Diplomatic Talks Most of the time budget of

Diplomatic Talks Most of the time budget of a diplomat working abroad is devoted to the meetings with foreigners, talks and arrangements to these interactions. The next stage is analysis and recording of the outcome of the meetings and if it goes as far as that the creation of some recommendations for the time to come.

The peculiarity of the diplomatic talks is that it requires a high level of professional skill as each meeting is unique and original as there are the clearly fixed objectives behind. Hence, diplomatic talks are somewhat different from the informal meetings of people when they chat over some non-official news or events like weather sports highlights and etc.

What are the occasions of the diplomatic talks? First of all we should mention the following objectives: Familiarization on arrival – a) handing over of the credentials; the first meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs; b) consolidation of the contacts that were set up with the more detailed coverage of the topics of mutual significance; c) discussion and solution of the issues of bilateral relations; d) convincing of the counterpart that the position of your Government is right and correct; e) arranging and convening of negotiations on the key and burning issues.

What is the common format of the diplomatic talks?: The talks initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sending state. This sort of talks is the most frequent ones The talks initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Receiving state. Meetings with the official representatives of the receiving state initiated by the diplomats and vice versa. There can be lots of meetings at official receptions There can be some informal meetings at the theatres, clubs and some other leisure places. There can also be some non-intentional meetings with the spontaneous discussion of the topics.

Since all the meetings and talks are related with the exchange of information the problem of getting round comes out one way or the other. What is the most appropriate way as the professional approach to the talks and negotiation? As you know the strategic objective of diplomacy is setting up cooperative and friendly relations then the alternative of the Truth and Lie should not exist. But in reality it is not that easy. The History of diplomacy contains lots of examples when pragmatic approach prevailed. The Japanese Army attacked the US Base at Pearl Harbor exactly at the moment when the diplomats were reconfirming absolutely peaceful intentions of their Foreign Policy.

The other example is the supply of the Canadian nuclear materials to India. Indira Ghandi – the Prime-Minister convinced Mr. Trudo that the materials would be used exclusively for the peaceful aims. After India had carried out the testing of the nuclear weapon the Indian Prime-Minister avoided the meetings with her Canadian colleague as the lie caused the obvious alienation. So the strategic goal of diplomacy is setting up confidence and trust while wrong information is something that undermines these two values. The success achieved through lie is tactical that causes strategic failure.

It is acceptable to say that you have no authority to discuss this or that topic as it is a part of the state secret or that you are not ready with the answer and it will take some time for you to come up with the clear answer. We came across the issue of Empathy which was recently discovered but had been in practical operation for centuries. In effect it means “looking into the problems through the eyes of the other party” with regard of what can be the reason for the standpoint – political tradition, cultural background or anything else that can be the reason of confusion, misunderstanding or ill treatment. Empathy can be of help in getting to the point of truth or compromise.

How should the first diplomatic talk be prepared? One should be knowledgeable on the topic Be familiarized with the person involved in the talk by collecting all the available information ( full name, the right form of address) Think of the right place and time of the meeting Ask your colleagues who knew the person or of him. All the points of the discussion should well thought over

It is handy if you know of his or hers hobbies Have a good prospective plan of what can be expected as the final outcome Time budget should be calculated as to the subordination of the discussed issues The skill of putting questions The art of listening The strategic goal of the first talk is the exchange of information and inspiration for the meetings to come.