THE SPECIFICITY OF IMPLEMENTING THE VIENNA CONVENTION ON DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS IN DEFENSE (MILITARY) DIPLOMACY Cover Image

ПРИМЕНA БЕЧКЕ КОНВЕНЦИЈЕ О ДИПЛОМАТСКИМ ОДНОСИМА НА ОДБРАМБЕНУ (ВОЈНУ) ДИПЛОМАТИЈУ
THE SPECIFICITY OF IMPLEMENTING THE VIENNA CONVENTION ON DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS IN DEFENSE (MILITARY) DIPLOMACY

Author(s): Veljko Blagojevic
Subject(s): Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, International Law
Published by: Правни факултет Универзитета у Нишу
Keywords: diplomacy; Defence Diplomacy of the Republic of Serbia; diplomatic law and practice; Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations; protocol

Summary/Abstract: The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations regulates the general framework for the implementation of diplomatic functions of State. Contemporary diplomacy is evolving in many areas that have not traditionally been in its focus, such as police and intelligence cooperation. The Republic of Serbia has also started appointing police and Security-Intelligence Agency representatives to diplomatic missions abroad. It is essential to monitor and study this practice from the standpoint of legal regulation. This matter is regulated by diplomatic and consular law, but also by national legislation and diplomatic practice. The experience and tradition of defense (military) diplomacy of the Republic of Serbia in adapting its functions to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, legal regulation and organizational and functional support to the defense attachés network, the procedures for selecting defense attachés, training and preparing them for the duty, as well as monitoring and directing them during the performance of the diplomatic service are indisputable at the national level. The tradition of military diplomacy has prevailed for more than 140 years, which indicates the level of diplomatic practice that leads to the conclusion that Serbia does have all the needed criteria for quality and functional implementation of the assigned tasks. The question is how these criteria are met in the newly formed network of diplomatic representations of the Police and the Security-Information Agency, bearing in mind the extremely negative experiences with economic representatives of the Republic of Serbia abroad. There is no doubt that their engagement is in line with international and national legislation, but the issue of the lack of diplomatic practice in organizational and functional terms remains a questionable one. Furthermore, there is the issue of their responsibilities within the diplomatic and consular missions and the harmonization of different professional cultures and ethics, as well as the preparation for performing their duties abroad. It is clear that all these problems cannot be solved in a short term, which is a relatively new organizational solution. Some time is needed to detect shortcomings in practice and generate the experience necessary to overcome them. The practice of organizing defense (military) diplomacy of the Republic of Serbia can certainly serve as a signpost for their resolution, while respecting the specificities arising from different responsibilities and professional ethics. By analyzing the specifics of the implementation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations in defense (military) diplomacy, analogies can be seen with the defining functions, while its legal and organizational experiences can serve as a guide to regulating the functions of Police and Security-Intelligence Agency representatives in the diplomatic service.

  • Issue Year: 2020
  • Issue No: 87
  • Page Range: 91-108
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Serbian