Establishment of diplomatic relations

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Shuttle diplomacy

Letter of credence

A letter of credence is a formal letter sent by one head of state to another formally accrediting a named individual to be their ambassador in the country of the head of state receiving the letter of credence. A letter of recall is the letter sent recalling an ambassador, either as a means of diplomatic protest or because the diplomat is being reassigned elsewhere and replaced by another envoy.

In parliamentary democracies, heads of state accept or reject letters of credence on the basis of advice from their state's government. In reality however, they are almost invariably accepted, as both states will have informally discussed the issue prior to the formal ceremony.

Letters of credence are the most formal form of state contact short of state visits.

In diplomacy and international relations, shuttle diplomacy is the use of a third party to serve as an intermediary or mediator between two parties who do not talk directly. Shuttle diplomacy is often used when the two primary parties do not formally recognize each other but still want to negotiate.

The term “shuttle diplomacy” became widespread following Henry Kissinger's term as Secretary of State. Kissinger participated in shuttle diplomacy in the Middle East and in the People's Republic of China.

1. DEFINITION. In its simplest definition, diplomacy is the practice of establishing and maintaining official contacts among governments. It comprises any means by which states conduct their international relations through authorized agents.

2. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW. Diplomacy is a very old practice. Mongolia, Ancient China, India and Egypt already used official envoys to represent their interests, settle their disputes or establish friendly relationships. These first diplomatic activities were institutionalized to a significant extent by the Greeks and Romans, but diplomatic missions still
remained transitory. The system of permanent embassies was established at the end of the Middle Ages in Italy. From that moment, diplomatic practice evolved into an ever more sophisticated set of rules and procedures. The first attempt to simplify and codify diplomatic activities was made at the Congress of Vienna (1815) and, a century and a half later,
81 states signed the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961); which came into force on 24 April 1964 and as of January 1990 had 152 contracting parties. The Vienna Convention codifies state practice to a significant extent and covers almost all aspects of diplomatic activity: it is the most comprehensive instrument in this matter and most of the material
in this chapter will refer to it.

3. ROLE OF MODERN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS. Even in the age of quick and direct communications, diplomatic relations maintain their pre-eminent role in international relations; nothing can compete with in-country presence and everyday liaison between a diplomatic mission and the government of the receiving state. In the last few decades, other means of negotiation between states have been developed: summitry, multilateral diplomacy, shuttle diplomacy, etc. and some observers have even predicted the end of the "classical diplomacy". But resident diplomacy, or classical diplomacy remains still indispensable. In periods of crisis embassies are the only liaison between the contending parties, they may keep in close contact until it appeal's that, fighting is impending.

1. Diplomatic relations exist between two states when they have decided to conduct their international relations through diplomatic missions established in each other's country. All independent states have the capacity to establish diplomatic relations, but diplomatic relations take place only if both states, the sending state and the receiving state, agree to diplomatic relations: " The establishment of diplomatic relations between States, and of permanent diplomatic missions, take place by mutual consent. " (Vienna Convention, Art.2.). This means that there is no "right of legation" in international law. The establishment of diplomatic relations, like the sending of diplomatic missions, is not automatic but requires formal consent from both States. A state which sends a mission is called "sending state" while the state which receives the mission is called the "receiving state".

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