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View Full Version : Consuls have to go



NewsWhore
01-04-2007, 04:50 PM
Press reports say that the US government is pressuring the Dominican government to remove Dominicans with US residency who are serving as consuls in several US cities, as this is in violation of international law. This is a long standing practice of the Dominican government that appoints Dominicans living abroad to these revenue-producing posts. The US Embassy in the DR confirms that both governments are working to solve the issue so that both countries are in line with the Vienna Convention and State Department requirements. In a press release, the US Embassy says that it applies these requirements uniformly for all countries, and that accredited consuls or diplomatic envoys are not allowed to be citizens or legal residents in the US. The press release specifies that Article 22 of the Convention states that consuls in foreign countries may not have citizenship in the host country, unless the host country agrees to it, though this can be rescinded at any time. This move could lead President Leonel Fernandez to make many moves abroad, and it is a common practice for the DR to appoint people with US citizenship to a range of posts in the US, although the US has consistently refused to recognize their status. Press reports say this could affect persons appointed by former Minister of the Presidency, Danilo Medina.

More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#8)