Diplomatic demeanor in Nepal

Yuba Nath Lamsal

 The issue concerning the observance of the diplomatic code of conduct has come to the fore more openly and prominently in recent days. This issue has come to the light especially after the Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha, who also holds the portfolio of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spoke more loudly in public objecting to the meeting between the President Dr Ram Baran Yadav and a leader of India’s ruling Congress party, Karan Singh, without prior information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  If this was the case, Nepal’s president has definitely breached diplomatic norms, for which the Head of State must either clarify it before the people stating the reasons and circumstances or apologize expressing his commitment not to repeat it any longer in future. If the accusation of the Deputy Prime Minister was not true, the President still has to make it clear in public so that people will judge who is right and who is wrong. In both the way, people want explanation from the president.

It is true that every responsible citizen must observe the diplomatic code of conduct and protocol. This is more so with the people holding public position, who should demonstrate highest quality of human dignity and culture. If norms, values and public disciplines are violated by the people holding public position, people have every right to question about the morality of their leaders and officials to continue in the public posts. Moreover, the country and the people become law binding only when the people with public position strictly respect laws of the land and norms, values and social demeanor.

The issue that the Deputy Prime Minister has raised is definitely a praiseworthy one. The Head of the State is generally role model whose conducts are watched and scrutinized by the people as a whole and may be followed by the people. If the Head of State, knowingly or unknowingly, breaches the social, administrative and diplomatic norms and code, it definitely sends a negative message to the people.

This is not the first time that our leaders and officials have crossed the diplomatic boundary and code especially when meeting with foreigners. Many political leaders of the country have been found to have violated the diplomatic code of conduct one way or the others at different time and on different occasions. The leaders do not often have time to meet the people but do not miss the functions and meetings organized by foreigners and foreign-funded NGOs and INGOs. The leaders and officials even do not take the protocol into consideration while meeting with foreigners including the people working with intelligence agencies of other countries and attending the functions organized by foreigners and their pet organizations. It has been reported in the media that some leaders visit embassy on regular basis ostensibly either to seek support or pass country’s information, both secret and otherwise. Nothing can be bigger national humiliation than this.

This is not only a breach of diplomatic code of conduct but also a crime punishable by law. Leaders and officials can meet with foreigners but it should be strictly for official purpose. People holding public positions have little in private when it comes to meeting and dealing with the foreigners. Whatever people in public position speak and discuss with foreigners becomes public. Since the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) is responsible for dealing and establishing and maintaining contacts and communications with foreigners, public figures must inform the MoFA in advance the proposed meeting with the foreigners. If possible, it would do well if officials of the MoFA are present in such meetings.

In other countries including our immediate neighbors, meeting with foreigners and officials of foreign missions and attending functions organized by foreigners must be informed to the foreign office in advance and get clearance from the concerned office. There are instances that people sneaking into missions of other countries and meeting with foreigners without permission from the foreign office or higher officials have been punished in other countries including India and China. Even ordinary citizen is not allowed to visit mission of other countries without valid reason and without permission. Meeting with foreigners by people holding public position without prior permission from the foreign office and without information to foreign office is considered as a violation of law and is subject to legal action. In some countries such actions are treated as treason and accordingly dealt. But this has not been strictly followed in Nepal.

If the meeting between our President and Indian leader Karan Singh without prior information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is true, it is definitely a breach of code, which is a matter of serious concern. This is, of course, the duty of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to monitor and bring into notice the issue concerning the observance of diplomatic code and protocol and its violation. But the way the issue has been raised is also not diplomatically correct. Person of a stature like Deputy Prime Minister publicly raised this issue and made hue and cry in public. This issue should have been dealt quietly and settled. Moreover, President is not the first person to violate the code of conduct. Similarly, the Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha’s gun of accusation has also been pointed to the Prime Minister for the same mistake and shortcoming in strictly abiding by the diplomatic code of conduct.  It is true that all leaders and officials must strictly obey and respect the set rules and accepted norms concerning diplomatic code and protocol. However, only a very few people holding public position would be found to have strictly respected the diplomatic code and protocol especially when it comes to meeting the dignitaries and leaders mainly from our Southern neighbor India and some Western powers. Our leaders seem to rush to meet the officials of the above said countries and attending their function, no matter whatever the rule of diplomatic protocol. Thus, the diplomatic code and protocol must be abided by all and more by those who hold the top offices including the President, Prime Ministers and Ministers.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, unveiled in 2011 a written code of conduct to be followed by Nepali diplomats as well as others holding public positions. The very preamble of the Diplomatic Code of Conduct states:  With the objective of conducting the official meetings, contacts, negotiations and communications of the Government of Nepal with foreign governments, international

Organizations, their representatives and other officials in a more systematic and dignified

manner consistent with diplomatic norms and international practices, this Diplomatic Code of

Conduct has hereby been issued as per the Cabinet decision of the Government of Nepal.

The Code in its Article 4.1 clearly states: “Ministers of the Government of Nepal or officials of the constitutional bodies or other senior officials should invite representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other related ministries while meeting ministers, ambassadors or

senior government officials of foreign governments. The representative of the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs should prepare the record of talks held on those

occasions. In case of the inability of the representative of the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs to be present in the meeting because of short notice or other special

reasons, the agency concerned should make available to the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs summary report of the talks and the matters discussed during the

meeting. Likewise, summary report of meetings, contacts and discussions held

by officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be sent to the Office of the

Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.”

Although the code of conduct does not clearly say anything about the President and the Prime Minister, they too, by implication, are required to abide by the diplomatic rules and protocol. Since they hold the high office, both President and the Prime should maintain diplomatic protocol and observe rule more than others. If the President and the Prime Minister violate the rule, it would encourage other to follow suit, which would ultimately bring national disgrace in the international community. The tendency to ingratiate the officials of some powerful countries for personal and partisan benefit must be discouraged. The national image and prestige has often been damaged due to such behavior of some leaders and officials in recent days. Diplomatic decorum and protocol are not the issue to be politicking but strictly observed in order to maintain and uphold national prestige both at home and abroad. The people in the highest position need to show the way to others on issue concerning decorum, discipline and norms. Our leaders including the President, the Prime Minister and the ministers are expected to show the highest level of diplomatic and moral demeanor. Diplomatic demeanor is, thus, to be shown in practice rather than talking it for public consumption and cheap popularity.