Solomon2
BANNED
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2008
- Messages
- 19,475
- Reaction score
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Cultural facilities run by an embassy may fall under the domain of Article 3 of the 1961 Vienna Convention; certainly if the property is owned or leased by the embassy that is the case (Article 23). As such, one would expect that no dues or taxes are owed to the Indian gov't or Delhi municipality.
Demanding a license to show movies, in addition to being an implicit violation of Article 3 (which acknowledges the right of sending countries to promote their culture) is an explicit violation of Article 27, which demands free communication for official purposes (as Article 3 acknowledges cultural exchanges to be).
In general, diplomats and their facilities are exempt from the civil and administrative jurisdiction of their host. Articles 31 & 34 allow a partial exception: if somebody is running an activity at the American Center for profit outside of their official functions. Then that person and his activity can be regulated and even pay some taxes.
Demanding a license to show movies, in addition to being an implicit violation of Article 3 (which acknowledges the right of sending countries to promote their culture) is an explicit violation of Article 27, which demands free communication for official purposes (as Article 3 acknowledges cultural exchanges to be).
In general, diplomats and their facilities are exempt from the civil and administrative jurisdiction of their host. Articles 31 & 34 allow a partial exception: if somebody is running an activity at the American Center for profit outside of their official functions. Then that person and his activity can be regulated and even pay some taxes.