The diplomatic corps

THE VIENNA CONGRESS

The Congress of Vienna of 1815 was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich. Though the main objective of the Congress was to settle the questions arising from the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, the issues of diplomatic corps and classification of diplomatic ranks were also taken into consideration. The Regulation adopted by the Congress simplified the complex rules on the classes of heads of diplomatic missions and laid down that precedence among heads of missions should be determined by date of arrival at post. Four grades of diplomatic representatives were recognized: ambassador, papal legate and papal nuncio; minister plenipotentiary and envoy extraordinary; minister and charge d’affaires. This codification went forward professionalizing the diplomatic service and established it as a branch of the public service in each nation.

a. Who participated in Vienna Congress?

b. What was the main issue under consideration of the ambassadors of the Congress?

c. What diplomatic representatives can be regarded as the first, the second, the third and the fourth rank diplomats?

d. What is the role of Vienna Congress in modern diplomacy?

Read and translate the text paying special attention to lexical units in bold

THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS

The term “diplomatic corps” denotes the body of foreign diplomats assembled at a nation’s capital. In cities where consuls and consul general are resident, they are collectively known as the consular corps. Diplomatic corps comprises ambassadors, ministers (in Vatican – nuncios and internuncios), charges d’affaires, councilors, minister-counselors, secretaries and attaches including family members of the above mentioned officials. All these are classified into different ranks or classes. Emissaries of the first two classes are usually titled “extraordinary and plenipotentiary”. Precedence within each class is fixed by the date of presentation of credentials.

The diplomatic corps has no status of a political organization or a body based on the norms of international law. However, it allows more effective solutions of certain protocol and ceremonial questions of concern to all diplomatic missions in the receiving state, makes it easier to brief them on all aspects of the country’s political course, and facilitates the contacts with the country’s officials and among the missions themselves.

The senior ambassador by length of service is the doyen, who convenes and speaks for the local diplomatic corps as needed. In catholic countries papal nuncio is always considered the doyen regardless of the date of his accreditation.

It should be emphasized that in a number of countries the tradition of appointing the doyen according to the length of his service in this exact country is not observed. For example, former French colonies, appoint the ambassador of France the doyen.

Though the doyen is in no position to give orders to other members of the diplomatic corps, this post has always been most respected. From time to time the doyen holds unofficial consultative meetings with heads of diplomatic missions on different matters of protocol or of ceremonial nature, usually during luncheons or dinners organized for heads of missions for that purpose. Such receptions, including farewell parties held in the honor of a head of a diplomatic mission leaving the country, are financed from the contributions of the missions themselves. The collection of contributions to the fund of the diplomatic corps is entrusted to the treasurer who is elected, on his consent, from among the heads of missions.

In 1961 the UN Conference on Diplomatic Intercourse adopted the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations to replace the 19^th century rules of Vienna Congress. It specifies three classes of heads of mission: ambassadors or nuncios accredited to heads of state and other heads of missions of equivalent rank; envoys, ministers, and internuncios accredited to heads of state; charges d’affaires accredited to ministers of foreign affairs. A fourth class established at Vienna Congress of 1815, that of minister resident, lapsed in the 20^th century, but some variations on the other classes were produced. Certain ranks and positions were created specifically for multilateral diplomacy. For example, an ambassador at large is equivalent of an ambassador and is assigned specific tasks or region. A permanent representative has the rank of ambassador, but accredited to an international body, not to a head of state. A resident representative or representativeis accredited by an international organization to a country’s government. A special ambassador is a government’s specialist diplomat in a particular field, not posted in residence.

Diplomatic personnel undergo rigorous selection and training before representing their country abroad. Except in a few cases, those conducting diplomacy, are usually professional diplomats whether ambassadors or third secretaries, or specialists with the title of attaché. In some countries, i.e., Russia and the USA, people working in political institutions, parties, especially election campaign contributors, may be appointed the heads of missions or other posts in embassies or foreign ministry. The department of government responsible for relations with foreign countries (US Department of State in America; Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Russia; Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Britain) is organized geographically and functionally. The functional departments include administration, personnel, finances, economic affairs, legal affairs, archives and offices dealing with science, disarmament, cultural diplomacy, etc. Geographic division is generally by region, subdivided into country desks that deal with accredited embassies and their own missions abroad. Envoys from other states normally see the senior area specialist or the regional assistant secretary, as foreign ministers do not have time to see more than selected ambassadors of a few key countries for especially important questions. Although generalists are preferred in most foreign ministries, some area and country staff will have significant expertise. Despite rotation, this is particularly true in the United States, where career officials specialize in political economic, administrative or consular work.

All foreign ministries are staffed in varying ratios by two kinds of career diplomat: civil servants based in the capital, and, foreign service officers on periodic home assignment.

Foreign ministries are led by the foreign minister, who is usually a member of the cabinet or dominant political body. In most countries, except those governed by dictatorships, he often belongs to the legislative body, though the US Secretary of State and Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs do not. Some states use the British system of parliamentary undersecretaries to handle legislative responsibilities. Otherwise, except for the ministries staff, employees are civil servants led by a permanent undersecretary or secretary - general, who runs the ministry. The United States is unusual in that it does not have a professional director and the entire top echelon of its diplomatic corps – deputy secretaries, undersecretaries and their deputies, and assistant secretaries – is made up of political appointees who are changed with each administration.

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