Diplomacy is an art, employed by one state to influence the behavior of other states in order to promote and enhance its national interests. It also seeks to bridge differences and find common ground to serve mutual interests.
Bilateral, regional and multilateral forums are where the government conducts national diplomacy through its representatives, particularly the diplomats, to enhance national dignity, strengthen economic interest and project a strong national identity among the comity of nations. [break]
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The diplomatic efficacy of a country is, to a large extent, dependent on specific foreign policy with clear guidelines and national priorities, competent and professional diplomats, effective institutional mechanism with adequate financial and logistical support, and effectiveness and efficiency of the concerned ministry to administer, direct, coordinate and mobilize the diplomatic machineries abroad.
Although Nepal’s diplomatic journey began with the consolidation and unification of modern Nepal, its diplomacy has been unsatisfactory. It has not improved even after paradigm shifts in the national political landscape and declaration of Nepal as a federal democratic republic.
All previous governments had mobilized and directed national diplomatic machineries abroad not with the goal of defending national sovereignty and independent identity, and garnering foreign assistance to meet the capital and technological requirement for its development, but only to fulfill their vested interests and expand individual or party’s diplomatic relations.
National economic interest has received low priority in their external dealings. The problems like low economic growth, high unemployment, huge trade deficit, poor infrastructure development, massive poverty, high inflation, donor driven and agriculture-oriented economy, and food and energy crisis have become the country’s bitter reality.
It has not been able to benefit from its developing, expanding and diversifying diplomatic relations as well as its free market economy.
The indifference shown by all the previous governments, political parties, bureaucrats and policymakers in designing and introducing an innovative, proactive and pragmatic foreign policy framework with clear national priorities and specific guidelines in the new political context is also behind poor diplomatic exercise.
It has made Nepal’s diplomatic dealings at multiple forums weak. The traditional practice of selecting and appointing mission heads and national representatives considers political affiliation more important than professionalism, diplomatic acumen, intellectual depth, analytical capability, language and communication skills and familiarity with government’s policy and programs.
Nepal has notably expanded its international relations and diversified them to include various governmental and non-governmental actors, as well as regional, multilateral and international institutions such as the United Nations and its various sister agencies, NAM, WTO, IMF, World Bank, ADB, SAARC, BIMSTEC, SAFTA and the like. Nepal has also entered into bilateral trade, commercial and transit agreements with many countries to enhance and promote its economic interests as well as to contribute to its socio-economic development and poverty alleviation.
Currently, there are Nepali diplomatic missions in 36 locales abroad and it has cordial diplomatic relations with 138 countries. However, it has not been able to benefit from its ever-expanding external relations with various governmental and non-governmental actors. The prevalent diplomatic practice of Nepal is also doing nothing to improve Nepal’s deteriorating socio-economic conditions as well as to safeguard its national dignity.
Sound diplomacy is needed to promote and enhance Nepal’s international trade to reduce the huge trade deficit and maintain a healthy balance of payment; promote and attract foreign investment to exploit its abundant natural resources; explore new labor destinations for its growing workforce; promote tourism to earn foreign currency; and enhance national dignity.
In the context of evolving regional and international political and economic order, the projection and execution of sound national diplomacy is crucial to attaining broader national interests. In the contemporary world, relations between and among the nation states are mostly guided by their economic interests. Relations between the US and India, the US and China, India and China and traditional rivals China and Russia are being strengthened and consolidated. They are working together in many international forums to promote and protect their broader national economic, strategic and security interests.
Our two immediate neighbors—India and China—that fought an all-out war in 1962 and adopt different governing ideologies—are coming closer. They are adopting a policy of “cooperation instead of confrontation” for the sake of their broader economic interest. Both the countries are currently working together and take a common stance on various issues such as climate change, carbon emission and implementation of the WTO-Doha Round agendas at various international forums. To this end, their diplomatic efficacy at multiple global forums, which is clearly guided and backed by their specific, proactive and pragmatic foreign policy, has been praiseworthy.
In this broader international climate, the incumbent government, political leaders, bureaucrats, foreign policy experts and policymakers should give top priority to designing and introducing a specific, proactive and pragmatic foreign policy with clear priorities and specific guidelines and direct and mobilize its diplomatic machinery and national representatives.
It must provide them with specific policy guidelines and adequate financial and logistical support to strengthen and revitalize Nepal’s diplomatic efficacy. The mission head or national representative should be appointed on the basis of professionalism, intellectual depth, diplomatic acumen, integrity and impartiality. The government should not let vacant Nepalese ambassadorial posts abroad remain unoccupied for long, which gives a wrong message to friendly countries and international community. Ultimately, all these initiatives will contribute to revamping national diplomacy and improving and enhancing the deteriorating national socio-economic condition as well as national dignity within the comity of nations.
The author is affiliated with the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs
rebantakc@yahoo.com
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