Page 95 - 100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International_V-Petrovsky_private special edition

Bringing the Concept to Life

In general, modern diplomacy, both bilateral and multilateral, has accumu-
lated a fairly rich toolkit of means and methods allowing preserve and
strengthen stability based on international law and solidarity. But, unfortunately,
the current mechanisms and structures do not always work, because they are
too bulky and not elastic enough.

It seems that setting up a Diplomatic Relations Bureau under the United
Nations European Office at Geneva is a unique opportunity for enhancing the
effectiveness of modern-day diplomacy. Such services could consist of the
preparation of advice and recommendations to the Governments concerned,
delegations, organizations on the whole range of means inherent in the art of
diplomacy, from preventive diplomacy and conflict prevention to sanctions
and settlement of disputes, from the preparation of speeches and the unfolding
of negotiating positions to the drafting of agreements or the application of
confidence-building measures, or even the practice of good example.

The Diplomatic Services Bureau would be very lean in its composition,
staffed on a personal basis of individual qualifications, experience and
impartiality. It would be desirable for it to include initially representatives from
Russia, the European Union, Switzerland and the United States. These would
be persons who do not claim titular impressiveness, but a kind of "worker bees
of diplomacy." Their conditions of work in the Bureau would include the duty
of absolute secrecy of the services they provide (similar to the secrecy of a bank
deposit), loyalty and good faith in relation to the customer, including an
assessment of the effectiveness or non-effectiveness of the negotiations.

The UN European Office would assist the Bureau with office space, office
equipment, etc.

The substance of the considerations in favour of the establishment of the
Diplomatic Services Bureau in Geneva is set out in Bern at the level of the Swiss
Foreign Ministry State Secretary.

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