US raid on Iranian office 'unacceptable': Russia (Boo Hoo)

AFP and Breitbart News ^ | 12 Jan 06 | None

[SkyPilot]

A raid by US troops on an Iranian office in Iraq was "absolutely unacceptable" and violated international law, Russia's foreign ministry has said.

The raid Thursday in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil was "absolutely unacceptable" and "the crudest possible violation of the Vienna convention on consular relations," ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said in a statement.

The statement referred to the raid as being directed against "the Iranian consulate general" and described five Iranians arrested as "diplomats."

Iraq's foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, denied this Friday, saying that the Iranians had been working officially in Iraq but as part of a "liaison office" that was yet to be classified as a consulate with diplomatic protection.

The swoop by US troops triggered a diplomatic row, with Tehran accusing the US force of violating the building's diplomatic status.

Kamynin also expressed scepticism over US President George W. Bush's new Iraq strategy and troop buildup, saying the plan amounted to admitting mistakes in the campaign.

"We are talking about recognition of the need to correct the previous course, based on thinking over mistakes made in Iraq that we had previously pointed out to our American colleagues," Kamynin said.

However, Bush's new plan, which centres on deploying an additional 21,500 soldiers to Iraq, shows the "calculation remains as it was -- to resolve the Iraqi crisis through force," Kamynin said.

Whether this will work, "time will show," he said, adding that the only solution was to foster a "broad and real inter-Iraqi dialogue."

[yldstrk]

Diplomats my eye.

[Bringbackthedraft]

Did Russia complain in 1979 too?

[sofaman]

since the Russians are concerned that we are determined "to resolve the Iraqi crisis through force", I'm sure that they will continue to use a strategy of negotiation in Chechnya as they have in the past....

now where to tack on that darned sarcasm tag....

[MadIvan]

They can drink a nice big cup of shut the f*** up.

Regards, Ivan

[Thrownatbirth]

This time Spetznaz wasn't allowed to tidy-up before the Americans arrived.

[2001convSVT]

It was only students who stormed the consulate, nothing to worry about in 444 days they will give the 6 Iranians back.

[caver]

I don't think we asked for their permission or approval.

[Admin Moderator]

Please do not post images from Corbis.

[sono]

VIENNA CONVENTION ON CONSULAR RELATIONS AND OPTIONAL PROTOCOLS DONE AT VIENNA, ON 24 APRIL 1963

Article 55 RESPECT FOR THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE RECEIVING STATE

1. Without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State.

2. The consular premises shall not be used in any manner incompatible with the exercise of consular functions.

3. The provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article shall not exclude the possibility of offices of other institutions or agencies being installed in part of the building in which the consular premises are situated, provided that the premises assigned to them are separate from those used by the consular post. In that event, the said offices shall not, for the purposes of the present Convention, be considered to form part of the consular premises.

http://fletcher.tufts.edu/multi/texts/BH444.txt

Additionally, the building raided was NOT a consulate.

[silverleaf]

Grozny, capital of Chechnya, after Russians applied "international law"

[MARKUSPRIME]

Russia so you are on the muslim side now. We all knew this long ago. Shut up russia,you dont dictate rules to the US.

[ustanker]

So is poisoning people Comrade

[onedoug]

Check any Russian offices there too.

[RaceBannon]

Russian Scum, they were one of the INSTIGATORS of the 1979 takeover in Tehran!!

[PGalt]

A raid by US troops on an Iranian office in Iraq was...GREAT NEWS!

[himno hero]

their fingers probably got broken in the pie

/ more evidence in the extent of intermeddling

[Centurion2000]

Did the russians extend to the Afghanis, Hungarians or Czechs the same courtesy? STFU then.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Hey Putin,

Sincerely,

WE THE PEOPLE