Accusations have been made against Belgian security services for breaching diplomatic protocols through the unauthorized access of email accounts belonging to Qatari diplomats and the Mauritanian ambassador. This action represents a grave violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which ensures the immunity and protection of diplomatic missions and their personnel. Additionally, the absence of consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the measures taken against diplomats has placed the ministry in a challenging position vis-à-vis other nations and international organizations.
The allegations against the Belgian security services have been made by several media outlets, including Le Sewar, and have been corroborated by some sources within the Belgian government. The hacking of the Qatari diplomats’ accounts allegedly took place in 2017, and the hacking of the Mauritanian ambassador’s account allegedly took place in 2018.
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is a landmark international treaty that sets out the rights and obligations of diplomatic missions and their staff. The Convention states that diplomatic missions are inviolable, and that their official correspondence is not subject to censorship. It also states that the staff of diplomatic missions are immune from arrest and prosecution.
By hacking into the accounts of Qatari diplomats and the Mauritanian ambassador, the Belgian security services have violated these fundamental principles of international law. Diplomatic immunity is a principle of international law that grants certain legal protections and immunities to diplomats and their families, ensuring their ability to carry out their diplomatic functions without interference or legal harassment in the host country. The concept of diplomatic immunity is rooted in the need for effective communication and diplomatic relations between states. This is a serious matter, and it has the potential to damage Belgium’s reputation as a safe place for diplomatic missions.
The Belgian government has not yet commented on the allegations, but they have reportedly caused a major disagreement between the Foreign Ministry and the security services. The Foreign Ministry is reportedly concerned that the allegations will damage Belgium’s reputation as a safe place for diplomatic missions.
These incidents raised serious questions about the Belgian security services’ conduct and the government’s ability to protect diplomatic missions.
The allegations against the Belgian security services are a reminder of the importance of diplomatic immunity. Diplomatic immunity is a vital principle of international law that helps to protect diplomats and their staff from interference in their work. When this principle is violated, it can have serious consequences for the relationship between the countries involved.
The Belgian government needs to take these allegations seriously and investigate them thoroughly. If the allegations are true, the government needs to take steps to ensure that this does not happen again. The Belgian government also needs to work to repair the damage that has been done to Belgium’s reputation as a safe place for diplomatic missions.
