We all know that protocol dictates the leader of a State should be photographed in front of the flag of the State. But what happens when (as is normally the case) two leaders meet? Which flag should be on the right, and which on the left? And how do you determine which is left and which is right? All these might seem very basic, common-sense questions. But sometimes, in the frenzy of handling visits, these are the things that slip…
Today let’s talk about dinner invitations. More specifically, having accepted a dinner invitation, you then find that you can’t make it. For whatever reason. (Of course, the golden rule is that once you have accepted a dinner invitation, you MUST go. Unless you’re lying on a mortuary slab) Assuming that you have a really good reason for not being able to turn up to a dinner, a few things should be done: What do I mean by ‘sufficient’? Preferably, a…
One of the easiest jobs of a diplomat is to inform the host government of the appointment of a new Prime Minister, or a new Cabinet line-up. It always fell to the diplomat to explain the democratic process that took place, the constitutional rules that were adhered to, and the protocol-laden ceremony that saw a new Head of Government being sworn in. The purpose of such explanations are two-fold: the first is so that the host government would be apprised…
An embassy is symbolic because it is a representation of a country on another country’s soil. The land upon which the embassy sits is sacrosanct; it is so entrenched within the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations that there is very little room to dispute the sanctity of an embassy’s premises. When a country decides to close its embassy (for generic purposes, let’s just use the word ‘mission’), it normally does so with a heavy heart. In this article, let’s look…
I am reminded of the number of times (very few) in which a diplomatic mission is required to open a condolence book. As an ambassador, I have signed several condolence books, all for former post-holders – UN Sec-Gen Kofi Annan, the Emir of Kuwait, the Foreign Minister of the United Kingdom, the Chancellor of Germany. In 2019, the Malaysian embassies worldwide were asked to open a condolence book for His Majesty Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang, the father of the…
The way we tell a story (see The Storyteller In Us) will capture the audience’s attention. Beyond that, however, you need to also have a good and substantive story to tell. More and more, people resort to visual aids such as the series of pictures above. If you start with just those pictures, the story can be almost anything: Interesting images captured Architecture – Buildings and structures Colours Creativity Dubai Expo 2020 Most people will start with the story instead…
People’s perception of a country is one of the more important things in diplomacy. In high politics, the perception of being powerful enough to do what YOU want to do, is what deters other countries from taking advantage of you, fearing retaliation. In diplomatic networking, the perception that a particular person is a ‘do-er’ rather than just a ‘talker’ will result in people gravitating towards the person. Never mind if the perception is not real – it is always the…
The diplomatic world seems to have one of the most rigid rules-based system of any profession. Centuries-old protocol & etiquette guide the diplomat, from what they say, how they eat, whom they can meet, and even where they sit. The diplomat is taught there are certain things that should not be mentioned in polite company: a person’s medical condition, the children (or lack thereof), a person’s natural ‘endowments’, among the many. Then there is the fine dining etiquette – the…
Once a person is appointed and received as an Ambassador, very few incidents can happen that would dislodge the person from the post. Even if the whole diaspora literally detests the ambassador, or the ambassador commits some gross transgression, the person remains an Ambassador. However, if the sending country recalls their ambassador, then the person’s tour of duty is effectively ended. The recalling of one’s own ambassador signals a country’s displeasure at the other country, not at the ambassador. This…
Taking The Floor One of the more frustrating things when dealing with new delegates / representatives at international negotiations is the idea of ‘taking the floor’. Many will just freeze up when they have to say something in public, much less argue an unpopular point of view. This happens to the even the most seasoned representatives, and is an aspect of diplomacy that can be overcome, with practice and with one constant reminder. The reminder is to self – that…
