The wisdom of diplomatic language

Dr. Ruwantissa Abeyratne

Language: Diplomatic language is the hallmark of the international community and the signature of a civilised nation.

However, language that is laced with tact and discreetness should not only be restricted to the world of international politics and diplomacy, but should also be extended to any social unit right up to the ultimate institution - the family.

In my career in the United Nations over the past two decades, I have learnt from my peers that there are two cardinal principles in the use of diplomatic language. The first is that one never says another is wrong, even if the latter is factually incorrect in his statements.

The way around is to adduce reason so as to make the other person realise he is wrong. The second principle is that it is not what one says that matters but how one makes another person feel. Blunders committed through un-diplomatic language are sometimes just amusing; but more often they are dangerous and may lead to miscommunication or in the worst case, a break-down in diplomatic relations.

Diplomats and diplomatic language

In the world stage, there are three types of diplomatic agents as stipulated in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 based on three types of assignment: embassy, consular, and international organisation.

The embassy is the primary diplomatic presence established by one country in another that it recognizes. The chief official of the embassy is the ambassador, who serves as his country's official representative to the host country.

These diplomatic agents are involved in two types of diplomatic relations. The first is diplomatic relations between sovereign States.

This is usually sustained through the foreign service of each country and experience shows that in most instances the art of diplomacy lies in what not to say than what to say.

A good example is a rift which occurred a few years ago between two countries, one a developed country and the other a developing country, who for purposes of this article will remain as country A and Country B. Country B's chief justice, is reported to have turned down an invitation to dinner with the head of Country A in protest at an embassy document of Country A which dismissed Country B's judicial system as "inefficient".

It is reported that the ambassador of Country A spent a week trying to undo the diplomatic misunderstandings that ensued, issuing formal apologies for the expression used and for a subsequent reference to "endemic corruption" in the social and cultural fabric of Country B.

The goodwill salvaged by this apology was sullied again at the following weekend by an official memo from to the press corps of Country A which described a prominent city of Country B as "one of the most dangerous cities in the world".

It said also that in another major city of that country commuters made love in their cars during traffic jams, and that a third city was "a dry and sterile city, just as soulless as its administration". Such comments even irritated the political leader of Country B who qualified the comments emanating from Country A as "typical arrogance one can expect from the people of Country A".

In another incident involving Country A, a diplomat of that country upset two leading members of another country when he remarked to foreign reporters in the capital of that country that the number one barrier to that country's progress was corruption, not just regarding the courts but also officials outside the judiciary.

He added that foreign investors had complained about that to him and to other ambassadors and that there was a real problem. Needless to say, these verbal indiscretions caused considerable diplomatic rift and tension between the two countries.

The United Nations

The second type of diplomacy concerns the United Nations and its relations with its member States. Throughout its history the United Nations has played many key roles and parts.

The United Nations' original campaign to end colonialism has been superseded and replaced by a colossal fight with diseases such as AIDS; the challenge to build market economies ; the need to build stable democracies and to encourage and facilitate global understanding and peace. The United Nations stands at the cross roads of strict adherence to State sovereignty and the need to promote international human rights and humanitarian law.

Another challenge faced by the United Nations is that positive and negative forces of global integration are altering traditional governance. There is also the added dimension of maintaining global peace, which is an essential role of the United Nations.

As former Secretary General Kofi Annan said after accepting the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize along with the United Nations: "The Nobel Committee has used this prize to, in its own words, proclaim that the only negotiable route to global peace and cooperation goes by way of the United Nations.

In a world that is growing ever more interconnected, and is yet still torn by brutal conflict and cruel injustice, it is more important than ever that humanity travel that route and that all of us work hard to pave the road ahead of it". Annan's words clearly show that the United Nations veers the world away from international anarchy and dominance by one or more superpowers.

In both types of diplomacy, be it between individual States or between the United Nations and a State, it is essential that the decency of discourse is preserved through unprovocative language. Diplomatic language is not a generic set of words or statements put together.

Neither is there a formula for its formulation. As Antonio Machado once said "Traveller, there is no path. Paths are made by walking". Be that as it may, the seminal principle in diplomatic language is that it should personify the practice of diplomacy, as the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states.

Diplomatic language is usually associated with international diplomacy, the conduct of international relations through the intercession of professional diplomats with regard to issues of peace-making, trade, war, economics and culture.

The language used in international treaties, which are essentially negotiated by diplomats prior endorsement by national politicians, is a fine example of diplomatic language.

Diplomatic conduct

Another key issue and feature of diplomatic language concerns the unspoken word and conduct between diplomats. In this sense diplomatic language has an inarticulate dimension and is reflected in how diplomats are treated by sovereign States.

The compelling need to ensure the preservation of life and dignity of an emissary, on the ground that no negotiation could take place if emissaries, however hostile, were murdered or insulted, gave rise to the practice of diplomatic immunity, which is attributed to Australian aborigines, and is mentioned in the Institutes of Manu and in Homeric poems.

In the modern world, the institution of the permanent diplomatic mission is the cornerstone of international diplomacy and comity and the diplomat carries out the function of diplomacy which is generally termed "diplomatic practice".

It is extremely important that nations appreciate diplomatic practice and its significance in their entirety, especially relating to the privileges and immunities of a diplomat if diplomacy were to be effective. The overall aim and objective of diplomacy is to ensure that peace and justice prevails throughout the world and to this end, the institution of diplomacy is a pre-eminent example of the growth of modern civilisation.

The history of diplomacy explains the origin and effects of foreign policies. In the modern sense, diplomacy means "management of international relations by negotiation".

International Organisations within the United Nations umbrella are considered managers of international relations and are therefore accorded diplomatic immunity, based on two headings: functional immunity; and absolute immunity. The former category is usually bestowed upon consuls and certain staff at diplomatic missions and organizations whereas the latter category is granted to full diplomats of ambassadorial rank.

Diplomatic wisdom

Diplomatic immunity is recognized by States as being a principle of mutual interest founded on reciprocity and the fact that the host State is under an obligation to take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on the person, dignity or freedom of a diplomatic agent. The host State similarly depends on other States to honour its diplomats.

Article 29 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Diplomatic Relations provides that the person of a diplomatic agent shall be inviolable. He shall not be liable to any form of arrest or detention. The receiving State is required by this provision to treat him with due respect and to take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on his person, freedom or dignity.

Therefore at the heart of the philosophy of diplomatic practice is diplomatic language and at its core is wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to make correct judgments and decisions, and remains an intangible quality gained through experience.

Often, society tends to attribute wisdom to an action or decision that is determined in a pragmatic sense by its popularity. Some criteria in judging wisdom are traditionalism and how long it has been around, and its ability to predict against future events. Wisdom connotes an enlightened perspective.

A standard philosophical