Latest news with #ViennaConventiononDiplomaticRelations
Iraqi News
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Iraq rejects British ambassador's remarks on PMF draft bill
Baghdad ( – The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted a letter of complaint against the British Ambassador to Iraq, Irfan Siddiq, on Sunday, citing his latest remarks on the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) draft bill as a violation of diplomatic norms and interference in Iraq's internal affairs. The Iraqi ministry mentioned in a statement that it had officially informed the United Kingdom's ambassador of its strong opposition to his recent remarks, which the Iraqi government sees as contradictory to diplomatic criteria, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported. Deputy Foreign Minister for Bilateral Affairs Mohammed Bahr al-Uloom expressed on Sunday the government's deep concern, reiterating that the British ambassador's remarks violate the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which require diplomats to respect the host country's laws and refrain from interfering in its internal affairs. The Iraqi ministry asked Siddiq to avoid such remarks in the future and to engage in ways that promote positive relationships between both countries. Siddiq also suggested that the PMF's position as an emergency force should be reviewed after the battle against the terrorist group ISIS has finished. The Iraqi foreign ministry emphasized the need to adopt constructive diplomatic cooperation based on respect between parties and not getting involved in governments' internal affairs. The law, known as the revised PMF authority law, would transform the PMF into a permanent armed entity with broad operational, political, and financial capabilities.
Shafaq News
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
British ambassador summoned over remarks 'contrary to diplomatic norms'
Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraq's Foreign Ministry has formally conveyed its objection to recent public statements by UK Ambassador Irfan Siddiq, saying they contravene diplomatic norms and constitute interference in the country's internal affairs. According to a statement by the Foreign Ministry, a meeting was held at the ministry headquarters on Sunday, when Deputy Foreign Minister for Bilateral Affairs, Ambassador Mohammed Hussein Bahr al-Uloom, told Siddiq that the government viewed the remarks made on 8 August as 'inconsistent with the principles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.' The convention obliges foreign envoys to respect the laws and regulations of the host state and to refrain from involvement in its domestic matters. 'The ambassador was urged to avoid any similar statements or activities in the future and to act in ways that support friendly relations between Iraq and the United Kingdom.' The Foreign Ministry also stressed the importance of constructive diplomatic communication, adherence to mutual respect, and non-interference in states' internal affairs.
The Hindu
03-08-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Indian diplomats' parking, congestion charge fines top £9.2 million in London
Even as India concluded a trade deal with the United Kingdom, Indian diplomatic vehicles have racked up almost £10 million (₹115.8 crore) in unpaid dues and penalties for London's congestion charge, a £15 daily fee applicable to all vehicles driving in parts of the British capital. At last count, in November 2024, according to a Parliamentary statement, Indian diplomatic vehicles owed £9,141,875 in penalty charge notices. 'We have been clear that the Congestion Charge is a charge for a service and not a form of tax that diplomats are exempt from paying,' Transport for London chief customer and strategy officer Alex Williams said in a letter to Indian High Commissioner Vikram Kumar Doraiswami last August. The letter was provided to The Hindu in response to a request under the U.K.'s Freedom of Information Act, 2000. While many diplomatic missions in London pay the fee, India, the U.S., and Japan have deemed the charge a tax, which diplomats are immune from paying under Article 34 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. In a subsequent letter in November, Mr. Williams said that 'there are no legal grounds to exempt diplomatic missions and international organisations from the Congestion Charge, which [the U.K. Foreign Office views] as comparable to a parking fee or toll charge that they are required to pay.' TfL said in response to the FOI request that the Indian high commission has not responded to the letter. The Ministry of External Affairs did not respond to a query on the letters. Aside from this, the U.K. also charges so-called National Non-Domestic Rates from commercial properties and diplomatic missions. As of November, India had an outstanding NNDR beneficial payment of £99,385. Unpaid parking fines were also recorded that amounted to £13,964. This information was provided to the U.K. Parliament by Catherine West, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Indo-Pacific. While the fees have been reiterated through diplomatic channels, they have not presented a serious obstacle to U.K.–India trade talks, which concluded with the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement that was signed on July 24.
Roya News
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
Jordan condemns attacks on its diplomatic missions over Gaza aid efforts
Jordan on Saturday strongly condemned a series of incitement campaigns and attacks targeting its diplomatic missions in several countries, linked to its humanitarian role in supporting Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Ambassador Sufian Qudah, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, said the "deliberate and systematic" campaigns would not undermine Jordan's long-standing, principled support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, nor its continued efforts to end the war on Gaza and prevent further humanitarian catastrophe. Qudah added that the ministry has formally contacted the foreign ministries of the countries where the attacks took place, as well as ambassadors accredited to the Kingdom, demanding full protection for Jordanian missions and their staff, in line with the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The ministry is also following up with relevant authorities to ensure those responsible are held accountable and that such violations are not repeated.
Saba Yemen
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
President Colombian Condemns Sending Mercenaries to Fight in Ukraine
Bogota - Saba: Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the phenomenon of sending Colombian mercenaries to fight in Ukraine, describing it as "a method of stealing the state." Petro said in a post on his X account on Friday: "Mercenary work is a method of plundering the state. Public funds invested in training personnel to defend Colombia are now being used in deadly armed conflicts that the Colombian people do not want to participate in." The Colombian president called for "the protection of the lives of young Colombians, whose lives are being exploited by private security companies linked to criminal circles." Petro's statements came in response to revelations made by the Russian ambassador to Bogotá, Nikolai Tavdomadze, in an interview with Sputnik. Tavdomadze indicated that "the number of Colombians heading to Ukraine as mercenaries remains high," asserting that "Kyiv is recruiting them through its diplomatic missions, in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations." The Colombian ambassador to Moscow, Hector Isidro Arenas Neyra, had previously told Sputnik that the Colombian government did not have accurate data on the number of citizens participating in the conflict in Ukraine. Last March, the families of Colombian mercenaries held a protest in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bogotá, demanding information from the government about the fate of their sons. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
