ABC-Diplomatie_en

Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft

The official name of Switzerland in German.

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA)

The government department in Switzerland responsible for foreign affairs.

ABC of Diplomacy

A publication that explains important terms and concepts in diplomacy.

Diplomacy

The means by which states conduct their affairs to ensure peaceful relations.

Bilateral diplomacy

Communication between two states.

Multilateral diplomacy

Communication between several states, often within the setting of an international organization.

Negotiation

An important means of conducting diplomacy, often resulting in the conclusion of treaties and the codification of international law.

Permanent diplomatic missions

Representations set up by one country in the territory of another.

International organizations

Institutions that facilitate cooperation and communication between multiple states.

Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations

A treaty that sets out the rules for the conduct of diplomatic affairs between states.

Consular protection

The ability of a state to defend the rights of its citizens abroad.

Agrément

The consent of the receiving state for the appointment of an ambassador.

Consulate

A consular post established by one state in another state to maintain consular relations.

Consular posts

Four categories of consular posts - consulate-general, consulate, vice-consulate, and consular agency.

Honorary consuls

Individuals with professional experience in the receiving state, appointed by the sending state to assist with consular duties.

Convention

Standard term for multilateral agreements that regulate issues concerning international relations and international law.

Council of Europe

An international organization that aims to protect human rights, promote democracy, and foster Europe's cultural identity.

European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)

A treaty produced by the Council of Europe that allows individuals to submit applications to the European Court of Human Rights.

Credentials

A document from the sending state's head to the receiving state's head, attesting the authority of an ambassador to perform their functions.

Customary international law

One of the two main sources of the rights and obligations of states, based on the systematic recurrence of certain behaviors and the conviction of states that they are acting in conformity with international law.

Depositary

A state or international organization responsible for the safekeeping and certification of international treaty documents.

Diplomatic corps

The collective term for the heads of mission accredited to a government, presided over by the Dean.

Diplomatic courier

A person who carries official correspondence between diplomatic missions and foreign affairs ministries, enjoying inviolability.

Diplomatic demarche

An approach by one or more embassies to the government of the country of residence, dealing with various subjects.

Diplomatic note

A form of correspondence between diplomatic missions and the foreign ministry of a country, written in the third person.

Diplomatic protection

The intervention of a state on behalf of its nationals who have suffered prejudice at the hands of another state in violation of international law.

Diplomatic staff

Members of the staff of a diplomatic mission, including the head of mission, who enjoy diplomatic status and privileges.

Embassy

The staff appointed by a state to carry out diplomatic functions in another state, as well as the premises in which they work.

European Union (EU)

An association of European democracies that is more than an international organization, unique in its form and organization.

Council of the European Union

The EU's central decision-making and legislative body, responsible for adopting important legal acts and concluding international agreements.

European Commission

The executive body for EU policies, responsible for preparing draft legislation, negotiating international treaties, and overseeing various policy areas.

European Court of Justice (ECJ)

Ensures that EU bodies and member states uphold Community law.

Extraterritoriality

The principle that a law is effective only within the territory of the state that enacted it, requiring a sufficient link between the law and the property, person, or situation in another state for it to be applicable.

Facilitation and mediation

Efforts of third parties to reconcile parties in a conflict, with facilitation involving support and promotion of contacts between parties, and mediation involving an active role in the search for a solution.

Geneva Conventions

International humanitarian law treaties that strengthen the rules for the protection of non-combatants and individuals in armed conflicts.

Good offices

Efforts of a third party to find a peaceful solution to a conflict between two or more states, involving opening a dialogue between the parties concerned.

Hague Conventions

Conventions adopted to regulate the conduct of war, including a ban on the use of weapons causing unnecessary suffering.

Headquarters agreement

An agreement between an international organization and the host state, determining the legal status and privileges and immunities of the organization and its staff.

Human rights

Freedoms to which all individuals are entitled as human beings, protected through international agreements, conventions, resolutions, and declarations.

International civil servant

Individuals in the exclusive long-term employment of an international organization, enjoying privileges and immunities similar to diplomats.

International humanitarian law

Also known as the Law of Armed Conflict, it applies to all armed conflicts and aims to balance humanitarian and military interests.

Initials, signature, and ratification

In the negotiation of an international treaty, negotiators initial every page for authentication, and the signature of plenipotentiaries at the end of the treaty marks the end of negotiations. Ratification is the act that commits a state to respect the treaty at the international level.

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

Reflects the principles of humanity and impartiality, providing humanitarian aid in war-torn areas.

International Refugee Law

Applies to persons with recognized refugee status and asylum seekers, protecting their rights and providing legal frameworks for their protection.

International humanitarian law

Laws and provisions that must be complied with by individuals and states in times of armed conflict, including the Geneva Conventions and other conventions prohibiting or restricting the use of specific weapons.

International justice

The establishment of courts and tribunals at the universal and regional levels to ensure universal respect for international law and human rights, such as the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights.

War crimes tribunals

Special courts created to prosecute individuals for war crimes, such as the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

International law

Governs relations between states and provides a basis for peace and stability, covering fields such as the prohibition of the use of force, human rights, and international efforts to combat terrorism and serious crimes.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

An international organization founded to promote international cooperation in monetary policy and exchange rate stability, providing loans to member states facing balance of payments difficulties.

International organization

A permanent association of at least two states equipped with at least one organ to act on its behalf, usually established on the basis of a multilateral agreement, such as the United Nations.

International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF)

An organization comprising states and governments that share the French language and culture, promoting French language and cultural diversity, peace, democracy, human rights, education, and sustainable development.

International treaty

An agreement between states or between states and an international organization, stipulating international rules in a given area.

Inviolability

Refers to the personal inviolability of a diplomat and the inviolability of the premises of a diplomatic mission, preventing arrest or detention of diplomats and police operations within the mission without consent.

Memorandum

A written text summarizing essential facts relating to an international problem, often accompanying a diplomatic note or demarche.

Neutrality

The legal status of a State which permanently or temporarily renounces participation in any armed conflict.

Hague Conventions of 1907

International agreements that define the rights and duties of a neutral State.

Non-governmental organisation (NGO)

Private-law institutions that carry out their activities independently of State authorities.

Non-retroactivity

General legal principle that national legislation or an international treaty applies only to situations arising after it enters into force.

Nuncio

The diplomatic representative of the Holy See, accredited as a permanent ambassador to a foreign government.

Opt-out clause

Provision in an international treaty that allows a member State to limit its obligations in special cases or allows temporary exemption.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

An organization that promotes cooperation in economic and social policy among member States.

Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

An organization that aims to establish a common security area based on shared values.

Pacta sunt servanda

Latin expression meaning "Treaties are to be honoured," emphasizing the obligation of States and international organizations to comply with treaty provisions.

Peaceful settlement of disputes

Procedures to achieve the peaceful resolution of a dispute between two or more States.

Peacekeeping operations

International operations for conflict resolution and crisis management, employing civil and military means.

Persona non grata

Latin expression denoting a representative of a State who is no longer acceptable to the receiving State.

Precedence

The ranking order followed in protocol when representatives of States meet.

Preventive diplomacy

The system established by the international community to give early warning of international tensions that could lead to war and propose measures to defuse the situation.

Privileges and immunities

Prerogatives, tax exemptions, and other advantages accorded to members of diplomatic staff and their families, as well as individuals enjoying an equivalent status, in the host country.

Prohibition of the use of force

The principle that forbids states from resorting to armed force, with exceptions for self-defense and with the express authorization of the Security Council.

Protecting power

A third state that steps in when two states involved in a conflict break off diplomatic and/or consular relations, taking on some of the functions of the diplomatic mission of one of the conflicting parties in the territory of the other.

Protocol

Refers to all the forms, uses, and practices of a ceremonial nature that states and their representatives observe in their diplomatic relations. Also refers to an international treaty that is complementary to a main treaty.

Reciprocity

The principle that a state confers rights and advantages to another state only in exchange for the same privileges.

Recognition

The act by an existing state of acknowledging a newly created state and expressing readiness to establish and maintain diplomatic relations at the intergovernmental level.

Reservation

A declaration made by a state party to a multilateral treaty, announcing its intention to exclude or change the application of a clause in the treaty.

Resolution

Decisions taken by an international organization or conference, typically in a standardized format with a preamble and operative paragraphs. Resolutions can be legally binding or have the character of a recommendation.

Sanctions

Measures taken by a state or international organization to bring about an end to a violation of international law, typically through diplomatic, economic, or military means.

Sovereignty

The status of a state as independent of all other entities subject to international law, with no obligations except those it entered into itself and those imposed by international law.

Special mission

Representatives of a state charged with traveling to a third state to negotiate an international treaty, discuss a matter of mutual interest, or carry out another specific duty, enjoying similar privileges and immunities as diplomatic staff.

Subsidiarity principle

Principle according to which political decisions must be taken at a level as close as possible to the people. An issue is referred to higher instances only if it cannot be resolved suitably at a lower level.

United Nations (UN)

An international organization of truly global reach. It has 192 member States and provides a forum for the discussion of all topics of international significance. The UN promotes international peace and security, the defense of human rights, the reduction of social inequalities, the protection of the environment, and provides humanitarian aid in international emergencies.

General Assembly

Representatives of the member States who deliberate on matters of international order.

Security Council

15 member States responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security.

Secretariat

Responsible for administrative matters and for implementing the decisions of the other organs of the United Nations.

International Court of Justice

The principal judicial organ of the UN.