Diplomatic Etiquette
First session
Diplomatic Terminologies
Presented by :
Yadav Khanal
Resource Person
Institute of Foreign Affairs
Meaning of Diplomatic
terminologies
 As with other profession, diplomacy also is replete
with specific terminologies and jargons.
 Such diplomatic terminologies and diplomatic jargons
have been in use more commonly in diplomacy for
long time.
 Also new terminologies and jargons have evolved and
been evolving in line with the expansion of diplomatic
functions as well as actors.
 Knowledge of such terminologies is essential for
diplomats as well as for those who engage in
diplomatic functions regularly or occasionally.
Why do we need knowledge of
diplomatic terminology ?
 Being Govt. official we all need to be aware of these terms
 Common language for diplomats/officials
 Codification in international laws and conventions
 Communication with desired effect
 Comprehension of new and emerging knowledge and
initiatives in diplomacy and international relations.
 Courtesies and politeness
 Sparing ourselves from any diplomatic embarrassment
Most common and useful terminologies
Diplomatic positions and ranks:
 Ambassador
 Extraordinary plenipotentiary: possessing full power
 High Commissioner: for Commonwealth countries
 Head of Mission
 Deputy Head /Chief of Mission
 Deputy High Commissioner
 Chargé d’Affaires,a.i.(ad interim)
Cont…Diplomatic positions and ranks:
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Chargé d’ Affaires e.p.(en pied)
Minister
Minister Counsellor
Counsellor
First Secretary
Second Secretary
Third Secretary
Administrative Attaché
Defense Attaché and other various types of Attachés
Consul-General/Consul:
Honorary Consul-General/Honorary Consul
Ambassador-at-large
Special envoy/Representative
Diplomatic Protocol and Processes:
 Protocol: Refers to the ceremonial side of
diplomacy such as diplomatic courtesy, etiquette
and precedence. It also refers to an
agreement/understading
 Calls: Meetings with leaders and officials eg.
Courtesy call, farewell call etc.
 Call on : meeting
 Agrément: An approval granted by a receiving
state to the proposed nomination of an
ambassador of a sending state.
 Credentials (Letters of Credence): Letters given
to an ambassador by his/her Head of State and
addressed to the Head of State of his/her host
country.
Cont…
 Letters of Recall: Along with the letter of credence, an
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ambassador also present to the head of state of the host
country during the credentials presentation ceremony Letters
of Recall of his/her predecessor.
Exequatur: A document issued to a consular officer by the
host country government authorizing the officer to carry out
his/her consular duties.
Persona Non Grata (PNG): An individual who is
unacceptable to or unwelcome by the host government.
Precedence: Priority among ambassadors, consuls-general or
consuls on ceremonial or formal occasions.
Cross accreditation/ Concurrent Accreditation/Dual
Accreditation: When a diplomatic mission based in one
country is the concurrent representative to two or more
countries.
Cont…
 Exemption/Immunity: Exemption of foreign diplomatic
agents or representatives from local tax and legal jurisdiction
 Diplomatic Corps: A group of foreign diplomats resident in
a nation’s capital.
 Consular Corps: A group of consuls and consuls-general in a
particular city.
 Dean of diplomatic corps: An ambassador who is the head
of diplomatic corps. Normally, he/she is the person serving in
that capacity the longest term. The dean represents the corps
in collective dealings with host country officials on various
matters of their mutual interests.
Cont…
Legal terminology:
 Accords: International agreements originally thought
to be for lesser subjects than covered by treaties, but
now really treaties by a different name
 Ratification: Following the negotiation of a treaty,
ratification is the act by which a government formally
commits
 Accession: The procedure by which a nation becomes a
party to an agreement already in force between other
nations
 Exchange of Notes: A common way of recording an
agreement. The contents of the notes are, of course,
agreed upon in advance by the two governments
participating in the exchange
Cont…
 Final Act (Acte Finale): A formal summary statement,
drawn up at the conclusion of a conference
 Full Powers: A legal document which authorizes a
diplomat to conduct special business on behalf of
sending government
 Status Quo: Existing state of Affairs at a particular time
 RSVP: A French term that means - please reply
Cont…
Diplomatic Premises:
 Embassy
 High Commission
 Permanent Mission
 Consulate
 Consulate-General
 Honorary Consulate-General
 Chancery: The office where the head of mission and
his staff work.
Diplomatic Communication
 Effectiveness of diplomacy lies in effective communication
 Diplomatic communication is done between and among governments
 Third person note or Note verbal: Written formal Communication
(begins with “…… presents its complements to…..and has the honor to request
that…..” and ends with “… avails itself of this opportunity to renew to …… the
assurances of its highest consideration”)
 First Person note : addressed to individual (begins with.. On behalf of the
government of …… I have the honor… and ends with ….pls accept your
Excellency the assurances of my highest consideration
 Symbolic communication
 Levels of Diplomatic communication; Head of State/Government,
Foreign Minister, Officials, Diplomats etc.
 Purposes of diplomatic communication: exchange views, clarify own
positions, probe intentions, make agreement, attempt to convince
other governments, diplomatic bargaining, diplomatic lobby, make
propaganda etc
Cont…
Types of Diplomatic communication:
 Diplomatic bag/pouch: Bag in which mail is sent to and
from diplomatic/consular missions and the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs .
 Communiqué/Joint Communiqué: A summary of
statement issued following important bilateral or multilateral
meetings. Joint Communiqué is often signed by both the
parties.
 Aide Memoire: A written summary of the key points made
by a diplomat in an official conversation. Literally, a
document left with the other party to the conversation, either
at the time of the conversation or subsequently, as an aid to
memory.
Cont…
 Demarché: A formal approach or intervention by a
diplomat, making representations to another
government. Normally indicates formally raising an
issue with host country government, usually involving a
specific request for some action or decision in
connection with the issue
 Rapporteur: The official of a committee or
subcommittee whose job is to prepare a summary report
of its discussions and
 Negotiation (Secrecy is the soul of negotiation)
 Dean: Head of Diplomatic Core
Cont…
 Diplomatic relations:
 Recognition: Commonly used in connection with the
recognition by one state of the existence of another state
 Rapprochement: The establishment of improved
relations between two countries
 Détente: An easing of tension between states
 Recall of Ambassador:
Diplomacy
Various forms of diplomacy:
(Derived from the term Diploma. )
• Diplomacy is thinking twice before saying nothing
• Diplomacy is the patriotic art of lying
• Diplomacy is the art of knowing what not to say
• Diplomacy is the first line of defense
• Diplomacy is the art of negotiation and generally
known as a skill for the management of relation
between states. These arts are known in different terms
and practices:
Diplomacy : contd.
 Bilateral diplomacy
 Multilateral diplomacy
 New diplomacy
 Old diplomacy
 Summit diplomacy
 Regional diplomacy
 Sport diplomacy
 Economic diplomacy
 Trade diplomacy
Diplomacy : Contd.
 Climate diplomacy
 Diaspora diplomacy
 Constituent diplomacy
 Cultural diplomacy
 Preventive diplomacy
 Diplomatic illness
Thank You !