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The dialogue on the virtual ambassador (VA) is interesting, and timely. There are countries that are believed to be considering this option – against the background that so far no one has actually used the method on the ground. May I offer some comments?
1. Rationale
1.1 Where is the VA usable? Not for a long time as a replacement for the physical ambassador. But the VA makes eminent sense as a supplement to the concurrent accreditation method, or to the “non-resident” ambassador. In fact use of the Internet as a means of contact valorizes both the above. The VA is also very suitable in situations where a country wants to be represented but finds the cost of a resident embassy too high. So it is very well suited for small countries, or medium powers that want good reach at reduced cost, or even for major powers that may want to cut back from too wide a physical spread.
1.2 Since the VA has to have a physical presence somewhere, the greater prospect is for him to be based in the home capital, or as an alternative, in a neighboring country as a resident ambassador there.
2. Methodology
2.1 It will take much time before the ritual of physical presentation of credentials and other essentials of diplomatic discourse will change – besides custom, it is rooted in international law. But once a first physical presence has been registered, the physical location of the ambassador may not matter too much, as long as he is available via his cyber address.
2.2 Each time the VA puts in an appearance in the country of assignment, he will build on his contacts and then follow them up via the Internet. The personal connections established will enable him to make demarches via the email, and pursue all the normal diplomatic relationships with the MFA and other official agencies. Also included is outreach to the media, business, parliamentarians, think tanks and institutes, academic agencies and all the rest. The spread of email and web-sites that are accessible via instruments other than the PC will accelerate familiarization with non-physical contacts. There will always be a vital need for building personal credibility and relationships. Initially it is hard to imagine a linkage that works only via email, but if we think of it, each of us has some relationship that in fact is built entirely or almost in full, via such means. This will surely multiply.
2.3 In the arena of economic promotion, I visualize also the use of virtual delegations, provided a good deal of preparatory work is
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carried out. Thus, if the full profile of the
delegates, their business interests, their shopping list (in terms of technology, products to be imported or exported, and the sectors in which investments or partnerships are sought), the actual match-making can be carried out via the Internet. We need partners in two countries to try this out! It becomes an adjunct to the VA.
2.4 Consular work is a special area. There is almost no need for visa issue to be carried out in foreign capitals, except some tasks like interviews for immigrant visas, as also for sensitive categories of applicants, etc. As long as an application is lodged in the physical embassy, the processing can be done as “back office” work at home, and the visa label can be issued in the foreign capital. One can also go a step beyond – have the visa application filled out “on line” and make a payment via credit card in the same way. The visa label would be delivered by either the physical embassy, or via a special service provider who does this in a manner that is secure and trustworthy from the perspective of the issuing agency. No one has tried this yet, but it is an idea that is suited to the times, esp. because it cuts down on need for expensive home based staff in embassies.
2.5 Contact with the diplomatic corps can also be sustained via the net. The same communications from the Dean, of the more important regional clusters of fellow envoys, can come to the VA in this way. One can also imagine secure chat rooms for fellow envoys to exchange some professional information, even if there may be reticence over truly sensitive conversation via this route.
2.6 If the VA is based at home, and is not an MFA official, a desk officer can aid him who does much of the work, as a de facto virtual first secretary. Indeed he may carry this title too.
3. Other Elements
3.1 One needed element for the VA to work is the VA’s familiarity with the Internet. This is no longer as rare as it used to be for senior officials in MFAs or in public life!
3.2 Also needed is a cyber-culture that seeks innovation. Unfortunately, most MFAs tend to be bastions of conservative thinking. But a country like Singapore, or one of the Scandinavian countries, could show the way.
3.3 A VA method would especially suit small countries in Africa that are today grappling with the dilemma of effective representation at affordable cost.
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