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NOTE VERBALE
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NOTE VERBALE
NEW VOCABULARY
- To reiterate
- To safeguard
- Ad interim
- To avail
- Feasibility
- Legality
The 1st rule: a note verbale – or its first page if it is comprised of several pages – should have a letterhead at the very top of the page. This can be located either in the center or in the left-hand side – differentiating from country to country – and accompanied by the name of sender (usually an embassy or a ministry of foreign affairs).
WHAT IS A NOTE VERBALE
The 2nd rule: a reference number should be assigned to every note verbale, on the left side, bellow the letterhead. The UN also requires the word reference to be typed on the same horizontal line with the same margin as the text.
Some notes verbales are even even titled “note verbale”, it differs from country to country.
The 3rd rule: the opening sentence should begin with the standard courtesy phrase: “the sender presents his/hers/its compliments to the recipient and has the honor to…”. Again, there are some exceptions: the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Affairs Manual includes the following rule: “Use the courtesy phrase “has the honor,” when writing to a foreign ambassador, but do not use “has the honor” for a foreign chargé d’affaires ad interim.”
The 4th rule: the recipient(s) and the subject matter are also included in the opening courtesy sentence.
The 5th rule: a note verbale should end with the standard courtesy phrase: “the sender avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the recipient the assurance of its highest consideration.”
A form of written correspondence that is used for exchanging information, transmission of decisions or recommendations, requests for and acknowledgements of information and documents, acknowledgment of changes between embassies, ministries of foreign affairs, different diplomatic-consular representations and diplomatic missions. It is less formal than a first person note but more formal than an aide-memoire.
The 9th rule: a note verbale should be initialed, not signed, in the lower right corner of the last page. It bears the initials of, either, the drafting official, the office director or above, or an officer authorized by the chief of mission.
The 6th rule: a note verbale has to be dated. The date has to be written in cardinal numbers and the name of the month must not be abbreviated. Usually, the city of origin stands before the date.
The 8th rule: a note verbale must wear the seal of the sender.
The 7th rule: a note verbale has to contain the names of all recipients, each listed in their own line.
The 10th rule: a note verbale should not contain the address. It should only be typed on the accompanying envelope; however, some organizations use it in their letterhead.
LANGUAGE CHARACTERISTICS
- Written in the third person
- Very formal and polite register
- Courtesy phrases
- Fixed expressions
- Repetition