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| Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs |
Nigeria’s Ministry of
foreign Affairs on Friday warned ambassadors of various countries against
violating the diplomatic channels of communication between them and their host
country.
News
Agency of Nigeria report continues:
The
ministry warned the diplomats against approaching President Muhammadu Buhari
and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo directly for meeting appointments.
The
Permanent Secretary, Olusola Enikanolaye, who gave the warning at his maiden
meeting with the diplomats in Abuja, urged them to desist from unorthodox means
of communication with the government.
Mr.
Enikaonlaye, an ambassador, frowned at undiplomatic ways of seeking audience
with the government where some embassies communicate directly with the
presidency and other arms of government rather than going through the ministry.
“In
saying this however we must hasten to note that some diplomats and some
missions are in the habit of going above the Ministry of foreign affairs in
seeking audiences and engagement with government at even higher levels.
“I
need not to stress that this is not what we know as diplomat it is clearly
violation of Vienna conventions.
“The
ministry of foreign affairs is the main means of communication between the
diplomatic communities and the host government.
“I
am aware that we need to put our house in order in the ministry.
“And this is what we are already doing by
ensuring that we respond quickly, proactively to your requests to your note
verbal.
“Once
we do this, there will be no reason for you to go above us to get things done,”
he said.
Mr.
Enikaonlaye vowed to take a very diplomatic review of a nation that thinks the
best way to conduct business with Nigeria is not to go through the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs.
According
to him we have served in your countries and we know what happens in those
countries. Please I urge you to respect our rules, respect our laws, respect
our channels of communication.
He
also condemned a situation where some nations also wrote note verbal to the
presidency.
“I
thought you all know that note verbal is the highest form of correspondence
between the diplomatic nations and the minister of foreign affairs.
“You
cannot address note verbal to the presidency. It is not done. Please I am
appealing to you to desist from such an orthodox means of communication with
our government.
“As
regard to seeking for audiences, please make your request known to our
principal at least a month ahead so as to give room for preparation and respect
for authority
“It
is in our interest and yours that we have sufficient notice,” he said.
He stressed that the Ministry and government were committed to their well-being and welfare stressing that the ministry operates an open door policy if there were is issue of concern to address.
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