What is diplomacy? Many persons may ask. Sir Earnest Satow,
a British veteran diplomat, in his book "Guide to Diplomatic Practce"
(1922) wrote : " Diplomacy is the application of intelligence and
tact to the conduct of official relations between the governments of independent
states". Satow's book has been a "bible" to all young diplomats
in training in Commonwealth countries.
Two words need to be noted in Satow's definition of diplomacy: intelligence
and tact. First, intelligence means that a diplomat is entitled to obtain
or receive information of political or security matters lawfully from
persons within the country, where the diplomat is posted. That is why
diplomats have to entertain local persons of various sections with lunches
or dinners so that they may build a network of relationship with cross
section of people to understand dynamics of political and economic situation
within the country and report to their governments.
Second is tact. Tact means discretion, judgment, perception or insight
of an event or of a situation. It means telling an unpleasant thing or
event in an agreeable way. There is a saying that "a diplomat is
a person who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that you actually
look forward to the trip". Tact also includes patience, tenacity,
and coolness under pressure. Diplomacy is involved in human relationship
and deceit or duplicity must be abandoned. All these qualities are imperative
to win people's confidence so that a diplomat is perceived as a "trusted"
friend.
Foreign policy of a country is largely implemented by diplomats and the
core purpose of diplomacy is to advance of national interests. Although
the task is onerous and challenging, it is intellectually stimulating
and rewarding.
Types of Diplomacy: Conduct of diplomacy is of two types: (a) bilateral
diplomacy and (b) multilateral diplomacy. In both tasks, intellectual
integrity and presence of mind are of immense value.
Bilateral diplomacy consists of relations between two states, for example
an Indian diplomat is posted in Bangladesh who will deal with relations
between the two countries - India and Bangladesh relations in its entirety.
Multilateral diplomacy deals with inter-governmental organizations, such
as with the UN. For example, a diplomat is posted at the UN, either in
New York or in Geneva. The diplomatic task varies according to the nature
and functions of the organization. Often it involves negotiation, participation
in international conferences and expressing views of the government on
particular issues at various forums.
A new type of diplomacy has been involved in recent times, known as "Shuttle
diplomacy". Shuttle diplomacy does not need any diplomat to be posted
in a country. A shuttle diplomat moves from one country to another country
on a special mission. Its purpose is specific and action-oriented. Often
shuttle diplomats are designated as "special envoys" of the
head of the governments.
Functions of Diplomats: The functions of diplomats are currently codified
in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Article 3 of the
Convention describes the functions and duties of diplomats. Apart from
the representation of the country, a diplomat takes care of its nationals
in a foreign country and acts as an official conduit to promote relations
between governments and peoples.
An Ambassador (High Commissioner in a Commonwealth country) is the highest
rank among diplomats, followed by Ministers (Deputy High Commissioners),
Counsellors, First Secretaries, Second Secretaries and Third Secretaries.
Ordinarily a career diplomat gets the highest rank after twenty or more
years of diplomatic service and had to serve from the lowest ladder (
from Third Secretary to Ambassador). Ambassadors are also appointed directly
on contract from cross section of eminent people including politicians,
senior military officers, journalists or private entrepreneurs and academics
of repute. Some of them turn out to be one of the best Ambassadors of
a country.
Preventive Diplomacy: Preventing diplomacy has been in practice since
the Cold War era (1945-1990) between the US and the Soviet Union. The
art of preventive diplomacy aims at preventing possible conflicts between
two or more states. Preventive diplomacy is employed at first signs of
a dispute so that dispute does not develop into a conflict. Once conflict
flares up, it is difficult to manage or control through diplomacy. The
situation goes beyond diplomacy and armed forces take over the situation.
Preventive diplomacy is a stage in which action is taken before conflict
erupts. It includes three stages: (a) detection of early warning of signs
of dispute, (b) early preventive action and (c) adoption of peace or confidence-building
measures.
The collection of timely information at an early stage represents the
starting point of preventive diplomacy. Early warning of a dispute is
to be followed by early diplomatic action to resolve the dispute. Third
party intervention is often able to prevent conflicts because it acts
as an honest broker. Thereafter confidence-building measures between the
two countries are proposed or negotiated by diplomats with a view to consolidating
peace in the region.
UN's role as preventive diplomacy: The Secretary General of the UN is
perceived to be the custodian of maintenance of international peace and
security. Members of the UN look up to the Secretary General to play a
crucial role of preventive diplomacy.
Article 99 of the UN Charter provides the Secretary General to act in
preventing conflicts between nations. Article 99 empowers the Secretary
General to gather information through the UN channel to make intelligent
and informed opinion of a situation developing between nations and suitably
intervene to resolve the dispute before it flares up.
It has been seen that the Secretary General has taken preventive action
since the days of Dag Hammarskjold, a national of Norway ( he was the
Secretary General from 1954 to 61). He able to eliminate danger of war
between the US and China in the 50s, U. Thant's intervention prevented
war between the US and the Soviet Union in 1962 on Cuba. Kofi Annan's
action averted a crisis in 1998 between Iraq and the US ( he failed in
2003 to persuade the US not to launch the unprovoked war on Iraq without
approval of the UN).
Diplomacy is as old as the human civilization. The ancient Greeks conducted
extensive diplomatic practices and by the 5th century B.C., diplomatic
representatives travelled regularly within the independent Greek city-states.
Evidence points to the fact that ancient Roman, Egyptian, Chinese, Indian
and Persian rulers had exchanged diplomats to conduct their foreign relations.
Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him)) sent his representative to the Courts
of Roman/Byzantine and Persian Emperors during the 7th century.
One of the benefits of diplomacy is secrecy. No one knows if diplomacy
fails. It is not reported. The other benefit is that it is cost- effective,
because if conflict erupts, millions of dollars are spent in war. Iraq's
current war has already incurred US$200 billion dollars and more are to
be spent as the situation currently presents in that country.
Diplomacy provides a channel for sharing views and helps parties to understand
each other's point of view on a given situation within an environment
of frankness and cordiality. The hall mark of a diplomat is that he/she
should be a patient and persistent negotiator, not a bully. Diplomacy
works best when one's views are not forced or imposed on others.
[The writer is a former Bangladesh Ambassador
to the UN, Geneva.]
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