Iraqi gov't sued over unpaid embassy rent of Y350 million

Thursday 04th June, 05:54 AM JST

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timorborder at 10:46 AM JST - 4th June

And if the shoe were on the other foot? A number of years ago, I seem to remember Japan being one of the worst serial offenders vis-a-vis unpaid parking fines for diplomatic vehicles both in Washington (the Japanese Embassy) and New York (the Japanese mission to the UN). There was also a similar case back in Australia concerning the Japanese embassy in Canberra. The reason that these cases stuck in my mind was that the local governments concerned had some trouble collecting.
Beelzebub at 11:00 AM JST - 4th June

Don't know about the earlier stuff, but they can send the bill for the portion from 2003 to 2009 to Washington.
gogogo at 11:14 AM JST - 4th June

This is total crap, the Italian government also rents their spaces because they don't own land, this has nothing to do with sovereignty, other country embassy's and land are owned by that country because they took it after WW2. Every country in the world was able to take a piece of land after WW2 for their embassy's, ever wonder why all embassy's in Tokyo are so massive? Countries that didn't now have to rent their spaces.
Stanley50 at 11:21 AM JST - 4th June

Saddam would have paid.
DXXJP at 11:35 AM JST - 4th June

Wonder when the US is going to pay for theirs.
northlondon at 11:55 AM JST - 4th June

The Japanese Embassy in London was being sued not so long ago for a very large amount of unpaid car parking fines for illegal car parking around their Embassy in London. The amount was substantial.
tapetptape at 11:56 AM JST - 4th June

I think Iraq has had a few "issues" over the past decade which may have contributed to their failure to pay rent. However the US Embassy now pays rent - great deal though considering how much land it is. Under an agreement made in Dec 2007, the U.S. will pay 7 million yen a year for the period from 1998 to 2007 and 10 million yen a year for the time frame 2008 to 2012, then 15 million yen annually from 2013 to 2027. The U.S. government also paid 70 million yen to the ministry to cover the 10 years’ rent it had been delinquent on.
gogogo at 12:35 PM JST - 4th June

tapetptape: Interesting, where did you get that info from?
timorborder at 12:59 PM JST - 4th June

Every country in the world was able to take a piece of land after WW2 for their embassy's, ever wonder why all embassy's in Tokyo are so massive?

This is a somewhat inaccurate statement. Most established countries (read European/American) had embassies in Japan that go back a long way before WW2. Many of these were located in Tokyo for strategic reasons. The most famous example of this is the British Embassy which is located outside the doors of the imperial palace. On the other hand, less influential embassies have always been scattered around the place (out of sight, out of mind).
Blackops at 01:22 PM JST - 4th June

They sued the US a few years ago because they did not pay rent on their embassy for about 10 years I think... They Paid it last year if I am correct. And the US claims to be the richest nation on the planet, so if the US had trouble paying for its Embassy, they can you blame Iraq for not paying theirs??
dano2002 at 01:28 PM JST - 4th June

Japan relys on the US to import its goods. It is highly doubtful Japan exports good to Iraq. you can't compare apples to oranges.
Den Den at 02:15 PM JST - 4th June

Simple, move the Iraqi embassy to Shizoka. Although there is a nice new handy airport, the embassy staff will soon pay up, once they try to have a fun night out in the rice fields.
dennis0bauer at 03:24 PM JST - 4th June

Let Iraq pay in oil!
usaexpat at 11:45 PM JST - 4th June

I'd sue too but the problem is the government responsible for the debt no longer exists. You can't get blood out of a turnip nor a dead dictator.
tapetptape at 12:38 PM JST - 8th June

gogogo - here you go!

http://tokyo.usembassy.gov/e/p/tp-20071210-50.html