SCOPE OF DIPLOMATIC FAMILY IN VIENNA CONVENTION ON DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

Diplomatik ilişkilere dair kuralların ortaya çıkışı neredeyse uluslararası hukukun tarihi kadar eskidir. Ne var ki, diplomatik temsilcilerin muafiyetlerine dair modern gelişmeler uluslararası sahada devletlerin hükümranlığının ve eşitliklerinin kabul edilmeye başlamasıyla ortaya çıkmıştır.Diplomatik muafiyetler, gönderen devletin temsilcisine en başta kabul eden devletin yargı sistemine tabi olmama ayrıcalığı vermektedir. Bunun yanı sıra vergi muafiyeti, konut ve eşyalarının aranamaması gibi birçok muafiyet söz konusudur. Bu konuyu düzenleyen en önemli uluslararası belge ise, 1961 tarihli Diplomatik İlişkiler Hakkında Viyana Konvansiyonudur. Viyana Konvansiyonunun 37. maddesi diplomatın hane halkını oluşturan aile fertlerinin de, kabul eden devletin vatandaşı olmamaları koşuluyla, diplomatlara tanınan hakların birçoğundan aynen yararlanacaklarını belirtmiştir. Ancak, hane halkı ve aile ferdi kavramlarına ilişkin bir açıklama yer almamaktadır. Bu nedenle, Konvansiyona taraf olan ülkelerde bile hangi aile fertlerinin bu muafiyetlerden yararlanabileceğine dair yeknesak bir mevzuat ve uygulama mevcut değildir. Eş ve reşit olmayan çocuklar üzerinde genel olarak tartışma olmamakla birlikte, reşit çocuklar ve diğer akrabalardan hangilerinin aile ferdi sayılabileceklerine dair farklı uygulama örnekleri bulunmaktadır. Aynı cins eşlerden müteşekkil evliliklere cevaz veren (Belçika gibi) ülkeler de nazara alındığında konu biraz daha karmaşık bir hale bürünmektedir. Konvansiyonda, hazırlık çalışmaları sırasındaki uzlaşı eksikliğinden ötürü aile fertlerinin kapsamı belirlenemediğinden mesele teamül hukuku, ikili sözleşmeler ve mütekabiliyet ilkesi çerçevesinde çözüme kavuşturulmaktadır.

Diplomatik İlişkiler Hakkında Viyana Konvansiyonuna Göre Diplomatik Ailenin Kapsamı

Principles as regards diplomatic relations virtually go back to appearance of international law. However, modern principles with respect the immunities of diplomatic representatives emerged following recognition of sovereignty and equality of states and rather as a result of requirement in international arena. First of all, diplomatic immunity provides diplomatic agents of sending state for immunity from the jurisdiction of host state. In addition, they are exempt from tax and their residences cannot be searched as well as their private papers cannot be seized or inspected. The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is of great importance on the issue. In Article 37/1 of the Convention, it is stipulated that the family members of a diplomatic agent forming part of his household shall, if they are not nationals of the receiving state, enjoy the privileges and immunities specified in Articles 29 to 36. However, the Convention includes no definition of the family members. Therefore, there is neither uniform legislation nor practice even within the States party to the Convention regarding which family members will exercise such immunities. Although there is an agreement on the inclusion of spouses and minor children as family members, there are various practice samples on recognition of children over 18 and other relatives as members of family. Taking into consideration the existence of countries, like the Netherlands and Belgium, permitting same-sex couples the issue becomes more problematic. In the Convention, as the scope of family is not defined due to lack of consensus during travaux préparatoire it is now to be determined according to customary law, bilateral treaties, or principle of reciprocity.

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