REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIAN LAW ON THE STATUS OF THE DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA ABROAD The Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania: pursuing from the universally recognized principles and norms of international law consolidated in the United Nations Charter, in the documents of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, in the 18 April 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, emphasizing its adherence to the principles of sovereign equality of states, peaceful settlement of international disputes, and refraining from the use of force or threat by force, expressing its conviction that granted privileges and immunities shall condition effective performance of the functions of diplomatic missions, has enacted this Law: Article
- A diplomatic mission of the Republic of Lithuania abroad (hereafter referred to as diplomatic mission) shall be a permanently functioning division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania for the maintenance of official relations with the receiving state, for the representation of the Republic of Lithuania, for the protection of rights and interests of the Republic of Lithuania and of its citizens. The activities of diplomatic missions shall be based on the provisions of the 18 April 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, bilateral agreements to which the Republic of Lithuania a party, and on the laws of the Republic of Lithuania. Article
- The functions of diplomatic missions consist inter alia in: 1) representing the Republic of Lithuania in the receiving state and maintaining with it the official relations; 2) protecting the interests of the Republic of Lithuania and its citizens in the receiving state; 3) negotiating with the Government of the receiving state; 4) receiving, ascertaining by all lawful means information on political and economic life and developments in the receiving state, and reporting thereon to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania; 5) promoting friendly relations between the Republic of Lithuania and the receiving state, and developing their economic, cultural and scientific relations. At the behest of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, a diplomatic mission may also perform consular functions. Article
- Heads (ambassadors, envoys) of diplomatic missions of the Republic of Lithuania shall be appointed by the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council upon written approval of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Supreme Council, and upon the nomination of the Minister of Foreign Affairs upon the receipt of agrement (approval) of the receiving state in the manner established by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. Charges d'affaires of the Republic of Lithuania shall be appointed by the directive of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, upon taking into consideration the conclusions of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania. Other members of diplomatic staff shall be appointed by the directive of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Ambassadors and envoys of the Republic of Lithuania, who are going to the receiving state, shall be presented with credentials signed by the President of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania and countersigned by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, which they shall present upon arrival to the head of the receiving state. Charges d'affaires of the Republic of Lithuania, who are going to the receiving state, shall be provided with a letter of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, which they shall present upon arrival to the Foreign Minister of the receiving state. Article
- Ambassadors and envoys shall commence the performance of their functions from the moment: 1) the credentials are presented to the head of the receiving state; 2) they notify their arrival and present a true copy of their credentials to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the receiving state. Charges d'affaires of the Republic of Lithuania shall commence the performance of their functions from the moment they present the letter of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the receiving state. Article
- The mission of the diplomatic representative of the Republic of Lithuania shall terminate: 1) when a diplomatic representative is recalled in the manner established by the Government; 2) when a diplomatic representative resigns; 3) in case of death of a diplomatic representative; 4) when the receiving state declares him persona non grata. Article
- Only a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania can be a diplomatic representative of the Republic of Lithuania in a foreign state. Members of the administration, technical and service staff may be citizens of the receiving state. It is necessary to inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the receiving state about their employment or dismissal. Article
- The class of heads of diplomatic missions of the Republic of Lithuania in a foreign state as well as the number of the staff shall be established by bilateral agreements to which the Republic of Lithuania is a party. Article
- A diplomatic representative of the Republic of Lithuania may at the same time be accredited to several foreign states with the consent of these states. A diplomatic representative of the Republic of Lithuania in a foreign state may be at the same time appointed to act as representative of the Republic of Lithuania to any international organisation in accordance with the procedure prescribed by Article 3 of this Law. Article
- Heads of diplomatic missions and diplomatic agents of the Republic of Lithuania may not practice for personal profit any professional or commercial activity. Article
- Heads of diplomatic missions of the Republic of Lithuania, diplomatic agents and members of their families, members of the administrative and technical staff as well as members of their families, and members of the service staff in a foreign state, if they are not citizens of the receiving state, shall enjoy privileges and immunities provided by the 18 April 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, unless bilateral agreements to which Republic of Lithuania is a party provide otherwise. In accordance with the order established by the Government, the Republic of Lithuania may waive the immunity from jurisdiction of the receiving state. Article
- The financing, providing with premises and settling other issues concerning diplomatic missions of the Republic of Lithuania in foreign states shall be provided for in bilateral agreements between the Republic of Lithuania and the receiving state. Article
- In the cases when an international agreement to which the Republic of Lithuania is a party prescribes norms other than this Law, the norms of the international agreement shall be applicable. Vytautas Landsbergis President Supreme Council Republic of Lithuania Vilnius 3 October 1991 No. I-1856