Recently, the diplomatic trend is becoming creative and showing a pragmatic trend. Most countries display a quantum leap in the diplomatic mission and global politics through introducing new diplomatic trends and techniques. For instance, France has come up with the new idea of reconciliation diplomacy. It is a topical issue for France and other western countries in building relation with precolonizers of Africa countries, Latin America and other colonized countries.
Reconciliation is a brain wash entitlement of the pre-existing problems that were masterminded by French colonialists. Aid and humanitarian assistance are not as such a big deal for the plaintiff countries, with absence of reconciliation and accord solutions. Reconciliation and humanitarian assistances as form of compensation can be reasonable to close the door of pre-existing problems.
This implies that diplomatic trend is completely changing from time to time. While most countries see diplomacy out of the box of the science of diplomacy, Ethiopia is in the spot of status quo in diplomatic works. Creativity is out of sight and out of mind in various sectorial and in diplomatic office as well. Due to this, The Ethiopian Herald had approached Peace and Security Analyst on the Horn of Africa at Ethiopian Foreign Relations Strategies Studies Institute, PhD Student Abebe Aynete to brief to our esteemed readers about foreign policy, the duty of diplomats and new form of foreign policy. Excerpts: Herald: What do you tell us about the recent new foreign policy?
Abebe: Foreign policy is key for overall performance of the country. In the global sphere, there is a scheme of cooperation and support among the countries. As we are in the age of globalization, it is expected that countries have own diplomacy shelf. Foreign policy is the utmost archive of any country framed with global context. Foreign policy is a portrayal of prioritization agenda of one’s country. It as well is the reflection of socio-economic indicators for a country.
It is also a platform to show to the rest of the world that what a standpoint and interest a given country has so far. Ethiopia has a long standing history. Foreign policy of the country has accounted domestic, regional and international attributions. It has a pragmatic nature, can be changed from time to time if it is necessary to do that.
The foreign policy is framed with socio-economic and political perspectives. It can be dynamic based upon global circumstances. It is for the third time that Ethiopia reshuffled its foreign policy. The reason behind the intention of changing the foreign policy is that enforcement of regional and global contexts. There are two ways for reshuffling of foreign policy.
One is that changing of foreign policy through minor adjustment. Minor adjustment is most likely on the programs and goals. The other is that changing the foreign policy through means of fundamental adjustment. Since EPRDF recognized itself as a fullfledge governance, adjustments were made. And at the time of Ethio-Eritrea conflict, adjustments were made on the programs and goals. Before 2000, it was an idealistic foreign policy.
Idealistic foreign policy has highly globalized outlook, inclusion of social norms, multilateral and have a sense of no enemy. Idealistic perspective places a high belief on discussion to reach into an agreement. Idealistic foreign policy neglects the national interest of the country.
Fundamental adjustment has thought of total change on ideology. Mostly, when a regime change occurs, fundamental change can take place. The current foreign policy change is not clearly stated whether the change is minor or fundamental. Foreign policy change has taken shape mostly in program and goal adjustments.
The current foreign policy has a change of outlook from democracy, development and peace to prosperity and synergy. There is, of course, minor adjustment. But clearly it is not stated. There is a change on structural adjustment, institutional, foreign policy and directive reforms. At times, foreign policy is changed through influence of internal and external pressures. Foreign policy change is determined by country and global system. It can be changed because of domestic, regional and international attributions. For instance, since the end of cold war, there is a change on global system. This leads toward fundamental adjustment.
Herald: Few officials and professionals have membership of global citizenship in the name of humanity. Do you think global citizen membership has effect on the national interest and sovereignty of the country?
Abebe: Global citizen membership concept goes with liberalism perspective. As every human being is part of human species, global citizen is seen as sense of humanity. Fraternity, liberty and freedom are global just as humanity concern. And freedom of expression has also global element. Global citizen has an entitlement of humanity. Global citizenship is a highly idealistic concept. Global citizenship has taken place in cross border zones. For instance, European Union and Africa Union are taken as globalized thinking entities as they allow free transportation, free visa and free market. Africa Union aspires to bring Africa citizenship. It cannot be possible to realize an Africa citizenship at this time. Visa-free communication for Africa is most likely leading us toward Africa citizenship.
Herald: How do you assess in the building of close relation of Ministry of Foreign Affairs with embassies in Ethiopia?
Abebe: Any embassy, here in this country, is taken as a sovereign country. Ethiopia can communicate with embassies based upon international conventions. Any country is not eligible to interfere in the interest of embassies.
There should be a formal communication chain. After Ethiopia scored high in economic growth, its international acceptance has increased at global scale. Ethiopia is winning recognition when it comes to regional and global attributions. In course of time, an upswing in new embassies is witnessed.
When a country opens its embassy in other places, it expands its root at global level. Such a trend as well is helpful in establishing relation with other countries in socioeconomic and political roles. Opening embassy has unshakable influence in building trust through bilateral relations.
As Ethiopia is the headquarter of Africa Union and a seat of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, opening embassy is a big deal to receive international acceptance and recognition. The ambassadors have a delegate status in Africa Union. The embassies open their offices, here, for efficient and effective use of finance and time, for setting their agendas in Africa Union.
Herald: How effective is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the diplomatic channel of multilateral relation?
Abebe: Building relation with embassies is set on in the channels of formal and diplomatic routes. As Ethiopia is a place of international organizations and follows diplomatic principles, relations with embassies is built on the basis of bilateral, multilateral framework. Ethiopia plays a key role through ways of multilateral channels. As Ethiopia plays key role in multilateral channels, it can achieve satisfactory result to win diplomatic games with Eritrea and Egypt. We are in a good position regarding building relation with Africa and European countries. As Ethiopia espouses common interest, it often basks under international recognition. The countries open their embassies because they have interest on the country.
Herald: How do you see the embassies vigilance in the conspiracy theory, connected with so called freedom fighters and human rights case?
Abebe: The embassies are categorized as legal spies. The embassies design local and international staffs to keep their interests in accordance with international standards. They have also vibrant media attaché to follow the footsteps and information on the targeted country. The embassies have radars of concern on all-rounded activities of the targeted country. They hire local staffs who speak various local languages like, Tigraigan, Oromifia and Amharic.The embassies take the country’s weakness as strength. We are also doing like that.
Herald: To what extent Ethiopian diplomats are successful in the global diplomacy?
Abebe: It is hard to evaluate the performance of diplomats. Basically, diplomats have instance steady to keep the interest of the country. They stand firm to execute the foreign policy and to protect citizens’ rights abroad. They have direct contact with the integrity of a country. The diplomats’ capabilities correlate with their personal capabilities and delegate status. Of course, skills, capabilities and abilities matter a lot pertaining to the arsenal of diplomacy. A diplomat is a mirror image of a country.
If a diplomat has a sort of awkward and immoral mentality, then this is a serious issue in the diplomatic sphere. Diplomats should be disciplined to reflect the country’s positive image. Ministry of Foreign Affairs should attach due concern to recruiting diplomats and other supporting workers as the issue of diplomacy is a sensitive issue. If this happens, it is possible to achieve a lot on the diplomatic arena.
The Ethiopian Herald April 12/2020
BY MEHARI BEYENE
