1 Diplomatic Agents and Their Appointments

Diplomatic agents are the persons representing the sending state in the receiving state: the head of mission and the members of the diplomatic staff. Under the Vienna Convention onDiplomatic Relations (VCDR), 1961, Article 14, heads of mission are classed as: (i) ambassadors or nuncios (accredited to Heads of State, the first class), (ii) envoys, ministersand internuncios (accredited to Heads of State, second class), and (iii) chargés d'affaires (accredited to Ministers for Foreign Affairs — heads of mission ad interim when the ambassador is absent). Modern practice has virtually standardized class (i); within missions, the ranks run ambassador/High Commissioner, minister, minister-counsellor, counsellor, first/second/third secretaries, attachés.The appointment sequence (VCDR's procedural choreography — list it):1. Request for agrément (Article 4): before appointing a head of mission, the sending state must obtain the receiving state's assent to the person — refusal need not be explained (a state may reject a persona non grata-to-be without giving reasons);2. Appointment and credentials (Article 7 allows the sending state to appoint freelysubject to agrément; Articles 11–12 on mission size): the head of mission is appointed by the head of state (Nepal's President appoints ambassadors — on the Government's recommendation, with parliamentary hearings now the settled practice under Nepali law);3. Presentation of credentials (Articles 13–14): the ambassador presents letters ofcredence to the receiving head of state, taking up functions…