Contemporary Diplomatic and Consular Relations

This increasing mobility of people-citizens necessitates the presence of subjects-bodies of the State of which they are nationals, who can protect the interests of nationals of the State of nationality as well as of the State itself, within the limits allowed by international law; provide the citizens with assistance and rescue; perform administrative functions to the extent not prohibited by the rules of the country where such services are required; and promote the development of commercial, economic, cultural, and scientific relations. The existence of a more “citizen/tax-payer oriented” spirit of the international relations seems to appear from the differences in the list of functions of Diplomats and Consuls, made by the States Parties of the two Vienna Conventions, that give evidence of duties and services, which in terms of quantity and quality are particularly demanding for Consuls, in the interest and benefit of the citizens rather than of the sending State itself.