Ambassadors

Overview
• An ambassador is the foreign diplomatic
representative of a nation who is authorized
to handle political negotiations between his or
her country and the country where the
ambassador has been assigned.
 Definition
• A public officer, clothed with high diplomatic powers,
commissioned by a sovereign prince or state to transact the
international business of his government at the court, of the
country to which he is sent.

• The commissioner who represents one country in the seat of

government of another. He is a public minister, which, usually, a
consul is not.

• Ambassador is a person sent by one sovereign to another, with

authority, by letters of credence, to treat on affairs of state.
 Functions
• The powers of an ambassador are specified in
his or her credentials, or documents of
introduction, which the ambassador submits
to the foreign government.
 Other Functions
1. Represent the home country in the host country

2. Protect the interests of the home country and its citizens in the host
country

3. Negotiate with the government of the host country

4. Monitor and report on conditions and developments in the commercial,

economic, cultural, and scientific life of the host country
 Other Functions
5. Promote friendly relations between the host country and the home
country

6. Develop commercial, economic, cultural, and scientific relations

between the host country and the home country.

7. Issue passports, travel documents, and visas

 Diplomatic Immunity
• An ambassador is immune from criminal
liability in the nation in which he or she
serves, but the commission of a crime may
result in a recall request to the ambassador's
country. His or her expulsion may ensue upon
the refusal of any such request.
 Diplomatic Immunity
• An ambassador is also immune from civil
lawsuits,
– Except for:
• actions involving estates, when he or she is the executor,
administrator, or beneficiary;
• actions concerning real property held by the diplomatic
agent for personal, not official functions;
• actions relating to professional or business activities that are
beyond the scope of diplomatic duties.
 Diplomatic Immunity
• A diplomatic agent is not required to testify as a
witness.
• The family members living in the agent's household
enjoy the same immunities.
 Appointment
• Section 16 of Republic Act 7157 also known as the
Philippine Foreign Service Act of 1991 provides:

– Section 16. Ambassadorial Appointments. – The President shall

nominate and, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments,
appoint ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to head
embassies and permanent missions. All ambassadorial appointments
shall be to a particular post only.
List of Foreign Embassies
Africa Americas Asia Europe Oceania
Egypt Argentina Bahrain Malaysia Austria Australia

Kenya Brazil Bangladesh Myanmar Belgium New Zealand

Papua New
Libya Canada Brunei Oman Czech Republic
Guinea
Nigeria Chile Cambodia Pakistan France

South Africa Mexico China Qatar Germany

United States India Singapore Greece

Indonesia Saudi Arabia Holy See

Iran Syria Hungary

Republic of
Iraq Italy
China (Taiwan)

Israel Thailand Netherlands

Japan Timor-Leste Norway

Jordan Thailand Poland

South Korea Turkey Portugal

United Arab
Kuwait Russia
Emirates

Laos Vietnam Spain

Lebanon Switzerland

United Kingdom
 Sources
• https://thelawdictionary.org/ambassador/
• http://law.jrank.org/pages/4281/Ambassadors-
Consuls-Powers-Duties.html
• http://legal.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/
conventions/9_1_1961.pdf
• https://www.dfa.gov.ph/resources/office-of-
protocol/foreign-embassies