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SEPTEMBER 1998 • VOLUME V: NUMBER 3

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Diplomatic Immunity for Couriers

Middle East Quarterly
September 1998

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs Enclosures__________

[Saudi government symbol]

Outgoing Telegram

Telegram No: 93/83/5746/1
Date 1/3/1413 [1 Rabi‘ al-Awwal 1413 A.H., which equals 29 August 1992]

Secret

Circulation to all the overseas representations of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques:

The Special Authorities in the Ministry of Defense and Air Force have advised of the difficulties (caused by security and customs authorities in some international airports) facing its representatives, the parcel carriers, who carry the secret codes for the offices of overseas military attachés. Stop. To maintain secrecy of this information [i.e., the codes], the Ministry [of Foreign Affairs] will issue diplomatic passports under the names of political pouch carriers to those representatives. Military attachés will provide the embassies with the names of the Defense Ministry representatives, the date and time of their arrival, so that they may alert the authorities of the host country to provide all privileges of immunity. Those authorities absolutely should not search the pouch, in accord with custom and international agreements. Stop. We hope for high priority and full compliance with these instructions. Stop. Our regards.

Foreign Affairs

[Department of Telegrams Stamp]

1057 Gh.

Comments by Mohammed Al Khilewi

The directive in this document—that carriers of military codes be given diplomatic passports—violates international law, United Nations agreements (especially the Geneva Convention for diplomatic immunity), and U.S. law.

It shows how the Saudis abuse the privilege of diplomatic immunity by giving it to non-diplomats who may use it for illegal activities.

It proves that the Saudis use the diplomatic pouch for non-diplomatic purposes.

This document refers to the need for diplomatic immunity to move secret-code machines. But immunity is not needed for this purpose. This implies that the above directive actually is cover for other, illegal activities.

The circulation of this document to all Saudi embassies and missions overseas proves that this violation of the law is a general policy practiced worldwide.

Related Topics: Saudi Arabia

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