member of recognized competence in
the field, who shall coordinate the support referred to in Chapter III of
the Statute; however, this shall not entail the creation of new structures
within the Organization. Any additional technical and administrative support
required by CICTE that could not be financed by the program-budget would
be covered by external resources, in accordance with the General Standards
and other rules governing the operations of the General Secretariat. Article 10 In addition to the functions stipulated in the CICTE
Statute, the General Secretariat shall: Article 11 The Secretary General of the Organization, or his
representative, may participate with voice but without vote in the public
and private meetings of CICTE. Chapter V Quorum and Voting Article 12 Each member state of the Committee shall have the right
to one vote. The Committee shall do its utmost to reach its decisions by
consensus. In the absence of a consensus, the Committee shall take
decisions by the vote of a simple majority of the member states present,
except when a two-thirds vote is specifically required. Decisions shall be taken at the plenary sessions by the
vote of a majority of member states present at the session in question,
except where otherwise specifically provided. Decisions shall be taken in committees, subcommittees,
and groups of experts by the vote of a majority of the member states
present at the meeting in question, except where otherwise specifically
provided. Article 13 Votes shall be taken by a show of hands, but any
representative may request a roll-call vote, which shall be taken
according to the order of precedence. A secret ballot shall be taken in
the cases and in the manner provided in these Rules of Procedure. Voting may not be interrupted by any representative
except on a point of order regarding voting procedure. Article 14 The Chair and Vice Chair shall be elected by secret
ballot except when elected by acclamation. Chapter VI Headquarters and Meetings Article 15 CICTE shall hold at least one annual regular session. Article 16 When a session of CICTE is held away from headquarters,
the government of the host country shall provide the services and
facilities specified in the agreement to host the meeting that must be
signed for that purpose. Article 17 The meetings of CICTE shall be governed by its Statute,
these Rules of Procedure, and, secondarily, by the pertinent provisions of
the Rules of Procedure of the Permanent Council of the Organization. Article 18 The order of precedence for the regular and special
sessions shall be that of the Permanent Council. It shall be used for
voting and for determining the speaking order of delegations whenever they
are all requested to express their views on a particular subject matter. Article 19 Representatives of those organs, agencies, and entities
of the Organization, as well as organs created by virtue of treaties, with
competence in areas related to topics that may be discussed in CICTE
meetings, may attend meetings, unless they are closed, and may take the
floor with the authorization of the CICTE Chair. Article 20 Representatives of international, regional, and
national organizations whose purpose is to prevent, combat, and eliminate
terrorist acts and activities may be invited to CICTE meetings when CICTE
so decides, unless they are closed, and may take the floor with the
authorization of the CICTE Chair. Article 21 CICTE may invite to its sessions professionals and
technical experts of recognized experience in the topics to be discussed
and may request that they make presentations on those topics. In addition, CICTE may invite nongovernmental
organizations with a particular interest in a topic to be discussed at a
meeting to attend and to make presentations thereon when so decided by
CICTE. Article 22 Summary minutes shall be kept of the meetings of CICTE
and shall record the day and time, the names of the representatives of the
member states and other participants present, the matters discussed, the
decisions taken, and any statement that the representatives may make for
the record. Final reports of meetings held by the committees,
subcommittees, or groups of experts shall include, in summary form, the
information referred to in the preceding paragraph. Article 23 In special circumstances, at the initiative of the
General Assembly of the Organization or on the recommendation of the
Permanent Council, CICTE may hold a special session to consider specific
matters, if those matters are of such importance as to preclude waiting
for the next regular session of CICTE. The Chair of CICTE shall convene
and set the date and place for such special session, subject to available
funding. Pursuant to the preceding paragraph, when the Chair of
CICTE decides, in view of the importance and urgency of the matter or
matters to be considered, that a special session shall be convened, the
Secretariat shall convene the meeting forthwith to take place within 30
days of said decision. Chapter VII Chair and Vice Chair Article 24 The Chair and Vice Chair shall be elected at the first
plenary session, in accordance with Article 18 of the Statute. Article 25 The functions of the Chair shall be: Article 26 The Chair may delegate the functions set forth in
Article 27.b, h, and i to the Vice Chair. Article 27 In the event that the member states serving as Chair
and Vice Chair resign at the same time, CICTE shall convene a special
session at which special elections for both offices shall be held, in
accordance with Article 19 of the Statute. Chapter VIII Relations with Other Organizations Article 28 In conducting its activities and with a view to
maximizing cooperation in and coordination of its work, CICTE may enter
into such agreements as its deems pertinent with technical, governmental,
nongovernmental, and intergovernmental agencies engaged in similar
activities, with the agreement of the competent authorities. Chapter IX Final Provisions Article 29 These Rules of Procedure shall take effect on the date
of their approval by CICTE. Article 30 These Rules of Procedure may be amended by a decision
of the majority of the member states of CICTE. Such amendments shall be
submitted to the General Assembly with the report mentioned in Article 8.b
of the Statute.
INTER-AMERICAN COMMITTEE AGAINST TERRORISM (CICTE)
FIRST REGULAR SESSION
October 28-29, 1999
OEA/Ser.L/X.2.1 CICTE/doc.4/99 rev. 2
Miami, Florida 28 October 1999
Original: Spanish