Envoys
The actions of some envoys in Dhaka never fail to surprise me; sometimes they anger me and sometimes bring embarrassment. An ambassador represents his/her respective country's sovereign authority and hence theoretically can reach, if need be, the highest level of political authority in the receiving country and discuss any subject. However, in practice, their functions are guided by diplomatic norms and they just cannot meet anyone they like nor say whatever they want.
It seems Dhaka is one capital where the diplomatic norms guiding an Ambassador's role and functions are controlled by the diplomats and not by the Government on whose behalf the Foreign Ministry should be doing this. Following the August 21 blasts, a number of diplomats have gone to the press expressing views about the Government that were very critical, and un-diplomatic. Taking the cake was a news I read that said that some envoys declined to attend a briefing by the Foreign Minister on the 21 August blasts and one envoy even went to the press to mention the reason that was most embarrassing to the Foreign Minister!
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