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Viewing cable 06GENEVA2131, TAXATION OF UN MISSION RESIDENCES

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06GENEVA2131 2006-09-01 05:08 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED US Mission Geneva
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGV #2131 2440508
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 010508Z SEP 06
FM USMISSION GENEVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0878
INFO RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN 7192
UNCLAS GENEVA 002131 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT PASS TO L/DL - SUSAN BENDA AND DS/OFM/TPB - RICHARD 
MASSEY; BERN FOR STEPHEN DODSON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT KLIG SW
SUBJECT: TAXATION OF UN MISSION RESIDENCES 
 
REF: STATE 133522 (NOTAL) 
 
1.  Summary.  Reftel requested information about Swiss 
taxation of foreign-owned diplomatic mission residences, and 
asked post to describe any USG or post-owned properties used 
as residences by US Mission personnel.  Mission can confirm 
that there are no/no USG-owned properties used as residences 
by U.S. Mission Geneva personnel, including chiefs of 
mission.  In a call to Embassy Bern, Mission learned that USG 
owns the chancery complex of approximately four buildings, 
including TDY apartments, and the Ambassador's residence, but 
owns no properties used as residences by other U.S. Embassy 
personnel. Swiss MFA lawyer Danielle Werthmueller confirmed 
that Switzerland grants tax exempt status to real property 
owned by foreign governments and used for the premises of the 
mission and the residence of the chief of mission, but does 
not/not exempt government-owned real property used as 
residences for other diplomatic personnel.  GOS extends the 
same real property tax treatment to bilateral missions and 
missions to the UN and other international organizations. 
End summary. 
 
2.  Per reftel, Mission Legal Adviser met with Swiss MFA 
lawyer Danielle Werthmueller, who handles privileges and 
immunities issues for the Swiss Mission to the UN in Geneva. 
Werthmueller explained that Switzerland does not/not exempt 
from taxes foreign government-owned real property used as 
residences by diplomatic staff below the level of chief of 
mission.  Only foreign government-owned mission or chancery 
premises and the residences of the chiefs of mission are 
granted real property tax exemptions. According to 
Werthmueller, this practice applies uniformly to foreign 
government-owned properties used by bilateral diplomatic 
representatives and by representatives to UN and other 
international organizations in Switzerland. 
 
3.  According to Werthmueller, Swiss practice on real 
property tax exemptions has been consistent since the late 
1940s, and reflects its obligations under international law. 
In a Decree of the Federal Council dated March 31, 1948, 
permanent missions in Geneva were given a status analogous to 
that granted to diplomatic missions established in Bern, and 
this was continued in amendments dated May 20, 1958 and 
November 3, 1967.  Since Swiss accession to the 1961 Vienna 
Convention on Diplomatic Relations, codified at RS 0.191.01 
of the Swiss Federal Code, the Convention has been the 
international legal basis for this tax exemption. 
Application of the Convention provisions to permanent 
missions in Geneva is reflected in the 1967 amendment to the 
Federal Council Decree. 
 
4.  Mission Legal Adviser queried Werthmueller on the reasons 
behind the 1948 Federal Council Decree, but she was unable to 
shed any light on the question.  She did provide a booklet 
prepared by Amadeo Perez, the Legal Adviser to the Swiss 
Mission, which contains some historical background.  Mission 
will scan and email booklet to L/DL - Susan Benda.  Swiss 
federal laws are available at www.admin.ch in French, German, 
and Italian.  Mission will email relevant provisions to L/DL. 
 
5.  In response to query about USG-owned property, post 
confirms that USG owns mission complex, but does not/not own 
any residential properties, including for chiefs of mission. 
Per L/DL telephone request Mission called Embassy Bern and 
learned that USG owns the chancery complex of approximately 
four buildings, including TDY apartments, and the residence 
of the Ambassador but does not own any other staff 
residences. 
CHAMMAS