- •Diplomatic handbook Seventh Edition
- •Longman London and New York
- •Contents
- •Chapter I
- •Introduction
- •International organisations: accreditation
- •In the absence of a full diplomatic
- •Orders of precedence
- •Precedence between heads of diplomatic
- •Individual precedence within a mission
- •Individual precedence inter se of
- •Precedence of heads of mission within the
- •Immunities
- •Inviolability and immunity of premises
- •Inviolability of records, documents,
- •Immunity from criminal jurisdiction
- •Immunity from civil and administrative
- •Inviolability of correspondence
- •Inviolability of property
- •Relating to the consular post
- •Facilities, personal privileges and immunities
- •The united nations purposes and principles
- •Purposes
- •Principles
- •The general assembly
- •The security council
- •The economic and social council
- •The trusteeship council
- •The international court of justice
- •The secretary-general and the secretariat
- •Intergovernmental agencies related
- •Food and agriculture organisation
- •International atomic energy agency
- •International civil aviation organisation
- •International fund for agricultural development
- •International labour organisation
- •International maritime organisation
- •International telecommunications union
- •The international monetary fund
- •The world bank
- •United nations development programme
- •Universal postal union
- •World health organisation
- •World intellectual property organisation
- •World meteorological organisation
- •Subsidiary organisations
- •International law commission
- •International research and training
- •Institute for the advancement of women
- •Other consultative bodies
- •United nations children’s emergency fund
- •United nations environment programme
- •United nations fund for population activities
- •United nations high commission for refugees
- •International
- •Arab league/the league of arab states
- •Asia-pacific economic cooperation
- •Bank for international settlements
- •Black sea economic cooperation
- •Caribbean regional organisations the association of caribbean states
- •Central american common market
- •Central european initiative
- •Common market for eastern and southern africa
- •The commonwealth
- •Council of europe
- •Economic cooperation organisation
- •European free trade association/ european economic area
- •Indian ocean association for regional cooperation
- •Islamic conference organisation
- •Maghreb arab union
- •North american free trade agreement
- •North atlantic treaty organisation
- •Organisation of african unity
- •Organisation of american states
- •South pacific regional organisations
- •Visegrád group
- •Western european union
- •World trade organisation
- •Chapter 9
- •International law and
- •Definition and general principles
- •Treaties and treaty-making general principles
- •Types of treaties
- •The process of treaty-making
- •The form and content of treaties
- •The validity of treaties
- •The termination of treaties
- •Diplomatic asylum
- •Voting quorums and majority requirements
- •All male/female seating plan: host/hostess and seven guests
- •Invitations
- •Introducing people
- •Visiting cards
- •International
- •Islamic festivals
- •1. The ozone layer
- •2. Global warming and the
- •3. Biodiversity
- •4. The preservation of forests
International organisations: accreditation
OF HEADS OF MISSION
A head of mission (or any member of the diplomatic staff of his mission) may act as representative of his state to any international organisation, and in this instance the state to which he is accredited need not be informed, nor may it raise any objection.
THE SEAT OF A DIPLOMATIC MISSION
A diplomatic mission is established in the capital of a state; additional offices forming part of the mission may only be established in other parts of the state if special permission is given by that state. In a few instances, e.g. the Netherlands, the diplomatic capital (The Hague) is different from the capital of the country (Amsterdam).
THE SIZE OF A MISSION
The size of diplomatic missions may be agreed on a reciprocal basis; alternatively a state may require that the number of members of a mission should be kept within reasonable limits taking into consideration the circumstances and conditions in the host state and the needs of the mission. Within such limits, and provided that the principle of representation by its own nationals is adhered to, a state should be free to appoint whomsoever it wishes to any of its diplomatic missions. In the case of military, naval and air attachés it is within the discretion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to require their names to be submitted in advance, and for approval to be obtained before any appointment is made. A state may also refuse to accept officials of a particular category, provided that the restriction is applied on a non-discriminatory basis to all diplomatic missions in the state.
ACCREDITATION BY MORE THAN ONE STATE
Two or more states may, in exceptional circumstances, accredit the same person as head of mission to another state, unless objection is raised by the receiving state.
DECLARATION OF 'PERSONA NON GRATA' OR
‘NON-ACCEPTABLE’
A state has the right to declare a head of a mission or member of his diplomatic staff to be unacceptable (persona non grata) and to inform his government accordingly. In this event the diplomat's functions are terminated and he is (unless a national or permanent resident of the state in which he is serving) recalled. If his government takes no such step, the host state may refuse to recognise him as being a member of the mission. The declaration of persona non grata may be made either before or after the diplomat's arrival, and no reasons for it have to be given.
Similarly, members of the administrative and technical staff may be declared non-acceptable.
There are two principal grounds on which a diplomat may be declared persona non grata: those which spring from personal weakness, and result in criminal or antisocial behaviour; and deliberate acts hostile to the security or other interests of the state, carried out under the cloak of diplomatic immunity. A further possible pretext for a diplomat being so declared is as a retaliation against a state that has declared one of its own diplomats to be persona non grata; but although such practice is contrary to the spirit of international relations, it is regrettably not infrequent.
OBLIGATIONS ACCEPTED BY A HOST STATE
By agreeing to the establishment of a permanent diplomatic mission a state implicitly accepts certain obligations: it must provide such facilities and immunity as will enable the mission to function satisfactorily, and it must grant to those who work in the mission the personal privileges and immunities necessary for them to carry out their functions without fear or hindrance. These obligations are set out in Chapter 5 dealing with ‘Diplomatic privileges and immunities’.
THE CONDUCT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS