The Diplomatic Bag

Subject(s):

Diplomatic immunity — Diplomatic missions — Diplomatic relations

This chapter looks into Article 27.3 and Article 27.4 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Both of the sections refer to the diplomat bag used by members of diplomatic missions. Article 27.3 states that the diplomatic bag shall not be opened or detained, while Article 27.4 states that the packages constituting the diplomatic bag must bear visible external marks of their character and may contain only diplomatic documents or articles intended for official use. Given the vulnerability of communications sent by wireless, by telephone, or by correspondence through public facilities—described in the commentary on Article 27.1 and 27.2 and apparently increasing as technology advances and leaking meets with public sympathy—States attach prime importance to the security of the diplomatic bag for reliable transmission of confidential material.