Venezuela denounces forced opening of diplomatic bag at Panama airport

The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela denounced this Tuesday the forced opening of its diplomatic bags at Tocumen International Airport, in Panama.

In a statement, released by Foreign Minister Yván Gil on his Telegram channel, the Bolivarian Government stated that “this act constitutes a direct and flagrant violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and therefore demanded full guarantees of non-repetition.

Below is the full text of the document:

This act constitutes a direct and flagrant violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, whose article 27 clearly establishes the inviolability of the diplomatic bag, which cannot be opened or held under any circumstances.

The immunity of diplomatic communications is an essential principle for coexistence between nations. Its violation sets a dangerous precedent that affects the legal security of our missions and violates the right to identity of the Venezuelan community resident in Panamanian territory.

Faced with this outrage, the Bolivarian Government demands full guarantees of non-repetition and urges the Panamanian authorities to strictly comply with the rules governing diplomatic and consular activity, considering the will expressed by both governments to reactivate consular services.