NAM condemns violation of Bolivian president’s diplomatic immunity

TEHRAN,July 10(MNA) – In a statement issued on Monday, Iran and other members of the Non-Aligned Movement condemned the recent violation of the diplomatic immunity of Bolivian President Evo Morales. The Bolivian president’s plane had to land in Austria last Tuesday because of suspicions that U.S. National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden was aboard the aircraft. Iran assumed the rotating presidency of NAM for a three-year term on August 30, 2012. Following is the text of the statement: The Non-Aligned Movement expresses its deep concern over the flagrant violation of the diplomatic immunity of the President of the Plurinational Stale of Bolivia, H.E. Mr. Evo Morales Ayma, after some European governments refused permission to the aircraft, carrying him from Moscow where he participated in the 2nd Summit of Gas Exporting Countries to his country, to overfly their airspaces or land on their territories. This serious incident put at risk the life of the Head of State of a sovereign developing country and the entourage that accompanied him by forcing the official airplane that carried him to make an emergency landing in Austria. The Heads of State and their airplanes enjoy full immunity in accordance with international law. The Non-Aligned Movement states that this occurrence constitutes an affront to the sovereignty of a State and an attack against the human rights of an authority protected by diplomatic immunity. The Non-Aligned Movement strongly condemns the violation of international norms and treaties regulating and protecting International Civil Aviation, while it also rejects the violation of international norms protecting the privileges and immunities of Heads of State. The Non-Aligned Movement expresses its firm solidarity with President Evo Morales Ayma and the Government of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, while calling upon all countries to respect the sovereignty of States, international law, and the rules governing the peaceful coexistence of nations.