Q.
A survey was conducted not so long ago, and it indicated that heads of missions and senior officers had normally a tenure of two or less years in one country. What do you think is the ideal minimum period for a diplomatist in one country or one station?
A.
There can be no rigidity about it. Some Indian diplomatists have served with distinction in one country or position for many years. But generally two to three years would be a normal tenure.
Q.
There is an impression that we give inordinately high attention to political relations, sometimes at the expense of cultural relations. Do you think that India ought also to be presented in all its cultural dimension?
A.
I think the relationship with a country is incomplete if it is confined to political matters. It will have to include economic cultural and other spheres. When you mention cultural matters I would like to make a mention of other things. There are many countries in the Caribbean, in the Pacific and on the East African coast, where there are sizable people of Indian origin. Some special cultural activity and institutional arrangement is necessary to keep contacts with them. This is one aspect which needs to be taken care of.
