Topic:
Country: Romania
Delegate Name: Christian Boyce
Legal Committee
Limits of Diplomatic Immunity
Romania
Christian Boyce
Forest Hills Northern High School
Diplomatic immunity has been a principle in modern international relations since 1961 with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. This treaty codified the limitations on diplomatic immunity, a custom existing for thousands of years previously. Diplomatic immunity is in place to secure favorable relations between states by protecting diplomats from severe punishment when a crime is committed. This ensures that a diplomat can do their job effectively without fear of prosecution or detainment in the host country. While diplomatic immunity has been a success for the international community, reflection on the limitations of diplomatic immunity must be done.
Having signed the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations in 1968, Romania supports diplomatic immunity and provides full protection for diplomats and their administrative staff. Neither can be arrested in Romania and have immunity from criminal jurisdiction. Recently,
Russia expelled a Romanian diplomat in retaliation to Romania’s expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats due to involvement in espionage activities. Romania desires to decrease the quantity of espionage activity among signatories of the treaty.
Romania believes that the limitations of diplomatic immunity should be extended to exclude espionage in favor of the sending country. While possibly creating tensions between states, it acts as a deterrent from the act of committing espionage, benefitting the relationship between the states long-term.
Romania believes that creating more regulation as to what lies under diplomatic immunity is necessary to ensure peaceful and friendly relations between states. Romania looks forward to working with all nations to create limitations on diplomatic immunity to ensure further peaceful international relations.
