The Secretary General of the United Nations, His Excellency Ban Ki-moon issued a message marking the occasion.Message of the Secretary General of the United Nations to The World Federation of Consuls on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963 – 24 April 2013.I welcome the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, which opened for signature on 24 April 1963. Effective consular relations make an important contribution to the promotion of harmony and cooperation among states.

The convention provides clarity regarding the functions, privileges and immunities of consulates and consular officials. In article 36, which creates consular notification and access obligations in the event of detention of foreign nationals, the convention took the useful step of largely codifying customary international law.

I am pleased that today 175 states are party to the Vienna Convention.

I am confident that this instrument will continue to play a valuable role in advancing friendly relations among nations.

Ban Ki-moon