Economic diplomacy, national independence and building national consensus on foreign affairs must be at the heart of the paradigm shift
By Dr. Som P. Pudasaini
Dr. Som P. Pudasaini Over a dozen ambassadorial appointments are waiting go ahead from the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) government headed by five times Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and all-powerful “Sovereign Parliament” for hundred days now. The influential UML leader and Deputy PM and Foreign Minister K.P.Oli promises to appoint them soon but hasn’t clarified to the “Sovereign People” what is exactly the “technical hitch” confronting him for months. Today’s Nepal has no dearth of well qualified professionals, career diplomats and other suitable mortals to effectively head our embassies abroad. With clear selection criteria, timely appointment and effective training a hoard of ambassadors could be marching towards embassies quickly.
Two key problems may be delaying the appointments. First, the SPA leaders, particularly UML and the ever-feuding two Congress Parties, are suspected to have jockeyed for a lion’s share of posh ambassadorial posts for their own close cronies for too long. Skeptics and old hands alike presume the day the “technical hitch” is resolved one will find a column of appointed stale faces and cronies file along the gates of Sheetal Niwas as usual. According to them, truly independent professionals will be waiting for chance to serve till the day lord Shiva will scare the partisan cooks with his fearsome “Trident” or “Tandab” dance. If the leaders prove the skeptics wrong this time, they will have earned the blessings of millions for setting a healthy precedence to strengthen our diplomacy.
Second, the parliamentary regulation requiring submission of three candidates for each post is without any precedence and against the principle of separation of power between the legislature and the executive. Unfortunately, all the parliamentarians, including the ones now holding ministerial berths, had voted for the regulation without a word of caution. This is a typical example of a lack of sound home work, irresponsibility and a quick table thumping culture that our parliamentarians and government enjoy regardless of seriousness of issues in hand. The regulation was not changed by the SPA even though their representatives constitute 95 percent of the parliament or a pragmatic alternative was not found by the government and the parliamentarians rising above their ego and vested interests.
A three -pronged strategy could now be followed to expedite appointments, professionalize diplomacy and pursue a paradigm shift in foreign affairs consistent with the changed domestic and international realities. Firstly, the requirement to submit three candidates for parliamentary hearings must be scrapped. On 12 September 2006 the parliament belatedly formed a three-member committee to suggest changes in the regulations that require hearing with three candidates for an “ambassadorial, judicial or constitutional” post. One of the effective approaches would be for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare a transparent and truly comprehensive roster of potential candidates. Then it chooses a suitable candidate for each of the postings matching the need of the duty station and qualifications of the candidate. The nominated candidates’ hearings may then be conducted by the parliamentary committee based on specified criteria and within a short time frame. Alternatively, a committee consisting of representatives from government, parliament and experts may be constituted to screen, interview and recommend suitable candidates based on the comprehensive roster.
Concerning the criteria, for instance, ambassadors suitable for New Delhi and Washington DC would be the ones with a broad political vision and quite senior in protocol who command respect and are capable of political maneuvering demanded by the postings. New York and Geneva would benefit from dynamic professionals with experiences of working with the UN at representational or senior levels. Skills and appetite for reading, writing, negotiating and intermingling with diplomats from a broad spectrum of countries would be assets. The Middle East and Malaysia would require ambassadors with knowledge on foreign employment and remittances together with the understanding of Arabic and Islamic perspectives. Detail criteria for selections, thus, must be set for fair and effective hearings and postings.
It is crucial to expedite ambassadorial appointments but block cronyism to assure people, professionals and the diplomatic community that our leaders now in power as a result of the Janaadolan-II have started to rise above patronage politics to effectively implement paradigm shift in diplomacy.
Secondly, Nepal should quickly reshape its foreign affairs. However, the High Level Task Force constituted by the Foreign Ministry under a politicized former ambassador imported from New York and largely partisan members but non-inclusion of independent professionals from relevant disciplines was a major flaw in preparing a sound policy redirection. Economic diplomacy, national independence and building national consensus on foreign affairs must be at the heart of the paradigm shift. Diplomacy must be raised from a “talking machine” to the one capable of extracting benefit from the regional and global politics and economics. Clarity on key issues such as national security, water resources, border demarcation, the Bhutanese and the Tibetan refugees, conflict resolution, foreign employment is important.
Thirdly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Institute of Foreign Affairs and the Missions abroad must be strengthened and properly coordinated for better results. Our mandarins also have important task to keep the UN and key nations informed and excited to assist us to resolve the conflict as per our national interest in view of the invitation to the UN for arms management and election monitoring.
Based on the recommendation of the three-member committee the regulations requiring submission of three names for every post was changed on Monday, according to media reports. However, newspaper reports are flashing potential names and expressing concerns. Most of the names, including the one termed as “Natawarlal”, do not inspire wide confidence. Most are recognized as aligned to one party or the other even though they may operate under the masks of civil society, professionals or technocrats.
The cabinet and the parliamentary committee would be wise to ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to submit a comprehensive list of the most qualified potential candidates (say about 30-50 people) from among career diplomats, professionals and distinguished personalities and clear 12 of the best ones for appointment. It is crucial to expedite ambassadorial appointments but block cronyism to assure people, professionals and the diplomatic community that our leaders now in power as a result of the Janaadolan-II have started to rise above patronage politics to effectively implement paradigm shift in diplomacy.
Dr. Pudasaini served with the UN in Sri Lanka and Yemen and can be reached at [email protected]
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