In Amman, Jordan, expelled were 5 Iraqi diplomats-terrorists.
Jordan is now moving out of the Axis of Evil, replaced by Russia, France, and the Swiss.
Posted on 03/26/2003 5:51:04 AM PST by LurkedLongEnough
The Swiss government has rejected a United States request for the immediate expulsion of Swiss-based Iraqi diplomats. The cabinet on Wednesday said the conditions for expulsion – as governed by international conventions – had not been met.
A statement from the cabinet said Switzerland would only close a foreign embassy if ordered to do so by a United Nations resolution, or if diplomatic relations with a country had been terminated.
The decision not to expel the Iraqi diplomats follows similar requests by the Bush administration to 60 countries around the world.
The US state department earlier this month said the presence of Iraqi envoys represented a threat to US personnel abroad. The US called for the expulsion of several hundred Iraqi diplomats the Central Intelligence Agency alleged were spies.
Several countries, including Italy, Britain, the Philippines and Australia have expelled dozens of diplomats accused of carrying out duties beyond those normally associated with diplomatic postings.
However, others, such as Japan, France and Pakistan have refused the request. The 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic relations governs expulsions.
While diplomats enjoy immunity from the criminal and civil laws of host countries – most frequently to avoid parking fines – they can be expelled if suspected of spying.
Article 38 of the convention states that diplomatic agents shall enjoy immunity only "in respect of official acts performed in the exercise of his functions".
Article 41 says, "persons enjoying such privileges… have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of [the receiving] state".
A host country can declare a diplomat "persona non grata" if they are found to be in breech of the convention.
In Amman, Jordan, expelled were 5 Iraqi diplomats-terrorists.
Jordan is now moving out of the Axis of Evil, replaced by Russia, France, and the Swiss.
Please, don't start with the cheese this morning... good day.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.