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At official and social functions in a receiving state, the rules of precedence apply to the seating of heads of mission, and their position as a class is determined by the receiving state\'s domestic order of precedence. Other diplomatic agents are seated on the basis of their diplomatic rank and the time they have served in that rank in the receiving state (their position as a class again being determined by the receiving state\'s order of precedence). Temporary diplomats are placed in the light of their precedence within their mission. Precedence at table is widely known by the French word, placement.
However, the application of these principles can, in respect of individual functions, often give rise to difficulty, in the solution of which the protocol (sense 1) department of the receiving state is likely to provide valuable assistance. But it remains that diplomatic feathers will sometimes be ruffled. The traditional form of protest at a host\'s failure to recognize a guest\'s proper seniority as revealed by the placement is for the insulted guest to turn his or her soup bowl upside down on the table, after the soup has been served but before it is eaten, and to depart in silence. Happily, this rarely happens.
At international political meetings the representatives of participating states may be seated on any basis which is mutually agreed - resort to an alphabetical basis often being found convenient. But difficulties can arise when the participating states are not in diplomatic relations (sense 1) or do not even recognize each other, or when non-state actors are involved. Ad hoc solutions are then required, which (provided the parties agree to meet in the same room) may include the use of separate or round tables. International organizations have their own arrangements for their meetings, which will carry through to social functions. Those utilized at the UN are indicated in the entry on precedence (c); those of the Commonwealth in the entry on that body. |
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