Informació sobre introductora d'ambaixadors

Gemma Cano Berné

Head of Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Head of Protocol organizes the official visits from foreign Ministers or other authorities visiting the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Andorra. She is in charge of logistical issues, the elaboration of programs and the welcoming of delegations.

As the first interlocutor of the Embassies accredited in Andorra, whether resident or not, the Head of Protocol is in charge of the accreditation procedure of the Ambassadors and of the appointment procedures of the Ambassadors of Andorra accredited abroad.

She also manages the privileges and immunities of the diplomatic and consular corps accredited in Andorra.

As Head of Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she is responsible for organizing the official events of the Minister of Foreign Affairs such as the annual meetings with the Ambassadors of Andorra accredited abroad and the celebrations offered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Ambassadors accredited to Andorra, in particular for Constitution Day.

The Head of Protocol, with the support of the Protocol Department attached to the services of the Head of Government, is in charge of the logistical and protocol organization and the elaboration of the program of the official visits to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Ministers of Foreign Affairs, members of International Organizations, Ambassadors, among others) and coordinates requests for meetings with the Minister or other members of the Government as well as requests for meetings with the high representatives of Andorran institutions.

In order to ensure the best quality in hosting the delegations, the Head of Protocol must be the first and main interlocutor of the Ministries and of the diplomatic missions for the preparation and the organization of these visits.

The Head of Protocol is in charge of coordinating the accreditation procedure for the Ambassadors of Andorra abroad.

She also accompanies the Ambassadors of Andorra to the presentation of credential’s ceremonies.

The Head of Protocol is the link between the Principality of Andorra and the Embassies accredited in Andorra. She ensures the administrative management of the diplomatic community and oversees the implementation of the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic Relations (1961) and Consular Relations (1963). Among others, she deals with:

  • The delivery of Agréments and Exequaturs
  • The delivery of diplomatic and consular accreditations
  • Privileges and immunities

Agrément or Exequatur request:

The Embassy of the sending State presents by Verbal Note the request for Agrément or Exequatur to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a biography of the person proposed for the post of Ambassador, Consul General, Consul, Honorary Consul. The request for Exequatur for an Honorary Consul must also be accompanied by a map of the consular office where the location of the archives of the Honorary Consulate is clearly indicated.

Agrément or Exequatur's request is submitted to the Council of Ministers at one of its weekly sessions and the decision is communicated to the sending State by Verbal Note. The procedure may take a few weeks.

Presentation of credential copies and end of mission letters

Credential copies are an authentic copy of the credentials that accredit the Ambassador to a certain country. The copies are presented to the Minister of Foreign Affairs or to the Head of Protocol separately or within a credential presentation ceremony. The Head of Protocol organizes these visits and is the custodian of these copies.

From this moment, the new Ambassador may maintain contacts with other senior officials or officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with other Ministers or members of the Government and with the rest of the foreign Diplomatic Corps accredited to Andorra.

Visits to members or government officials will be arranged through the Head of Protocol.

Presentation of credential letters

Ambassadors are not fully accredited until they have presented credentials to both Co-princes. The Representations of the Co-Princes will contact directly the Ambassadors in order of precedence for each Ceremony at the Episcopal Palace of La Seu d'Urgell and at the Palais de l'Elysée in Paris and inform them of the procedure, the dates of the ceremonies and the protocol details.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Head of Protocol are present at these ceremonies.