2005/PDGY/216950




Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey presents its compliments to all Foreign Missions in Turkey and with reference to its Circular Notes PRDİ-1569 dated April 25, 1994 and PİGY-436/96 dated February 16, 1996, has the honor to convey the rules and regulations still in effect regarding the diplomatic courier bags entering and exiting Turkey as follows:

1. Accompanied diplomatic bags:

a. The diplomatic courier has to present a courier letter in English or French indicating his status and the number of packages constituting the diplomatic bag. The courier letter should be signed and sealed by the sending authority (Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Embassy or Consulate General of the related country). No document other than this courier letter is required for the diplomatic bags to be allowed through Turkish customs.

b. The diplomatic bags having documents and other articles for the official use of Diplomatic Missions, should be sealed in a way that they cannot be opened without being noticed.

c. The diplomatic bags (pouches, bags and boxes) should be of reasonable size and weight (total weight should not exceed 30 kgs. per courier).

d. The diplomatic bags belonging to Diplomatic Missions and Consular Posts accredited to Turkey, prepared in accordance with articles 1.a., 1.b. anc 1.c. and Article 27.4. of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR), cannot be detained, opened or scanned through x-ray in accordance with Article 27.3. of VCDR, except cases where the principle of reciprocity with the relevant country is applied.

2. Accompanied diplomatic bags exchanged between the Embassies and the Consulates-General within Turkey, prepared in accordance with articles 1.a-c., can be sent by airplanes or other transportation vehicles without being opened, detained or scanned through x-ray, except cases where the principle of reciprocity with the relevant country is applied.

3. Unaccompanied diplomatic bags coming from or going abroad through cargo services of airlines or other transportation means:

a. Maximum 5 (five) unaccompanied diplomatic pouches, bags and boxes of reasonable size, not exceeding 30 kgs. each and sealed in accordance with article 1.b., can be brought in or sent out of Turkey at one or several expeditions in a day with presentation of courier letter (Giriş Beyanı, Form E) or courier letter (Çıkış Beyanı, Form F) to the relevant customs authorities by an official of the Mission holding a courier card (Airport Entrance Card). For each of the diplomatic bags, a separate bill of lading should be presented to the customs authorities.

b. Diplomatic bags taken from or left at the customs in accordance with article 3.a., cannot be detained, opened or scanned through x-ray, except cases where the principle of reciprocity with the relevant country is applied.

4.
a. Unaccompanied diplomatic bags (and accompanied diplomatic bags exceeding 30 kgs. in weight per courier) coming from abroad by airplane or other transportation means, which weigh more than 30 kgs. per package can be claimed from the customs only upon the presentation of "takrir" indicating the contents, approved by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

b. For the exportation of the unaccompanied diplomatic bags exceeding 30 kgs. per package by airplanes or other transportation means, the Diplomatic Mission should present an original copy of "takrir" indicating the precise definition of the articles, approved by this Ministry, sent in the appendix to a Note Verbal requsting permission for exportation. If the diplomatic pouches include articles bought in Turkey, the original copies of the receipts should be presented to the customs authorities.

c. The diplomatic bags over 30 kgs. per package mentioned at paragraphs "a" and "b" of this article, can be opened under the supervision of the official of the Diplomatic Mission upon the approval of this Ministry, if serious concern about the contents should arise.

d. Should the accompanied or unaccompanied diplomatic bags arrive by land transport, the vehicle is subject to relevant Turkish rules and regulations and international agreements in effect.

5. Diplomatic bags consigned to the captain of a commercial aircraft or sea vessel:

a. Diplomatic bags may be entrusted to the captain of a commercial aircraft or sea vessel by the sending authority. The bag should be dispatched at the cabin of the captain. Such diplomatic bags would be allowed to pass from the customs if the captain holds an official letter indicating the number of packages, signed and sealed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the sending state, prepared in accordance with article 1.b. and are of reasonable size and weight.

b. The diplomatic bag should be delivered to the official of the Embassy or Consulate-General holding a courier card by the captain or staff of the aircraft or sea vessel at the customs-free area.

The official of the Embassy or Consulate-General holding the courier card cannot go to the apron or aboard the aircraft or sea vessel to collect the bag from the cabin of the captain.

The above-mentioned rules and regulations also apply to the diplomatic bags of the representations of international organizations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey avails itself of this opportunity to renew to all Foreign Missions in Turkey the assurances of its high consideration.

Ankara, May 31, 2005

DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS

CONSULAR MISSIONS

REPRESENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS