Visitors now: 12
Practice Pointers for Consular Contacts
The Canadian Foreign Policy Newsweekly Embassy addresses on September 27, 2006 the problems faced by consular officials when communicating with detained nationals. The article, International Consular Laws Needed: Gar Pardy, comes at a time when allegations of denial or suppression of consular contacts reach a crescendo, from Australia all the way to the European Court of Human Rights.
The article by Lee Bethlaume characterizes the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations as toothless, leaving consular officers with limited means to communicate with their nationals. In the exercise of their discretion, they walk a tightrope that often cannot do justice to detained nationals nor principles of diplomacy and international relations.
Some countries may have no leverage with nations that frustrate such communications, and countries with some leverage may not be able to use it on seemingly minor matters. -- Clemens Kochinke, Berliner, Corcoran & Rowe, LLP, Washington, DC.
Wed, / / Embassy Law Link
