DIPLOMATIC BAG: DEFINITION AND CHARACTERISTICS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The diplomatic bag, within the framework of international relations, is a container used by a government, official entities, consulates or other official representations to send correspondence and documents to their representatives abroad (diplomatic mission). Strict legal protections are applied to this type of suitcase or bag to guarantee its inviolability.

A diplomatic bag always has some kind of lock plus a tamper evident seal next to the lock in order to prevent interference from unauthorized third parties. The most important point is that, as long as it is externally marked to show its status, that bag has diplomatic immunity, against search or seizure, codified in article 27 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961.

ISD Diplomatic Pouch - Institute for the Study of Diplomacy

According to this convention, the diplomatic bag should only contain materials intended for official use. He is often escorted by a diplomatic courier, who is equally immune from arrest and forfeiture.

The physical concept of a diplomatic bag is broad and can therefore take many forms: a cardboard box, briefcase, backpack, large suitcase, box, or even a shipping container.

This last type of container has adequate resistance to withstand handling, transport and storage. In terms of size, it ranges from large reusable steel boxes for intermodal shipments (container designed to be transferred from one mode of transport to another without unloading and reloading), to the traditional and well-known corrugated cardboard boxes.

Definition of diplomatic bag according to the US State Department

An employee of the United States Department of State dealing with the American diplomatic mail in January 1985 at Washington-Dulles International Airport

The diplomatic bag is any package, bag, envelope, suitcase or other properly identified and sealed container, used to transport official correspondence, documents and other articles intended for official use, between:

• Embassies, delegations, consular posts or the foreign office of any government.
• The headquarters or any other office of a public international organization and its regional offices in the United States or in a foreign country.
• The foreign office of any country with full full membership to develop a specific mission in a public organization.

Inviolability of diplomatic bags

In accordance with article 27, paragraph 3, of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR): "Duly identified diplomatic bags shall not be opened or detained."

Although X-ray inspection of a bag would not physically break the outer seal of the shipment, that action is an electronic method equivalent to opening a bag.

Therefore, the United States does not investigate diplomatic bags that are correctly identified and tampered with, either physically or electronically (eg, by X-ray). Furthermore, they consider it a serious breach of the obligations imposed by the Vienna Convention.

Size and weight of diplomatic bags

International law does not establish limits on the size, weight or permissible quantity of duly identified diplomatic bags.

Therefore, the United States considers that the size, weight, and quantity restrictions imposed by the host State are inconsistent with the obligations established in Article 25 of the VCDR.

Identification of diplomatic exchanges

Diplomatic bags must bear "visible external marks of their character" (VCDR, Article 27.4). Therefore, a diplomatic exchange moving into or out of the United States must:

1. Have easily visible markings on the outside of the bag, envelope, drawer or container, clearly identifying it in English as a diplomatic bag.
2. Bear, externally, the official seal of the sender entity (lead or plastic seal that is attached to a tie that closes the bag or a seal attached to the outside of it).
3. Be addressed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, its embassies, delegations, consular offices, the headquarters or offices of an international organization.
4. Where applicable, all associated shipping documents, such as air waybill labels and guides, must describe the shipment in English as a diplomatic bag.

Accompanied and unaccompanied diplomatic bags

The United States considers that correctly identified diplomatic bags, carried in the cabin or in the hold of an aircraft, ship, train or motor vehicle are accompanied by a diplomatic courier when a representative travels as a passenger in the same transport with official document that indicate your status (VDCR, art. 27.5).

Diplomatic couriers enjoy inviolability and are not subject to any form of arrest or detention. However, the person and personal luggage of a diplomatic courier are subject to normal customs procedures and security controls.

Non-accredited diplomatic couriers will enjoy personal inviolability only for as long as they have the diplomatic bag in charge. On the contrary, when no diplomat travels in the same transport, the diplomatic bags are said to be unaccompanied. In these cases they can be entrusted to the transport captain.

References

1. Boczek, Boleslaw Adam (2005). International Law: A Dictionary. Scarecrow Press. pp. 51–52. ISBN 0-8108-5078-8. Retrieved on 01/25/2017 at wikipedia.org.
2. Diplomatic bag: The inside story. BBC News. March 10, 2000. Retrieved on 01/25/2017 at wikipedia.org.
3. Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961. United Nations. Page 8. Retrieved on 01/25/2017.
4. Boczek, Boleslaw Adam (2005). International Law: A Dictionary. Scarecrow Press. pp. 51–52. ISBN 0-8108-5078-8. Retrieved on 01/25/2017.
5. Dictionary of International Trade: «Container:… must be b) specially designed to facilitate the carriage of goods by one or more modes of transport without intermediate reloading. … Ocean shipping containers are generally 10, 20, 30, or 40 feet long… and conform to ISO standards ». Retrieved on 01/25/2017 at wikipedia.org.
6. Institute for the Study of Diplomacy. Retrieved on 01/26/2017.
7. Diplomatic bags. USA Department of State. Diplomacy in action. Retrieved 01/26/2017 at state.gov.
8. Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961. United Nations.