Posts: 2372
Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 7:03 am
Well this story is confusing because, not surprising and less so because its the Star, the media types are reporting on things they don't know about and messing up terms and stuff.
Government officials on travel get "Special Passports" that is an actually term for them, but they are Green and for all intents and purposes just make you feel different, they offer no immunities etc.
Diplomatic passports are red and offer you immunities and status as a protected person in the county(ies) you are accredited to. Except for the GG, Prime Minister, and Foreign Affairs minister the last time I heard and saw politicians overseas they held Green ones. So I don't see how Ottawa's sweetheart couple had Diplomatic ones, unless the Harper government changed something or I was misinformed and saw a fluke MP with a Green one. Maybe Cab Ministers all get them now.
Now to the point about being prohibited to use them for personal travel. In the past everyone did it with full knowledge of the government, we did it and so did everyone else at the embassies we were attached to. There were a lot of problems with having to hold and use two sets of passports. The fact he had one while on personal business is no big deal. The fact he waved it around shows what we already know, he's a twit. Anyhow, despite the Stars great research effort (which amounts to whatever the reporter has up his butt at the moment) it is no longer prohibited to use Red Dip passports for personal travel while you are actively posted to a country as a diplomat. If you are back working in Ottawa you have to flip for the Blue one like the rest.
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