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You are wrong,
Your Excellencies !
Diplomacy indeed seems to be too important to be left entirely to the diplomats. One Nepali plenipotentiary extraordinary in an interaction programme in Kathmandu recently was quite categorical when he said that promoting the interests of Nepali business organisations in the country where he is deputed was not his duty and that it would be rather quite against the dignity of his high office if this was made his duty.
What is worrying is that his view reflects that of the country’s diplomatic corps, barring a few who help the businesses due to personal courtesy rather than as their primary official duty. This raises questions as to what our ambassadors are exactly doing and whether the expenses, which the government is allocating to the missions abroad are justifiable.
Are they protecting the interests of the Nepali nationals living abroad? Ask the Nepali diaspora and the answer you get is a big “NO”. Are they protecting the country from external attacks? Then there is no point in having embassies anywhere else other than in China and India. Are they helping to garner foreign assistance? Then why not an embassy in Manila, where the Asian Development Bank, the single-most important aid agency at present for Nepal, has its headquarters.
In today’s world, a prestigious space in the comity of nations can be acquired only through economic strength, not by being a meek beggar. But our ambassadors feel dignified to be the beggars and refuse to work for the nation’s prestige.
They should learn from the ambassadors residing in Nepal. Why is not it undignified for the US ambassador to further interests of the US business organisations here? Why is not it unprestigious for the British ambassador to host parties to promote Scotch whisky?
This anti-business attitude of our ambassadors abroad is rooted in their utter lack of the knowledge on economic issues and they are normally senile old men who simply cannot work. Being appointed to the post as a reward for their past services to the persons in authority (not to the nation), they think they are there to enjoy the junket, not to work. There are even instances of terminally sick persons made ambassadors just to let them have easy treatment at foreign land.
This indicates to the urgent need for revamping our practice to appoint ambassadors. We should send only young people well versed in economic issues as the ambassadors and their job performance should be rated against some economic objectives.
It would be nice to say in formal pronouncements that Nepal’s foreign policy is based on lofty principle of fraternity, equality and the like, but the cornerstone of Nepal’s foreign policy must be the economic well-being of the Nepalis.
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