Diplomatic criticism of governmental policies: Iraq as a case study

Abstract

Despite warnings by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relation 1961 (VCDR) concerning ambassadors’ interference in the internal  affairs of receiving states, a Saudi Ambassador is acting in a manner that suggests he cannot serve the interests of his country without  interfering in the internal affairs of Iraq. The questions are whether the current mechanism of VCDR is adequate to redress the problem  of interference in the internal affairs of receiving states, and whether the Saudi ambassador’s comments should be considered as  interference in Iraq? This paper therefore, examined the extent to which contributions of the Saudi Ambassador constitute interference  in the internal affairs of Iraq, while also identifying effective ways to improve the laws on diplomatic interference during internal conflicts.  It critically analysed the VCDR alongside a literature review and concluded that the VCDR obliges ambassadors to abstain from  interference in the internal political life of receiving state stands, and that the Saudi Ambassador was in violation of VCDR by  demonstrably intervening in Iraqi internal affairs via his (un-)diplomatic criticism of Iraqi governmental policies not directly related to his  country’s interest. Hence the recommendation that appropriate punishments equal to the damage caused by such ambassador’s actions  and/or words.be meted out.