Los Tiempos reports in its website at 18:50, August 23, 2011: Bolivia accuses USA of violating Vienna Convention, art 41. Minister Carlos Romero is said to express Bolivia’s “malaise and profound preoccupation” because some American Embassy officials have contacted over the phone indigenous leaders who are participating in the TIPNIS protest walk.
Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
- Without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State.
- All official business with the receiving State entrusted to the mission by the sending State shall be conducted with or through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the receiving State or such other ministry as may be agreed.
- The premises of the mission must not be used in any manner incompatible with the functions of the mission as laid down in the present Convention or by other rules of general international law or by any special agreements in force between the sending and the receiving State.
http://www.ediplomat.com/nd/treaties/diplomatic_relations.htm
US Embassy Statement
August 22, 2011
The United States remains committed to maintain and improve bilateral relations with Bolivia within a framework of mutual respect.
The Embassy of the United States, like any other diplomatic mission in Bolivia and the world, maintains dialogue with various sectors of Bolivian society. Such dialogue is the daily work of diplomacy, and is usual and appropriate.
We share the view of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Bolivian government that the TIPNIS issue should be resolved through dialogue and consultation under Bolivian law and established international standards.
We emphasize that neither the United States Embassy in Bolivia nor any other element of the U.S. government has given any support to the indigenous march.
http://photos.state.gov/libraries/bolivia/337500/pdfs/USEmbassyStatement.pdf
Bolivian Thoughts | Pensamientos Bolivianos (Bilingual/Bilingüe) 