On Thursday, 19 February, the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, received the Letters of Credence of four newly appointed ambassadors at Prague Castle. With this formal act, they were officially accredited as Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Czech Republic.

The newly accredited heads of mission are:

H.E. Mr. Alessandro Gaudiano – Italy
H.E. Mrs. Annonciata Sendazirasa – Burundi
H.E. Mrs. Olga Marta Sauma Uribe – Costa Rica
H.E. Mr. Pichit Boonsud – Thailand

The presentation of credentials marks the formal beginning of an ambassador’s mandate in the receiving state.

The Diplomatic Procedure

The accreditation of an ambassador is not merely ceremonial. It is a process grounded in international law, specifically in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961). An ambassador is appointed by the head of state of the sending country but may fully exercise his or her functions only after being formally recognized by the head of state of the receiving country.

This recognition takes place through the personal presentation of Letters of Credence. Only after this act may the ambassador officially represent his or her country at the highest level, conduct formal diplomatic communication, and participate in official state functions.

Until the credentials are presented, the individual is considered a designated ambassador. To be mentioned at this occasion, that the Italian ambassador was the only one to announce its credentials in Czech.

Not All Ambassadors reside in Prague

An important aspect of this ceremony is that not all newly accredited ambassadors are resident in Prague.

The Burundian ambassador is based in Berlin.
The Ambassador of Costa Rica is based in Vienna.

They are concurrently accredited to the Czech Republic.

Many states do not maintain embassies in every country. The reasons are primarily practical:

– Financial considerations, as maintaining a full embassy is costly.
– Political priorities, focusing diplomatic resources on strategically important countries.
– Regional organization, where one embassy covers several countries.

This arrangement does not imply weak bilateral relations but reflects efficient diplomatic resource management.

Why Some Missions Are Led by a Chargé d’Affaires

Not every diplomatic mission is headed by an ambassador. In some cases, the highest-ranking diplomat is a Chargé d’affaires.

A Chargé d’affaires may lead a mission temporarily when the ambassadorial post is vacant, or permanently if the sending state decides not to appoint an ambassador.

Reasons may include:

– Transitional phases between ambassadors.
– Political signals during periods of diplomatic tension.
– Structural decisions to maintain only a smaller diplomatic presence.

Unlike an ambassador, a Chargé d’affaires does not represent the head of state at the same rank.

Historical Background

The tradition of presenting credentials dates back to Renaissance diplomacy, particularly in the Italian city-states, which pioneered permanent diplomatic missions. The modern structure of diplomatic ranks was later formalized at the Congress of Vienna in 1815.

Holding the ceremony at Prague Castle underlines the historical continuity of Czech statehood. The castle has served as the seat of Bohemian kings, Czechoslovak presidents, and today’s Czech head of state.

Political Significance

The four countries represented illustrate the breadth of Czech foreign relations:

Italy is a key European Union partner with strong economic and political ties.
Thailand plays an important role in Southeast Asia.
Burundi represents engagement with East Africa and multilateral cooperation.
Costa Rica is a stable democracy with a strong environmental profile.

Conclusion

The presentation of Letters of Credence is more than diplomatic formality. It marks the official and legally recognized beginning of a state-to-state working relationship.

At a time of global uncertainty, such ceremonies serve as reminders that diplomacy remains grounded in rules, mutual respect, and institutional continuity.