Wannabe Ambassadors: Rush for Posting Again

With 22 constituent parties, particularly the big half a dozen, wanting to appoint representatives to the coveted capitals, the rush of aspirants for ambassadorial posting is hardly surprising.

By Dr. Som P Pudasaini

The government has changed. New Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has barely taken over from the former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’. After six weeks and five cabinet expansions, Nepal is yet to complete cabinet formation. New budget and policies and programmes are yet to be submitted to and cleared by the Legislature-Parliament which was shut by the Maoists for weeks. Nevertheless, reportedly, a long queue is already beginning to form at corridors of new power- prime minister, ministers and ruling party bigwigs-for ambassadorial appointments to various missions already vacant, to be newly added as well as likely to be vacant under political pressure and due to tenure of the incumbents ending soon.

Of the ambassadors selected by the previous government, only the one to Germany, a career diplomat, was accepted by the host promptly and has taken over his post. The agreemo of the one nominated to UK was received. But he is still desperately running around Kathmandu to take up his position in London. Sadly, his mentor is not in the new government. The agreement for the other three who were cleared for the US, India and France have not yet been received and are as good as rejected by their hosts as their agreemos were not cleared within a customary period of 3 months. Ambassadorial vacancies are to occur in Egypt, Sri Lanka and UN Mission in New York in a couple of months. New embassies are to be established in Brazil, Canada, Kuwait and South Africa as per the government’s recent decision to expand our diplomatic presence. Some other ambassadorial positions may also be vacant due to premature recall if the new government follows the usual practice of recalling diplomats appointed by rival political parties.

Talking about the queue, sound career diplomats and dignified professionals who have something to offer are not necessarily in the front line of the queue in large numbers at power centers’ doorsteps. Those who have helped or claiming to have helped the politicians or the new claimants who can curry favours to them are reported to be the ones overwhelmingly rushing to meetings with power centers. They represent numero-uno “Wannabe Ambassadors”. With 22 constituent parties, particularly the big half a dozen, wanting to appoint representatives to the coveted capitals, the rush of aspirants for ambassadorial posting is hardly surprising.

The flood of aspirants is unlikely to recede given the slack criteria and favoritism that has marked the past appointments raising the aspirations of a hoard of people who would otherwise have never pushed their luck. A better system of screening and appointment of qualified ambassadors would shorten the line of undeserving wannabes in the future. The need of competent, committed and careful ambassadors, particularly in critically important capitals, is striking under the transient and fluid politico-social circumstances prevailing in Nepal.

So far, the top diplomats are poorly searched, randomly appointed and sloppily recalled as the government changes, seriously impacting their effectiveness as well as the dignity of the post. The selections of most ambassadorial candidates are largely based on whether the person is close to influential leaders. While the chances of selection of capable and meritorious candidates during this round is also unlikely to be high, there is a feeling that the new government headed by Prime Minister Nepal would do a great service if it could set a better process of selection consisting of a three interconnected steps in motion for future benefit.

For bettering the selection process officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can first prepare a list of potential candidates suitable for a particular country based on clear criteria. Second, the Foreign Minister and then the Cabinet reviews the list, make necessary adjustments based on clear criteria and recommends the best ones to the Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee (PHSC). Third, the PHSC evaluates the nominees based on their plans, vision, commitment and qualifications after conducting its own research as well as probing on any valid complaints received from the public. PHSC then makes a valid recommendation or rejection citing clear criteria based findings (Pudasaini, May, 2009 TKP).

In terms of substance, two important steps can be set in motion. First, a culture of national consensus building can be started by initiating discussion and consultation at least among the important political parties before deciding on contentious issues of long term significance such as water resources, boarder problems (including Susta and Kalapani), treaties (such as new extradition treaty, unequal treaties signed in the past) and need for any adjustment on Nepal’s commitment to “equi-proximity” on our relation with our two important neighbors, India and China. Secondly, our new ambassadors, particularly those not coming from professional or career diplomatic groups, must be thoroughly briefed on important issues related to foreign affairs and how they should handle themselves to build national image outside and protect the interest of the country and our countrymen.

Also, our important politicians, including Constituency Assembly members, must be briefed on key foreign affairs issues by our foreign affairs mandarins so that they do not become unnecessary embarrassment to our government as has been the case due to the “unauthorized and possibly ignorant” visit to Dalai Lama in Dharmasala by six of our CA members recently that has been severely protested by China as a violation of “One China” policy.

External support to our post-conflict activities is likely to be heavily dependent on conclusion of peace process and formulation of a new constitution, our diplomats must be aware of various aspects of it. Of course, our missions have a great opportunity to energize themselves in economic diplomacy and to boost tourism, 2011 being declared “tourism year”. In view of a sizable flow of Nepali manpower to many countries and its implication to reduction in youth unemployment and importance of their remittances to the national economy, the relevant missions can boost demand for our workers and ensure their welfare in their host nations.

Combatant and army management are important foreign affairs issues. Any technical, financial, training or logistical support for SSR and a new military strategy from UN or other nations must be understood and handled wisely. The United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) has been here since January 2007 and its new six month extension has been cleared by the government upon its current term comes to an end in late July 2009. It is important that our diplomats be aware of UNMIN’s responsibilities, its prolonged presence and need for an early “exit strategy”. The need and responsibility of the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR), whose current tenure have been extended by three months by the government, should be a part of diplomatic training in view of importance of human rights in diplomatic affairs.

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has now been invited by Prime Ministers of India, China and Pakistan to pay official visit to their respective countries. Indications are that Prime Minister Nepal will visit India after his trip to attend 15th Summit of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) to be held in Egypt on July 11-16, 2009. Our ambassadors in the host countries, including the new one to be appointed to India, has important role to play in effectively cementing our relation with the respective countries in this difficult post-conflict transition.

Dr. Pudasaini is Editorial Board Member, South Asian Affairs and Coordinator, International Relations and Peace Committee, NCWA. Email: som.pudasaini@gmail.com)

(Editor’s Note: Nepalis, wherever they live, as well as friends of Nepal around the globe are requested to contribute their views/opinions/recollections etc. on issues concerning present day Nepal to the Guest Column of Nepalnews. Length of the article should not be more than 1,000 words and may be edited for the purpose of clarity and space. Relevant photos as well as photo of the author may also be sent along with the article. Please send your write-ups to editors@mos.com.np)

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