In the past, the Prime Minister and ministers have been heavily criticized for not adhering to the diplomatic code of conduct. Foreign ambassadors in Kathmandu have been meeting the Prime Minister and ministers whenever they felt like it.
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Any minister of the government must inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in advance when meeting a foreign guest or an official of a foreign mission.
It has been said that ministers must inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when meeting a foreign guest, foreign ambassador in Kathmandu, official of the mission, foreign official or official of an international organization/institution. Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai has informed all ministers at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers about the diplomatic code of conduct. It has also been asked to have a representative of the foreign ministry present during courtesy visits, farewell visits, formal talks or meetings with foreign officials.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged ministers to meet only at the highest level, to consider the level of the invitee and their own level. Secretary Rai, on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has urged ministers to take information about the level and scope of work of other people invited to such programs, and to take decisions on participation in the program only after understanding whether the nature of such programs/functions and the purpose of the invitation are in line with national interest. It has been said that if there is a high-level representation from the government at such events, other senior officials will not have to attend.
It has been said that a record of important parts of the courtesy meeting, formal talks or meetings with foreign officials should be kept and such notes should be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In the past, there has been sharp criticism of the Prime Minister and ministers for not following the diplomatic code of conduct. Foreign ambassadors in Kathmandu used to meet the Prime Minister and ministers whenever they wanted. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not aware of it and there was no formal record anywhere. Even though the government had formulated a diplomatic code of conduct, it was not being followed.
Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle, Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal and all the ministers were present at the briefing held at the Prime Minister's Office on the diplomatic code of conduct.
