The number of dignitaries attending the ceremony where foreign ambassadors present their credentials is set to be reduced.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has started preparations to shorten the list of dignitaries due to security challenges, management difficulties, and the excessive time taken when too many distinguished individuals are present.
For this purpose, the Ministry has already consulted with the Office of the President and all security agencies. All agencies have given a positive response in this regard.
The credential presentation ceremony is held at the President's Office. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also studying similar ceremonies held in other countries in order to shorten the guest list. It has also corresponded with all Nepali missions abroad to gather information about the practices in the respective countries.
The Protocol Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had sent a letter to the Nepali missions abroad in early November.
"Information regarding the practices of the respective countries has started arriving from the Nepali missions in various countries," a ministry source told Nepalkhabar. "After studying the practices of other countries, the number of dignitaries attending the credential presentation ceremony will be reduced."
Foreign ambassadors, who have been assigned responsibility for Nepal, are customarily required to present their credentials to the Head of State before formally beginning their tenure. In the past, when credentials were presented to the Head of State, it was mandatory for the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice to also be present.
Although the list of attendees has become slightly shorter after the establishment of the Republic, it is still not as concise as desired.
Currently, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Chief Advisor and Foreign Affairs Advisor to the President, the Chief of Army Staff, the Foreign Secretary, and the Head of the concerned Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be present at the ceremony.
In addition, a Brigadier General or Colonel of the Nepali Army, who oversees the President's security, also attends. The ceremony for presenting credentials takes about two hours.
"Preparations have begun to reduce the number of dignitaries required to attend the credential presentation ceremony to make the event more concise," said a ministry source. "After all Nepali embassies send information about the practices in their respective countries, the new list of attendees will be prepared following a study."
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