Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Diplomatic Law
- the rule of diplomatic law constitutes a self
contained regime which on the one hand lays
down the receinv=g states obligations
regarding facilities,
- privileges and immunities to be accorded
to diplomatic missions and foresee the
possible abuse by members of the mssion
and specifies the means at
- at the disposal of the
receiving state to counter any
such abuse...(TEHRAN CASE)
- Vienna convention on
Diplomatic relation, 1961
- article 2
- no right as such to
diplomatic relations,
they exist by virtue of
mutual consent
- article
4
- the sending state
must ensure that
consent is gained
from recieving state for
proposed head of
mission
- reasons for any refusal
do not have to be given
- article
9
- the receiving state
can at any time
declare the any
member of the
mission as persona
non grata and thus
obtain theire removal
- Article
3
- main functions of a diplomatic
mission revolve around
representation and protection
of the interests and nationals of
the sending state, as well as
- the promotion of information
and friendly relations
- article
41(1)
- duty of all persons
enjoying privileges and
immunities to respect the
laws and regulations of
the recieving state and
not to interfere in the
internal
- affairs of that state
- article
13
- the head of the
mission is deemed to
have taken up his
functions in the
receiving states upon
the presention of his
credentials
- Article
22
- the premise of the mission
are inviolable and that
agents of the recieving state
are not to enter them without
the consent of the mission
- the receiving state is under a
duty a special duty to protect
the mission premises from
intrusion and damage or
impairment of its dignity
- statement by pres. Johnson
after demonstrations outside
US embassy in moscow
- Article
45(a)
- after a break in diplomatic
relations, the receiving state
must respect and protect the
premises of the mission
- After the libyan embassy
attack, the UK's view was
that this did not mean that
the premises continue to
be inviolable
- Article 27
(Diplomatic
Bag)
- 27(3)
& (4)
- shall not be
opened or
detained
- requirement that the diplomatic bag
is clearly identifiable i.e. visible
external marks of its charecter and
only contain diplomatic documents
- or articles intended for
official use Art 27(4)
- Dikko incident: former
nigerian minister kidnapped
and placed in crate which was
claimed to have a diplomaric
status..no seal so not d.bag
- if suspicion that diplomatic
bag/crate contains humans,
there is an overriding duty to
protect human life..foreginaffairs
committe report
- draft articles 1989
- consular bag are afforded similar
protection except where
receiving/transist stae has serious
reason to beleive bag contains
prohibited article
- i, the bag may be opened and
searched in the prescence of
an authorised represenataive. if
refused, the bag nust be sent
back to place of origin
- art 28 of draft
articles on the dipl.
courier and the dipl.
bag 1989...adopted
by int law
commission
- the diplomatic bag courier is to
enjoy immunity and inviolabilty
akin to that governing
diplomats...not liable to arrest of
detention (article 10)
- immunity from civil and criminal
jurisdiction of receiving/transit state in
respect of all acts performed in the
exercise of his functions (Article 18
- his immunities and privileges last
from the moment he enters the
territory of the recieving/transit
state until he leaves (article 21)
- Article
23
- Assumption of
exception from
taxation respect of the
mission premises
- Alcom LTD v Republic of
Cambodia: current accounts are
generally diplomaticallyimmune
- Article 24
- documents and archives of the
mission are inviolable at any time
and wherever they may be
- Article
29
- the person of a
diplomatic agent
is unviolable and
he may not be
detained or
arrested
- states recognise that protection of
diplomats is a mutual interest based on
functional requirements and reciprocity
(US supreme court (Boos v Barry)
- most clear breach was
hostage crisis
1979-80..ICJ held inaction
of iranian govt constituted
a 'clear and serious
violation' of article 29
- maltreatment amounts to
breach of obligations under
article 29
- Article
30(1)
- Inviolability of
personal
residence of a
diplomatic agent
- Article 30(2)
- his papers,
corresondence
and property are
inviolable
- Article
31(1)
- diplomats immune
from civil and
administrative
jurisdiction of the
state in which they
are serving except
under 3
circumstances
- where the action relates to
private property immovable
situated within the host state
- in litigation relating to
succession matters in
which the diplomat is
involved as a private
person e.g. executor or
an heir
- unofficial professional or
commercial activity
engaged in by the agent
- 31(2) a
diplomat
cannot be
obliged to
give
evidence
as a
witness
- Article
36(1)
- personal baggage of diplomat is
exempt from inspection unless
serious grounds for presuming it
contains articles not covered by
specific exemptions
- Article
37
- members of the
family of a
diplomatic agent
are covered by
same exemptions
under art29-36
- Article
32
- sending state
may waive the
immunity from
jurisdiction under
the convention
- such waivers must
be express (public
prosecutor v Orhan
Olmez)
- only the sovereign can
waive the immunity of its
diplomatic representatives
(Fayed v Al-Tajir)
- international law continues to apply
notwithstanding the existence of a
state of armed conflict between the
states concerned (Congo v
Uganda)