UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES 1 October 2001 Dear Mr. Faessler, This is in response to your letter of 15 August 2001, regarding a request for authorisation to fly the United Nations flag. From the further information provided in your letter I understand that your "hoisting of the United Nations flag intends to deepen and intensify the political discussion in favour of the principles of the United Nations", and that "the envisaged hoisting of the United Nations flag will come at a time when Switzerland is preparing to go to the polls in 2002 on the question as to whether or not to become a UN member". In view of this further information, I am pleased to inform you that we have reconsidered your request to fly the United Nations flag, and that you are hereby authorised to fly the United Nations flag in the manner outlined in your request. Please note that any use of the United Nations flag is subject to the provisions of the United Nations Flag Code and Regulations, adopted by the Secretary-General(copy attached). In this respect, I would like to draw your attention in particular to section 2 of the Code, which provides that: "The flag shall not be subjected to any indignity." Yours sincerely, Bruce C. Rashkow Director General Legal Division Office of Legal Affairs