At a time when the diplomatic code of conduct has been gathering dust for almost 14 years, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday conducted an orientation for officials from various ministries.

The foreign ministry has repeatedly urged ministries to adhere to the diplomatic code of conduct for systematic and dignified meetings with foreign leaders, officials as well as diplomatic contacts and communications. But the code has rarely been enforced and this has drawn criticism from political leaders, civil society members, media, experts and others.

On the occasion, foreign Secretary Amrit Rai highlighted the importance of respecting the diplomatic code of conduct citing global practice. Likewise, the Department of Protocol and its chief, Bishnu Gautam made a presentation.

The diplomatic code of conduct was first introduced in Nepal in 2011 to control the haphazard meetings between foreign leaders, officials and diplomats with government officials. It also sought to prevent government communications and correspondence from being sent to foreign countries while bypassing the foreign ministry.

The code applies to all those holding public office, those exercising public authority or responsibility, Nepali diplomatic missions abroad, foreign missions in Nepal, international organisations, foreign diplomats and leaders, administrative, technical and supporting staff of diplomatic missions, local staff working at Nepali embassies, and foreign missions in Kathmandu, according to the code of conduct. Article 3 of the code states that it applies to persons holding public office and officials drawing remunerations and perks from the state treasury.

A copy of the code of conduct is publicly available on the foreign ministry's website. The old text, which has been amended multiple times by incorporating suggestions from different line ministries, has largely remained unenforced for years.

Successive governments and foreign ministers tried to impose the code of conduct but it has been violated by prime ministers, ministers, secretaries and others, said a joint secretary.

In 2022, Pushpa Kamal Dahal became the prime minister, he had decided to enforce the diplomatic code through a Cabinet decision, but that did not happen. Later, when Dahal ditched the political alliance with the CPN-UML, Rastriya Swatantra Party and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party and took the Nepali Congress on board the government, the issue of enforcing the code took a back seat.

The diplomatic code is mandatory for all ministers and requires them to meet foreign diplomats and representatives of foreign governments only in the presence of a foreign ministry official. However, it has often been ignored, particularly when the foreign ministers from Nepali Congress take charge of the foreign ministry, officials said requesting anonymity.

As per the code, the aforementioned officials and leaders must obtain prior approval from the foreign ministry before meeting foreign diplomats and officials and must brief the ministry on their meetings.

The code also seeks to regulate political parties and asks them to set up a separate protocol section within their parties to maintain records of meetings as part of their institutional memory.

While meeting foreign dignitaries, parties must provide the details of their agenda to the concerned government ministries, if requested.

The code also proposes designated venues for party leaders to hold meetings with foreign diplomats and dignitaries. However, this does not apply to courtesy and farewell calls. It also has provisions to curtail unnecessary movements of diplomats. Some political figures had expressed reservations over the content of the code during the premiership of Sushil Koirala in 2015.

“The DDC was again tabled in the Cabinet when Koirala was the prime minister but due to reservations from various sections, it was put on hold,” the joint-secretary added. “Successive governments tried to enforce the diplomatic code, but in vain.”

Besides specifying how to conduct diplomatic meetings, the code also states how office bearers should present themselves at diplomatic meetings and functions.

The code requires even former prime ministers to inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before meeting ambassadors, diplomats, and foreign leaders.

In 2020, when Oli was the prime minister, then-foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali also publicly announced that the government would revise the diplomatic code to make it more effective. However, the Oli government also failed to implement it.