Protocol the fine etiquette of diplomacy
Gaston de Rosayro
In international politics, protocol is the etiquette of diplomacy and
affairs of state. A protocol is a rule which guides how an activity
should be performed, especially in the field of diplomacy. In diplomatic
services and governmental fields of endeavour, protocols are often
unwritten guidelines.
Protocols specify the proper and generally-accepted behaviour in
matters of state and diplomacy, such as showing appropriate respect to a
head of state, ranking diplomats in chronological order of their
accreditation at court, and so on. Diplomatic protocol dictates how
politicians and representatives of various nations should behave during
their official interactions, as a means to promote civility and convey
their respect.
It denotes a pattern of rules, traditions, customs and conventions
commonly used in international relations. They have formed over the ages
gradually becoming generally accepted norms incorporating all facets of
diplomatic practices.
Diplomatic protocol
a meeting of statesmen: President Mahinda Rajapaksa with the
President of Iran, Mahmoud ahmadinejad |
Diplomatic protocol has become indispensable for carrying out all
diplomatic functions, be it an official visit, a meeting of statesmen,
an international conference, foreign correspondence, the signing of
agreements or any other accords, accrediting diplomatic envoys,
diplomatic receptions or simply diplomat-to-diplomat communication.
Circumvention or neglect of protocol are fraught with unforeseen
complications detrimental to interstate relations. Thereby protocol must
be regarded as a delicate political instrument of diplomatic practice.
Naturally, each state has a protocol of its own determined by its
history, cultural background, and ceremonies among other norms. Still,
protocol rules remain essentially unchanged. For instance, diplomatic
protocol makes it incumbent to pay honours to officials in accordance
with their rank. Each country establishes its own procedure for paying
such honours. However, they invariably have to be in accord with the
basic principle of interstate relations which are essentially the
principle of equality.
Relations between the host country
In Sri Lanka diplomatic protocol is overseen by the Protocol Division
of the Ministry of External Affairs. Basically the functions of any
diplomatic mission include representing the home country in the host
country and protecting the interests of the home country and its
citizens in the host country. Other important tasks are to negotiate
with the government of the host country and monitor and report on
conditions and developments in the commercial, economic, cultural, and
scientific sphere of the host country.
All missions are entrusted with promoting friendly relations between
the host country and their own. They are also charged with developing
commercial, economic, cultural, and scientific relations between the two
nations. They are also responsible for the issuing of passports, travel
documents, and visas.
Specific rules of protocol may differ somewhat depending on the
nation or culture. However, there are certain courtesies, such as
referring to a leader by a formal title, which are universally
understood to be part of maintaining good international relations.
A signing of an agreement
An international conference |
Although guidelines exist, proper forms of address vary greatly from
culture to culture. Diplomatic personnel are expected to check local
customs, but a few general rules follow. The spirit of formality among
diplomatic representatives usually means not addressing others by their
first names as quickly as is done in North America.
There are various written and unwritten rules of diplomatic protocol,
ranging from proper greetings, such as shaking hands or bowing at formal
meetings, to making sure that seating arrangements reflect the official
hierarchy at social gatherings. Some other examples of diplomatic
etiquette include ensuring that a nation’s flag is properly presented
and handled, and that correct names, pronunciations, and titles are
always used.
Addressing Ambassadors
Ambassadors are addressed as Mr. or Madam Ambassador. Only by special
invitation or long friendship should one address an ambassador by first
name and then only when not in the public eye. Those of rank below
Ambassador are addressed as Mr, Ms,. or Mrs. Chiefs of Mission as Mr/Madam
Ambassador and this also applies to an ambassador with a military title,
or Ambassador Reed. Sir Richard , for example for a British ambassador
who is a knight and Sir Richard’s wife would be addressed as Lady Smith.
In the case of a British ambassador who is a baron the title should be
Lord Montgomery.
Not all countries use the term ‘Excellency’ as some countries do when
referring to ambassadors.Tensions between nations can result when
diplomatic protocol has been intentionally or unintentionally breached.
Sometimes diplomatic protocol is ignored when one nation wishes to show
its displeasure with another. Diplomats may refrain from shaking hands
with their counterparts of the other nation, or they may cancel or
postpone meetings indefinitely, or even walk out during formal occasions
or negotiations.
One such incident occurred in Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, where a foreign
ambassador of the world’ most powerful nation played the role of
diplomat with consummate skill and finesse.
Ever since Dwight Eisenhower named him Ambassador to Ceylon, in 1975
millionaire New York Dress Manufacturer Maxwell H Gluck had been trying
to live down the howl that went up when he ingenuously admitted to the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he did not know the name of
Ceylon’s Prime Minister. On his first official call, Prime Minister
Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike confided genially that Gluck was
not the first to have trouble with his name. After four years at Oxford,
Bandaranaike told Gluck, he had only two friends who had got it right.
When Gluck paid a courtesy call on Ceylon’s Education Minister, the
waspish Left-Winger Wijayananda Dahanayake. Gluck had practiced
pronouncing the Education Minister’s name until he had it down cold. But
Minister Dahanayake’s secretary had somehow forgotten to remind his boss
of the appointment.
When the secretary informed Dahanayake of Gluck’s arrival one
morning, the minister snapped: “I have no time for ambassadors.”
Appalled at this public display of discourtesy, recorded by waiting
newsmen, one of Dahanayake’s juniors finally persuaded the minister to
receive Gluck.
Dahanayake reluctantly assented, but bore down hard on his caller. “Mr.Gluck,”
said the Education Minister, “the embassies here have been of no use to
the education needs of this country, and I consider them merely
appendages of modern civilization.”
Gluck replied with aplomb: “You may be surprised, sir, but I agree
with you.” But Dahanayake was not to be appeased. “I have not had
assistance from a single embassy here,” he declared, “and I do not
propose to go to them with a begging bowl.” Gluck diplomatically
refrained from reminding Dahanayake that Ceylon’s educational system had
in fact received upward of $1,000,000 from the US Government during the
past 18 months.
But in the three weeks since he arrived in Colombo Gluck on taking up
his appointment in Sri Lanka had bravely proclaimed: “My name is Gluck,
and it rhymes with pluck.”
Which prompted the legendary editor of the old Observer Tarzie
Vittachi to parody the whole encounter with a naughty limerick style
skit of his own, purported to have been created by Daha: “ I do not love
thee Maxwell Gluck. In fact, I do not give a .... damn!”
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