Press Release No. 165-03
10 April 2003
PHILIPPINES
CALLS ON PARTIES TO CONTINUE RESPECTING INVIOLABILITY OF DIPLOMATIC PREMISES IN
IRAQ
Foreign
Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople called on the parties directly involved in
hostilities in Iraq to continue respecting the inviolability of diplomatic
premises in Baghdad.
The Secretary
issued this call upon being informed by the US government that Iraqi
paramilitary troops might operate near diplomatic premises.
“I call on
all sides to the hostilities to respect our diplomatic premises, which, under
international law, remains inviolable even during times of war or armed
conflict,” Secretary Ople said. “Our
embassy remains open and its inviolability as diplomatic premises is not
dependent on the presence of Filipino diplomats.
It remains open for the Filipinos in Baghdad to seek refuge in or to obtain
basic provisions from. This is
particularly important at this time of transition in Baghdad,” he added.
The Secretary
confirmed that the US Embassy had informed the Department that Iraqi
paramilitary troops might operate or store military equipment near diplomatic
premises in Baghdad. The Secretary
also confirmed that the US Embassy has indicated that the US military will
continue to conduct operations against such paramilitary troops.
“We have
received, however, the assurances of the US government that its forces will
respect our diplomatic premises. These
were assurances that were given us even before hostilities began. I hope that as military activities begin to wind down, the
fortunes of war will spare our Embassy,” the Secretary said.
The Secretary
also revealed that, prior to the use of force in Iraq, the US government had
consulted with the Philippines as to the specific location of the Philippine
Embassy, bringing detailed satellite pictures of Baghdad for reference.
As to what action the Philippines might take should the Embassy be damaged because of the hostilities, the Secretary said that specific remedies exist in international law for such situations. END.