Security
As a receiving state, Switzerland is obliged under international law to protect diplomatic and consular representations and their members on its territory. This duty is shared between the competent federal and cantonal security authorities.
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 18 April 1961 and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 24 April 1963 form the legal basis for Switzerland's duty, as a receiving state, to protect diplomatic and consular representations and their members on its territory.
Under these two conventions therefore, the FDFA has a particular obligation to take all appropriate measures to protect the premises of foreign diplomatic and consular representations against intrusion, damage, disturbance of the peace or impairment of its dignity. According to most legal commentators and based on prevailing practice, the above obligations are not absolute; appropriate means within the meaning of the Vienna Conventions depend on the scale of the foreseeable threat. However, host states are obliged to identify heightened risks for a particular representation, to respond to any indications made by a representation, and to make appropriate arrangements for protection (due diligence).
In Switzerland, this is carried out by federal and cantonal authorities in charge of security, which exchange information and coordinate closely to optimise security measures.
