Право внешних сношений. Дипломатический корпус

Diplomatic corps –

- denotes the entire body of all diplomatic representatives, ambassadors and ministers, nuncios and internuncios, charges d’affaires

in broader sense: – not only heads of missions but the diplomatic personnel headed by them

(ministers-counsellors, counselors, first, second, third secretaries, attachés),

- and persons who enjoy diplomatic status

(trade representatives, military attachés, experts),

- family members.

DC:

- has no status of a political organization

- allows effective solutions of certain questions of concern to all diplomatic missions

- makes it easier to brief them on the country’s political course

- facilitate the contacts with official circles and among missions themselves

DC is headed by a Doyen:

- head of a diplomatic mission with longer term of stay in the given country

- high-ranking diplomatic officer

- respected post(but he is not authorised to give orders to other members)

- unofficial consultative meetings with heads of missions of ceremonial nature(in the course of a luncheon, farewell parties) or on matters of protocol

- brief on customs,protocol practice, give recommendations to his colleagues

- speaks on behalf of DC at festive events

Heads of mission are divided into 3 classes - namely:

1) ambassadors, nuncios, and others of equivalent rank (accredited to Heads of State)

2) envoys, ministers, internuncios (accredited to Heads of State)

3) charges d’affaires (accredited to Ministers for Foreign Affairs)

If the post of head of the mission is vacant, or if the head of the mission is unable to perform his functions a chargé d'affaires ad interim shall act provisionally as head of the mission.