Host country must ensure safety of diplomats: US State Dept

Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the US Department of State.

Jehangir Hussain 

Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the US Department of State said on Tuesday that as per the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, any host country “must uphold its obligations to ensure the protection of all diplomatic mission premises and personnel and take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on personnel.”

Patel made the remark after Bangladesh decided not to provide additional security escorts for a number of foreign diplomats, including the US Ambassador and the UK High Commissioner in Dhaka.

The safety and security of their diplomatic personnel and facilities are of utmost importance, Patel said at the State Department’s  press briefing responding to a question.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday night said, “If they want it, they can get it in exchange of payment. We won’t provide this extra (security) escort service with taxpayers’ money.”

“I’m not going to get into the specifics about security details concerning the U.S. embassy or its personnel,” Vedant Patel said.

“In developed countries, no government provides such extra facilities,” said Foreign Minister Momen. 

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