Opinion ID: 747683
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The International Organizations Immunities Act

Text: 40 The International Organizations Immunities Act (IOIA), 22 U.S.C. §§ 288-288i, which defines the immunities enjoyed by public international organizations and their employees, is incorporated by Article 6(b) of the AIT-TECRO Agreement. It provides that TECRO shall enjoy immunity from suit and legal processes equivalent to those enjoyed by public international organizations in the United States. Thus, with respect to TECRO itself, the Agreement effectively incorporates the standards of the IOIA. However, the Agreement does not explicitly incorporate IOIA standards for TECRO employees. Nevertheless, the IOIA's employee immunity provision, 22 U.S.C. § 288d, confers immunity in terms almost identical to Article 5(e) of the AIT-TECRO Agreement. 7 Therefore, it is appropriate to consider section 288d as a guide to the interpretation of Article 5(e). 41 The Department of State interprets section 288d broadly to provide testimonial immunity for all information that a covered individual possesses solely by virtue of his official position. Brief for the United States as Amicus Curiae, p. 16. This interpretation of the IOIA is entitled to substantial deference in light of the primacy of the Executive in the conduct of foreign relations and the Executive Branch's lead role in foreign policy. See First Nat'l City Bank v. Banco Nacional de Cuba, 406 U.S. 759, 767, 92 S.Ct. 1808, 1812, 32 L.Ed.2d 466 (1972) (plurality opinion). Therefore, we interpret Article 5(e) of the AIT-TECRO Agreement in accordance with the Department of State's interpretation of the IOIA.