Article I: The Treatment and Rights of Embassy Staff
All ambassadors and diplomatic staff are offered full diplomatic immunity. This means that no embassy personnel (excluding service staff and any other domestically hired personnel) can be charged with a crime while in Biotopia. However, Biotopia maintains the right to expel any members of the staff suspected of criminal activity and in some situations we may ask that nations waive their diplomatic immunity so that offenders can be prosecuted in Biotopia. Traffic tickets may be issued but they should be paid by the mission rather than the offending individual.
Full background checks on all personnel will be conducted before the arrival of your delegation. Personnel, including the ambassador, may also be subjected to polygraph tests and/or drug tests at any time during their first week (seven days) in Biotopia. Security personnel may be tested for restricted substances by Biotopian authorities at any time. Personnel failing these tests or refusing to comply may be immediately expelled at the discretion of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Allegations of brutality by security forces will be examined carefully and we may request that concerned parties be put on administrative leave. Accusations of espionage will result in suspension of all accused staff pending investigation.
The Biotopian government will never imprison, execute or kill foreign dignitaries or staff-members in times of peace or in times of war expect if not doing so would directly endanger the life of a Biotopian citizen. Dignitaries and staffers can be held in custody for a maximum of one week (seven days) pending investigation or extradition proceedings.
If a war breaks out between Biotopia and an embassy-holding nation, all embassy staff will be promptly deported, if desired, by a neutral third party agreed upon by both Biotopia and the embassy-holder. In the event of a civil war or other internal conflict, all necessary measures will be taken to ensure the safety of embassy staff. We are not responsible for damage or injury caused by pre-emptive strikes, acts of terrorism or other unforeseeable misfortunes.
Article II: The Rights of Biotopia as the Host Nation
Biotopia may, with the appropriate Order of Expulsion from the Department of Foreign Affairs, expel a diplomatic mission, in part or in full, at any time and for any duration. Reasons cited for the expulsion may include political protest against the embassy-holding nation, violations by embassy staff or any other sufficiently reasonable cause. In the event of such an expulsion, federal police will arrive at the embassy to serve the Order of Expulsion. All embassy staff (except for those that are Biotopian citizens) will be immediately taken into custody pending deportation. We advise that you instruct your embassy staff to enter custody peacefully as armed resistance by embassy staff will be considered grounds for Biotopian authorities to respond with deadly force. We cannot be held accountable for any deaths caused by resistance by embassy personnel.
All chanceries, both those that are pre-constructed and those that are custom-built, remain Biotopian land and property of the Biotopian federal government. However, embassies are extraterritorial zones and are exempt from Biotopian law. Additionally, Biotopian authorities cannot enter an embassy without permission, the appropriate paperwork from the Department of Foreign Affairs or probable cause (e.g., a fugitive has been seen fleeing into the embassy or shots have been fired from within the embassy). In any situation, the use of deadly force against any Biotopian authority will be seen as cause for expulsion or a justified forceful response.
With a warrant directly from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Biotopian police may search a chancery for undeclared weapons, vehicles, restricted substances, employees, etc. All undeclared objects may be confiscated and depending on the situation, the diplomatic mission may be expelled.
All pre-built chanceries are provided free of charge by the Biotopian government. Custom chanceries must be paid for by the embassy-holder but they will be reimbursed to the cost of a standard embassy by the Biotopian government. The embassy-holding nation is required to pay for all utilities as well as repairs and improvements made to the chancery. The latter two must be reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs and a Biotopian inspector may be required to oversee the work.
Article III: The Location and Amenities of Chanceries
The technical term for the physical space which a diplomatic mission (i.e., embassy) inhabits is “chancery.” This term will be used throughout this article.
Chanceries will be located either along the Avenue of White Pines or Federation Road in the Parliamentary Quater of Zaire City (the capital of Biotopia). Chanceries in the Parliamentary Quarter are reserved for missions requiring either special security considerations or hosting larger than average full-time delegations (allies and major economic partners). .
Chanceries along the Avenue of White Pines have shared underground garages for up to twenty (20) regularly-sized vehicles. We ask that each nation limit itself to five (5) vehicles on site. Avenue chanceries also have office space for approximately thirty (30) diplomatic staffers. In addition, there are quarters for approximately ten (10) employees who wish to live on site in addition to a suite for the ambassador and his or her family. Security forces are capped at fifteen (15) security officers.
Federation Road chanceries have garages for up to twelve (12) vehicles as well as access to a the Parliament’s helipad. There is office space for 100 diplomatic staff and living quarters for twenty (20) in addition to a suite reserved for the ambassador. Security forces are capped at thirty (30) members. Federation Road chanceries are protected by walls three meters in height on all sides.
Fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters belonging to nations with Avenue chanceries may be stored at the Biotopian International Airport, located in Zaire City. A maximum of one (1) of each type per nation is enforced.
Article IV: Limits on Equipment
All vehicles must be unarmed and of civilian design (no APCs, tanks or other military vehicles). Armoured vehicles are permitted. We ask that you do not use stretch limousines as they are inappropriate to the traffic conditions in the capital.
We ask that weapons are limited to one (1) type per guard/soldier. Machine guns, all explosive devices (including rocket/grenade launchers, hand grenades (both lethal and non-lethal) and all manner of bombs) and armour-piercing weapons are strictly prohibited and will immediately be confiscated. Riot gear and equipment is also prohibited as the Biotopian Police will be called in to handle an demonstrations or mobs. Hand-to-hand weapon (including bladed weapons, staves, brass knuckles, etc.) requests will be dealt with on an individual basis. If you would like to bring such weapons, please justify your request in your application. All nuclear, chemical and biological weapons are absolutely forbidden and possession of such WMDs will result in deportation of the entire embassy staff and permanent expulsion from the embassy programme.
Article V: Animals, Plants and Restricted Substances
Relatively small, domesticated animals (e.g., cats, small to medium-sized dogs, birds, fish, rodents) are permitted but subject to Biotopian quarantine laws if they are imported. Please inform us of any history of aggression that pets or animals held within the Chancery may have. Upon arriving in Zaire, should an animal within the Chancery create a problem (e.g., excessive noise, destruction of property, aggressive behaviours) we will request that the pet be removed from the Chancery. We reserve the right to inspect the health of all animals entering our nation as subject to our quarantine and animal transportation laws.
We discourage the international transport of plants as we find it to be more trouble than it is worth. However, should it be absolutely necessary that a plant be imported to the Chancery, it will be subject to inspection by customs and the relevant quarantine laws.
We will permit diplomatic parties to bring up to ten (10) litres of alcohol into Biotopia without cultural or religious justification. With justification, we will allow an additional ten (10) litres. Without justification, drugs (all drugs, save those prescribed by an accredited doctor are illegal in Biotopia) are strictly prohibited. Please provide cultural or religious justification and your case will be considered. In all cases, security and other armed personnel are prohibited from ingesting restricted substances.
By applying for an embassy, the applying nation agrees to abide by all terms listed above.
Department of Foreign Affairs Form A-S6 (Embassy Application Form)
National Information:
- Full Name of Nation:
- Government Type:
- Head of State:
- Head of Government:
- Minister of Foreign Affairs or Equivalent:
Ambassadorial Information:
- Ambassador's Name:
- Ambassador's Family (if any):
Location Application
Please place any special requests in the "Special Requests" field and justify them in the field directly below it. Please make only realistic requests and be prepared to pay any fees associated with the design, construction or maintenance of special requests.
-Avenue of White Pines: (Y/N)
- Federation Road: (Y/N)
- Special Requests:
Staff and Equipment Information:
Please remember, limousines, armed/military vehicles, machine guns, explosives, riot gear and armour-piercing weapons are prohibited. We ask that you limit employment based on the guidelines above.
- Diplomatic Staff:
- Security Staff:
- Service Staff:
- Will you be hiring locally?
- Number and Type of Weapons:
- Number and Type of Vehicles:
Miscellaneous & Treaties:
- Would you like us to establish an embassy in your nation?
- Would you like to trade? (see Factbook)
- What goods would you like to trade?
- Would you like to receive economic assistance?
- Would you like to negotiate a defence treaty (e.g. training/supplies) (mutual defence pact/bases[allies only])?
- Is there any additional information we should know?
Please declare any drugs, alcohol, animals or plants you are bringing into the country.
