35 finding the greatest weight. The Court added that questions of immunity were preliminary issues which national courts had to decide upon expeditiously at the very outset of the proceedings. Since the conduct of any organ of a State, including national courts, must be regarded as an act of that State, the Court concluded that the Government of Malaysia had not acted in accordance with its obligations under international law in the present case. The Court agreed unanimously that Mr.  Cumaraswamy should be held “financially harmless for any costs imposed upon him by the Malaysian courts, in particular taxed costs.” The Court also found, by 13 votes to 2, that the Government of Malaysia had, as a consequence of the decision, “the obligation to communicate [the] Advisory Opinion to the Malaysian courts, in order that Malaysia’s international obligations be given effect and [Mr.] Cumaraswamy’s immunity be respected”. Source: Difference Relating to Immunity from Legal Process of a Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1999, p. 62. C. Standards of conduct The standards of conduct expected of treaty body members are set out in the Secretary-General’s Bulletin titled “Regulations Governing the Status, Basic Rights and Duties of Officials other than Secretariat Officials, and Experts on Mission” (ST/SGB/2002/9, see annex III below). According to regulation 2 (a), “officials and experts on mission shall uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. The concept of integrity includes, but is not limited to, probity, impartiality, fairness, honesty and truthfulness in all matters affecting their work and status.” In addition, regulation 2 establishes the following standards of conduct for experts on mission: ✔✔ In the performance of their duties, experts shall neither seek nor accept instructions from any Government or from any other source external to the Organization. ✔✔ Experts shall discharge their functions and regulate their conduct with the interests of the Organization only in view. ✔✔ Experts shall ensure that their views and convictions do not adversely affect their official duties or the interests of the Organization, bearing in mind that their personal views and convictions remain inviolable.