The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) is planning to sensitise the top leaders of political parties about the spirit and objective of the revised version of the DCC before its implementation. To that end, a team led by Shanker Das Bairagi, the officiating foreign secretary, conducted an orientation course on DCC and its protocol and etiquette to the senior leaders of UCPN (Maoist) at the party’s headquarters in Paris Danda on Saturday.

“We plan to teach diplomatic code, ethics and protocol related matters to other parties and senior bureaucrats in the coming days, “ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahendra Bahadur Pandey.   

DDC was first introduced in 2011 which was widely praised by political, bureaucratic and the security apparatuses, even some sections of Kathmandu’s diplomatic circle. Initially,  only serving politicians and bureaucrats were within the DCC’s ambit. It was revised in 2012 and a fresh draft was tabled in the Cabinet which is yet to be implemented.

The revised DCC has proposed to bring the prime minister, ministers, top leaders of political parties, office bearers and incumbent and former government officials under its ambit. These officials and leaders must obtain prior approval from the MoFA when meeting with foreign diplomats and officials, and they are also required to brief the ministry about the meeting.  

The new code also attempts to regulate political parties and ask them to set up a separate protocol section within the party organisation for recording the contents of meetings as institutional memory.Parties also need to provide the details of their agenda while meeting with foreign dignitaries to the concerned government ministries, in case details are sought.

The DCC has also proposed designated venues for party leaders to hold meetings with foreign diplomats and dignitaries. However, this is not applicable for courtesy and farewell calls.It also has provisions to curtail the frequent movement of diplomats and would be regulated on a regular basis.

The revised code also adds more provisions that will work concurrently with the new aid and investment policy aimed at monitoring and standardising INGOs and NGOs operating inside the country.

Besides specifying the ways to conduct diplomatic meetings, the code also states how office bearers should present themselves at diplomatic meetings and functions. The new code will make it mandatory for even former prime ministers to approach the Foreign Ministry before meeting ambassadors, diplomats and foreign leaders.