About the consulate

ABOUT THE CONSULATE

Historical Background

The Honorary Consulate of Lebanon in Nevada was established in Las Vegas in 2019. It is the official representative of the Lebanese Republic Government in Nevada, it works to foster positive relations and encourage collaboration between the US and Lebanon. The Consulate reports directly to the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants and deals with a wide array of political, commercial, cultural and economic issues. It also strives to protect the interests of Lebanese citizens and of Americans of Lebanese descent living in the state of Nevada.

Lebanon has one Embassy and three Consulates General in the United States, each consulate covers a specific jurisdiction.
Six Honorary Consulates other than the Honorary Consulate of Lebanon in Nevada serve the residents of Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, North Carolina, and Ohio.The Honorary Consulate of Lebanon in Nevada, in Arizona and in San Francisco, are affiliated and fall under the jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Lebanon in Los Angeles.

Legal Background For Consular Functions

The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (or VCCR), a multilateral treaty completed in 1963, is the legal instrument that codifies the consular practices that developed through customary international law, numerous bilateral treaties, and a number of regional treaties.
The VCCR enumerates basic legal rights and duties of signatory States, including:

The establishment and conduct of consular relations, by mutual consent.
The privileges and immunities of consular officers and offices from the laws of the “receiving State” (the country where the foreign consular office has been established).
Protecting in the receiving State (USA) the interests of the sending State (Lebanon) and of its nationals, both individuals and corporations, within the limits permitted by international law.
Furthering the development of commercial, economic, cultural and scientific relations between the sending State and the receiving State and otherwise promoting friendly relations between them.
Helping and assisting nationals, both individuals and bodies corporate, of the sending State.
Acting as notary and civil registrar, and in capacities of a similar kind, and performing certain functions of an administrative nature, provided that there is nothing contrary thereto in the laws and regulations of the receiving State.
Issuing passports and travel documents to nationals of the sending State, and visas or appropriate documents to persons wishing to travel to the sending State.

Safeguarding, within the limits imposed by the laws and regulations of the receiving State, the interests of minors and other persons lacking full capacity.
Who are nationals of the sending State, particularly where any guardianship or trusteeship is required with respect to such persons.
Subject to the practices and procedures obtaining in the receiving State, representing or arranging appropriate representation for nationals of the sending State before the tribunals and other authorities of the receiving State, for the purpose of obtaining, in accordance with the laws and regulations of the receiving State, provisional measures for the preservation of the rights and interests of these nationals, where, because of absence or any other reason, such nationals are unable at the proper time to assume the defense of their rights and interests.
Transmitting judicial and extrajudicial documents or executing letters or commissions to take evidence for the courts of the sending State in accordance with international agreements in force or, in the absence of such international agreements, in any other manner compatible with the laws and regulations of the receiving State.

Privileges

Pursuant to Article 68 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR), the United States has decided to receive honorary consular officers. The Department of State’s Office of Foreign Missions (OFM) holds the authority and responsibility for approving the establishment of consular posts in the United States, including those headed by honorary consular officers, as well as the appointment of honorary consular officers. .
The Department of State informs that the proposed honorary consular officer will (1) exercise meaningful consular functions on a regular basis and (2) come under the supervision of, and be accountable to, the government which he or she represents.