Privileges and immunities of international inspectors

(1) International Inspectors and observers shall enjoy the following privileges and immunities as are enjoyed by diplomatic agents in accordance with the following provisions of the Articles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, namely– (a) Article 29; (b) Article 30, paragraph 1; (c) Article 31, paragraph 1, 2 and 3; and (d) Article 34. (2) In addition to those privileges and immunities granted in sub-section (1), members of inspection teams and observers shall– (a) have the right to use codes for their communications with the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW, in addition to the same privileges as are enjoyed by diplomatic agents in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 30 of the 1961 Articles; 22 (b) be permitted to bring into the territory of Belize, without payment of any customs duties or related charges, articles for personal use, with the exception of articles the importing and exporting of which is prohibited by law or controlled by quarantine regulations; and (c) be accorded the same currency and exchange facilities as are accorded to representatives of foreign Governments on temporary official missions in Belize. (3) Samples and approved equipment carried by international inspectors shall be inviolable and exempt from customs duties. (4) The privileges and immunities accorded to international inspectors and observers by virtue of this section shall be enjoyed by them at any time– (a) when they are in Belize– (i) in connection with the carrying out of a routine inspection, a challenge inspection or an assistance inspection; or (ii) while in transit to or from the territory of another State Party in connection with the carrying out of such an inspection there; or (b) after an inspection under subsection (4) (a) (i) of this section, with respect to acts previously performed in the exercise of their official capacity. (5) If23 (a) immunity from jurisdiction of an international inspector is expressly waived in accordance with Part II (B) (14) of the Verification Annex to the Convention; and (b) a notice made by the Minister and informing the international inspector of the waiver is delivered to him in person, then, from the time the notice is so delivered, this section shall not have effect to confer that immunity on the international (6) If in any proceedings any question arises whether a person is entitled or not to any privilege or immunity by virtue of this section, a certificate issued by the Minister stating any fact relating to that question shall be conclusive evidence of that fact. (7) International inspectors and observers are hereby prohibited from engaging in any professional or commercial activity for personal profit in Belize.