Sample cover letter for visa. Sponsorship letter for Schengen visa. Residence permit in Spain without the right to work: compiling a motivation letter

When entering most European countries, tourists are required to issue. To do this, you need to submit a certain set of documents. One of the important documents is a sponsorship letter for a Schengen visa.

A sponsorship letter for a visa is an obligation of a relative or several relatives of a tourist to pay all expenses associated with a visit to the EU countries.

Who submits the sponsorship letter?

The obligation to submit such a letter arises from the requirements of the EU Visa Code, according to which a visa is issued with a guarantee of full financial coverage of the entire time spent in the country and return travel. Since people with income themselves confirm their financial capabilities to visit the EU countries, it is obvious that a letter of sponsorship is required for those citizens whose income cannot ensure their stay in the Schengen countries.

The following citizens include the sponsor's letter in the application package for submission to the visa center:

• Children under 14 traveling alone. If the child is traveling with parents, then writing a letter is not required, a bank statement on the account balance will be sufficient;
• Students and pupils;
• Persons of retirement age and disabled people;
• Unemployed.

Attached is a letter of sponsorship. citizens with unofficial sources of income or low incomes. It is better to clarify the desired amount of income at the consulate of a particular country, but in most cases for the EU countries, the traveler's income should exceed 15-20 thousand rubles per month (and to support himself on a trip, a tourist must have 50 euros for each day of stay).

Who can write a sponsor letter?

The sponsor of the tourist can be a close relative who has the necessary income to pay for the trip. In practice, the sponsor's letter is submitted by parents (or legal guardians), siblings, children or spouses.

If the marriage is not registered, then when submitting a letter from an unofficial spouse, there is a high risk of refusal to issue a visa, and countries such as and do not accept letters of guarantee from non-relatives.

If the visit is of a production nature, then the employer or the host party will reimburse the travel expenses.

Sponsor letter requirements

The sponsorship letter is drawn up in any form by hand or typewritten. It must contain the following data:

• Dates of arrival and departure;
• Name of the host country;
• Mention of family relationship with a sponsored citizen;
• Sponsor's passport data;
• The amount of his income;

In the letter, the sponsor confirms the commitments made to financially support travel, accommodation, meals, medical insurance and other expenses incurred by the tourist. It is recommended to notarize the sponsorship letter, this will increase the chances of issuing a visa. The sponsorship letter is written in Russian, but sometimes embassies are asked to submit a document in English.

Sample sponsorship letter

Here is an example of a sponsorship letter.

sponsorship letter

I, Sergei Viktorovich Lavrov, born on March 21, 1960, passport series 99 01 No. 102105, issued by the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Tverskoy district of Moscow on May 21, 2005, subdivision code 991-001, I undertake to pay for the tourist trip of my daughter Lavrova Svetlana Sergeevna, passport series 99 02 No. 102106, issued by the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation for the Tverskoy district of Moscow on 05/22/2012, to Spain from 06/01/2019 to 06/20/2019 and guarantee the reimbursement of additional expenses incurred during this trip.

You can contact me by phone +7 977 177 01 02

07.05.2019 Lavrov S.V.

A sample sponsorship letter for a visa in .doc format can be downloaded.

This is an example of a sponsorship letter, however, the content may vary slightly depending on the rules of a particular state. The letter may contain the details of an all-Russian passport or a foreign one. If the trip involves visiting several countries, then it is advisable to list them.

Required Applications

Documents confirming the specified information must be attached to the sponsorship letter of guarantee. An approximate set of documents submitted with a sponsorship letter looks like this:

1. A notarized copy of a document confirming family relations. If the employer undertakes to pay for the trip, then you should attach a certificate from work with a justification for the production need for the trip and a copy of the employment order;
2. If the sponsor and tourist have different surnames, it is required to provide a document supporting the change of surname;
3. A copy of the applicant's passport, including the registration address page;
4. issued no earlier than one month before the visa was issued. The certificate must contain the following data - the applicant's position, salary, contact numbers of the head and chief accountant, company address and a blue stamp. If the head of the employing organization is a relative or namesake of the sponsor, then the presence of a second signature is mandatory. If the sponsor is employed by an entrepreneur, then a copy of the certificate of state registration of the individual entrepreneur is required to be attached to the certificate. They can be notarized, this will increase the chances of issuing a visa. If the sponsor belongs to the self-employed categories of citizens (individual entrepreneurs, notaries, private lawyers), then instead of a certificate from the employer, a bank statement confirming the availability of funds for sponsorship is submitted. He must also submit a copy of the state registration certificate, the latest income tax return and an extract from the IP register for a period of less than a month of the month. As a general rule, the amount sufficient for the trip is 62 euros per day. But it is better to clarify the required amount of funds at the consulate of a particular country. For example, for a visit to Greece, a sponsorship letter can be issued by a citizen with an account balance of 30,000 rubles or more.

In some visa centers, when applying for a visa, it is allowed to issue a letter from a person who is not a relative. But in this case, its notarization is mandatory.

Features of submitting a letter of sponsorship for different countries

Many countries have their own additional requirements for the design of the sponsorship letter and supporting documents for it. You can find out the specific conditions at the embassy of the host country.

• For example, for registration it is not enough to provide information about the amount of funds in the bank account of the sponsor. It is required to present a certificate of the movement of funds on his accounts for the last three months. To visit Italy, you will need to notarize not only the sponsorship letter, but also documents indicating the family relationship between the sponsor and the tourist.
• For registration, the sponsor's income must be at least 40 thousand rubles (the higher the income, the lower the risk of visa refusal), as well as the availability of funds in the account in the amount equivalent to 50 euros per day + 500 euros.

A sponsorship letter is required not only for a visa to the EU countries.

1. For example, for non-working citizens or persons with insufficient income, it is required to submit a sponsor's letter with a mandatory translation into English. Notarization of the translation is not required. All supporting documents (certificates from the employer, account statements, proof of family ties) must also be translated. If there is no family ties between the sponsor and the tourist, the reason for the sponsorship should be explained in detail in the letter.
2. To receive

Writing a motivation letter is an important step in the life of any person. If you have undertaken to compile it, then this means that you want to make some changes in your life. You will also need such a document when hiring, when entering a higher educational institution. If you want to travel to any country, you just need to write a motivation letter to the embassy.

When writing a letter, you should pay attention to various nuances.

Sample motivation letter to the embassy

An example of a motivation letter in Russian can be downloaded, in English.

Why do you want to get an education in this particular country, perhaps you were inspired by the example of your friends or relatives who have already gone there. In your opinion, how useful is the education you receive from them in your homeland? Tell us what you already know about the country you want to visit so badly.

You need to confirm your intention to return to your homeland after you complete your studies in the country you are going to, for example, in. The guarantees of your return to your homeland will be the real estate that you have in your home country, the presence of a business or a good job in your homeland. Perhaps you are involved in some kind of cultural project in your homeland, and this can be proven. In this case, you will be issued a visa.

Motivational letters for embassies of different countries

Ireland

You write a cover letter in English and explain why you want to. Also in the letter you give guarantees that you will behave well in the country, you will not violate the legislation in force in it.

Germany

A motivation letter to the German Embassy must be written correctly, without errors, and differ in content depending on whether you want to get a short-term Schengen visa or a long-term national one. It is the correct spelling of the letter that can motivate the German embassy to issue you a visa to stay and study in Germany.

This is how a motivation letter to the German embassy looks like

Australia

If you are writing a letter of motivation to the Australian Embassy, ​​then try to convince the migration officers of your love for their homeland and admiration for it.

That is, you are going to Australia not just to get the best Anglo-Saxon education for free, but to enjoy the best culture and customs in the world.

And also you are attracted by the natural world, where kangaroos, koalas live and eucalyptus trees grow. The easiest way is for a person who is under the age of 25 and rich parents who pay for his education in courses and at the university.

Canada

If you want to travel to Canada, then to get a positive response from the embassy, ​​a motivation letter will not be enough, you will also have to confirm your level of knowledge of the English language. The language level must be at least upper-intermediate. If your level is lower, then you will have to complete an additional language study program, which takes at least 8 weeks. If the duration of the language study program is at least six months, you will be required to undergo a medical examination.

How much does a US visa cost.

The US State Department pays enough attention to anonymous accusatory letters, regardless of the motivation of those who send them. Since September-September 2011, approximately 60,000 applicants have had their US visas canceled on the basis of information that was not known until after they received their visas. Other applicants, the total number of which is not known, were denied US visas on the basis of anonymous letters received.

And why did these detractors choose the State Department as their ally? Anonymous advice given in letters certainly has its place in the legal system. Too often, the US Department of State and consular officials take such applications at face value when reviewing visa applicant documents. Sometimes the visa officers do not bring any direct charges they have received from the anonymous author against the visa applicant, as this is contrary to the Department's own mandate.

It has already become a habit for consular workers to play with the applicant “guess who wrote the anonymous letter”. If a person guesses correctly, and he will have a chance to get a US visa; guess wrong, and the applicant will be denied a US visa. Sometimes visa officers will stifle an applicant's attempt to clarify the nature of the allegations by referring to the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) process, while fully aware that most applications to this process on a visa issue will not receive any further decision.

Thus, the US Department of State presents the applicant with a Sisyphean task: provide irrefutable evidence of your non-immigrant intentions, based on the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA, section 291, which states that the burden of proof that the applicant is eligible to obtain a visa lies with on the applicant himself) without having the slightest idea of ​​the existence of such accusations, their content and/or source.

There was one case when a Russian woman refused romantic advances to an American. After she refused to marry him, he sent a letter to the police informing her that she and her friend were Russian spies and their visas should be revoked. And so the US Consulate in St. Petersburg prudently cancels their American visas. The most incredible thing is that when the women presented more than 50 documents in interviews with visa officers, reflecting his mercenary intentions, the Department still refused to restore their visas.

A similar incident happened to a Russian businessman, against whom his disgruntled employee sent a letter to the US Embassy in Moscow. Knowing that his manager often travels to America on business, the employee accused the employer of participating in drug trafficking. And instead of filing the businessman with the charges brought against him or giving him a chance to refute the unfavorable information, the US Embassy simply notified him in writing by email that he was permanently banned from entering the US as a drug dealer.

There were other cases, for example, when the ex-spouse wrote that her husband did not pay the alimony that he owed to their child; a religious fanatic who claimed that the applicant was behaving immorally; a debtor who wanted to block access to US courts by notifying the Consulate that the visa holder intended to stay in the US illegally on a nonimmigrant visa. In the latter case, the applicant was denied a visa four times over a period of 10 years until finally the visa was approved.

Diplomatic correspondence is an example of the correct style of writing a written message, which should be followed in any other type of activity, including business.

In the flow of modern information, diplomatic documents, that is, those that relate to the foreign policy of states, occupy a special place.

These include: speeches by statesmen, messages, notes, memorandums, letters, telegrams of heads of state, governments outlining the position of states on topical problems of our time. The content of diplomatic documents reflects the diversity of life itself. In form, these can be messages recognizing the independence of states and a proposal to establish diplomatic relations, and statements affecting the fate of all peoples, such as proposals for nuclear disarmament and preventing the militarization of outer space, and a warning, a protest about the actions of certain states on international arena, posing a threat to the peace and independence of other states. The diplomatic correspondence of recent years reflects global problems that are of particular importance: the preservation of the natural environment, overcoming the backwardness of the countries of the so-called "third world", the fight against diseases, the search for new energy sources, etc.

The preparation of diplomatic documents is one of the most important areas of work of foreign affairs departments. As a rule, control over compliance with the established practice of correspondence is entrusted to the protocol service.

In diplomatic practice, the most traditional types of diplomatic correspondence are:

1) personal notes;

2) verbal notes;

3) memos;

4) memoranda;

5) private letters of a semi-official nature.

Some of these documents are framed by so-called politeness formulas, compliments.

Protocol courtesy formulas are used in personal and verbal notes, memos sent with couriers (a form of document that is used quite rarely).

A personal note is sent on matters of important and fundamental importance or contains information about any major event. The note is drawn up in the first person on behalf of the person signing the note and begins with an appeal. The most common form is: "Dear Mr. Minister", "Dear Mr. Ambassador". This appeal is intended to favorably set the recipient in relation to the content of the text. Accurate knowledge of his regalia, scientific titles, etc. will help you choose the right style of addressing the addressee. In particular, there are countries (in Asia and Africa, for example) where high-ranking and influential people have various titles, the competent mention of which can immediately place the reader. For Muslims, for example, it is customary to add the prefix "H" in the name of the person who performed the Hajj.
Next comes the semantic part of the document. The note ends with a compliment (formula of courtesy), in which the author "testifies his respect."

The tone of personal notes can be more or less warm. If the note begins with the words: “Mr. Minister”, “Mr. Ambassador” and ends with “With respect” (without “sincere” or “deep”), then the intention of the author is obvious to give the note a restrained character.

The author of the letter may begin a personal note with the words "Dear Mr. Minister" and end with "With sincere regards." The intention here is to give the note a warm, friendly character. Other types of compliments:
Minister of Foreign Affairs or Ambassador

I ask you, Mr. Minister, Mr. Ambassador, to accept the assurances of my highest consideration.
Envoy, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim

I beg you, Mr. Minister, Mr. Chargé d'Affaires, to accept the assurances of my highest consideration.

Sample personal note:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Russian Federation

Moscow, ___ January ___ 20
Dear Mr. Ambassador,

Please accept my sincere gratitude for your friendly congratulations on the successful launch of the spacecraft with an international crew on board.

I fully share your opinion that this victory will serve the cause of the progress of all mankind, the strengthening of friendship between our peoples.

With deep respect

(personal signature)

Mr.

Republic

Sample personal note on presentation of credentials:
Embassy

Russian Federation

___ March 20
Dear Mr. Ambassador,

I have the honor to inform you that on March 20, I presented his credentials to His Excellency Mr. President, with which President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin accredits me as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to ______

Expressing my satisfaction that I have been called in this way to maintain official and personal relations with you that will be consistent with the friendly relations that exist between our countries, I ask you, Mr. Ambassador, to accept the assurances of my highest consideration*.
Mr. __________,

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

(personal signature)
* This template may be edited depending on the state of relations with the country of the ambassador to whom the note is sent.
The nature of the compliment must take into account the principle of reciprocity, especially in the case of sending a note in return.

The form of address also depends on the specific case and local practice. The letter may include:

Minister - Mr. Minister, Your Excellency;

Ambassador - Mr. Ambassador, Your Excellency;

to the envoy - Mr. Messenger or Mr. Minister; Chargé d'Affaires ad interim - Mr. Chargé d'Affaires (the adjective "temporary" is usually not written in circulation).

If the chargé d'affaires is an adviser in the rank of envoy, then the address to him should be as follows: "Mr. Minister."

Depending on local practice, in order of reciprocity, the word "master" can be written in full.

The seal, as well as the name and position of the signatory, are not affixed to the note.

The address is written in the lower left corner of the first page of the note, regardless of the number of sheets. The address indicates the rank of the person to whom the note is sent:
Mr. A.D. Lusaka,

To the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Zambia

Moscow

In some cases, depending on local practice and on the basis of mutual respect, the title is used before the name of the person to whom the personal note is sent:
His Excellency

Mr. D.P. dharu,

To the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India

Moscow
or
E.P. Mr D.P. dharu,

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

Republic of India

Moscow

The same text is printed on the envelope, which is affixed to the personal note.

Diplomatic practice is constantly evolving, moving away from established forms.

During the Second World War, when the situation dictated the adoption of urgent and responsible decisions by the heads of state of the anti-Hitler coalition, the practice of exchanging personal letters and messages between them developed.

The practice of exchanging personal messages between heads of state, government, and foreign ministers on the most important issues of world politics, which has been established since then, puts such documents in a special row that goes beyond the previously established traditional forms of diplomatic correspondence.

This type of diplomatic correspondence has become widespread in recent years. It is often referred to as a personal message from the head of state or government. From a formal point of view, such a message can be categorized as "personal notes." However, due to the high position of the sender and recipient, as well as the great importance of such documents, it is customary to single them out as an independent type of diplomatic correspondence. In these messages, as well as in personal notes, there are protocol formulas - an appeal and a final compliment. For example, the formula of address in the Address to the Heads of State or Government: "Dear Mr. President." The final compliment of the message can be: "Respectfully" or "Sincerely."

In messages that begin with the full title of the addressee, for example, "His Excellency Jacques Chirac, President of the French Republic", the text should also be preceded by an address.

In this case, it can be: "Dear Mr. President", otherwise: "Your Excellency."

At present, the exchange of messages between heads of state is becoming less and less common in practice. They have been replaced by a new form of opinion: televised talks. The current level of development of interstate negotiations provides a unique opportunity to quickly and reliably exchange views, regardless of distance.

The note verbale is the most widely used document today. Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Embassies conduct diplomatic correspondence mainly by sending notes verbale. Verbal notes are used to consider and resolve a wide range of issues. They set out political, economic, scientific, technical and other problems of both bilateral and multilateral nature. The notes also request visas, report on road accidents involving embassy employees, provide embassies with representative information (on organizing trips of the diplomatic corps around the country, on inviting diplomats to events on the occasion of the national holiday of the country, on excursions to industrial enterprises and scientific institutions) etc.

Verbal notes begin and end with a compliment. The note begins with the full name of the sender and recipient: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation shows its respect to the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria and has the honor to announce ... "

The final compliment contains the abbreviated title: "The Ministry takes this opportunity to renew to the Embassy the assurances of its highest consideration."

Sometimes the words "takes advantage" of the compliment are omitted, for example, when a note reports a road accident involving a diplomat, as a result of which there are human casualties. It is obvious that the words "taking this opportunity" are inappropriate in this context, and the compliment could take the following form: "The Ministry renews to the Embassy the assurances of its very high consideration."

If the note verbale of the Ministry is a response to the note of the embassy, ​​then in this case the note will begin as follows: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation shows its respect to the Embassy of France and in connection with the note of the Embassy No. ___ dated (day, month, year) has the honor to announce the following ... ”A compliment in notes can be omitted, but this is done only if the note contains a protest in connection with the actions of representatives of the embassy or the state (an attempt to engage in illegal activities, a gross violation of the norms of behavior). It is clear that in such a case the compliment would have weakened the protest and, consequently, would have distorted the nature of the note.

A compliment is not used in verbal notes containing a message about the declaration of mourning in the country, or in notes expressing condolences, and also on the basis of the principle of reciprocity in cases where the department of foreign affairs of a country does not use compliments in its diplomatic correspondence.

The range of protocol politeness formulas is very wide. This allows you to soften a more severe tone or give it more warmth. However, one should always remember: nothing is valued so dearly and is not so cheap as politeness. Harsh expressions, rhetorical turns of speech, vague hints, exclamation points, abbreviations in the form of “etc. etc." in musical correspondence are not allowed. When working on the text of a note containing, for example, a protest, it is worth remembering that it may not be accepted, and this, in turn, can lead to a conflict situation with far-reaching consequences.

The text of verbal notes is written in the third person.

Both personal and verbal notes are printed on top quality stamped paper. Under the coat of arms there is an inscription "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation" or "Embassy of the Russian Federation in (country name)".

As in a personal note, the address is affixed in the lower left corner on the first sheet of the note verbale:
Embassy

Republic of Hungary

Moscow
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Republic of the Congo

Brazzaville
The same text is printed on the envelope.

Sample note verbale:
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

No. 3/1 DGP
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation shows its respect to the Embassy ___ and in response to its note No. 0108 dated ___ February 20 ___ has the honor to announce that the Russian competent authorities have no objection to the appointment of Major General of Aviation ___ as military and air attache at the embassy ___ In Russian federation.
The Ministry takes this opportunity to renew to the Embassy the assurances of its highest consideration.
Moscow, ___ February 20 ___

Embassy of Moscow
In international practice, verbal notes signed or endorsed by the head of a diplomatic mission are becoming less and less common. There is practically no difference between notes verbale with a signature (visa) and those that have only the seal of the embassy.

A note verbale has an outgoing number, cipher and date of departure, for example No. 14/1 DE or 27 / DGP. No additional indexes are set. If necessary, this is done on a copy remaining in the file. The note is affixed with a mastic official seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the embassy. The seal is affixed at the end of the text of the note, where the date of departure is printed. It is necessary to ensure that the coat of arms depicted on the seal has the correct position.
SAMPLES OF VERBAL NOTES*
* Note design features:

1) printing in the left corner;

2) place and date of departure at the top;

3) the note is endorsed;

4) the abbreviation of the address "Protocol" is incorrect (see translation below).
REPUBLICUE FRANCAISE AMBASSADE DE FRANCE EN RUSSIE

No. 293/MID
L'Ambassade de France presente ses compliments au Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres de la Federation de Russie et a l'honneur de l'informer de ce qui suit.

Monsieur Jacques BAUMEL, Ancien Minister, Vice-President de la Commission de la Dé Fense Nationale et des Forces Arm th es de l'Assemblee Nationale, President de la Commission de D th fense de l'UEO, Vice-President de l'Assemblee Parlementaire du Conseil de l'Europe, arrivera a Moscou en provenance de Bakou le 13 Novembre 1995 a 21 h par le vol 216 de la Compagnie Transaero a l'aeroport de Cheremetievo 1.

L'Ambassade de France serait reconnaissante au Minist and re des Affaires Etrang and res de la Federation de Russie de bien vouloir intervenir aupres des autorites de l'aeroport de Cheremetievo 1 pour que le salon d'honneur soit ouvert a l'arrivee de M. BAUMEL, et saisit cette occasion pour lui renouveler les assurances de sa haute consideration.
MINISTERE DES AFFAIRES ETRANGERES DE LA FEDERATION DE RUSSIE
– Protocole

Monsieur Jacques BAUMEL, Ancien Ministre, Vice-President de la Commission de la Defense Nationale et des Forces Armees de l'Assemblee Nationale, President de la Commission de Defense de l'UEO, Vice-President de l'Assemblee Parlementaire du Conseil de l 'Europe, arrivera a Moscou en provenance de Bakou le 13 novembre 1995 a 21 hparle vol 216delaCompagnie Transaero a l'aeroport de Cheremetievo 1.

L'Ambassade de France serait reconnaissante au Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres de la Federation de Russie de bien vouloir intervenir aupres des autorites de I'aeroport de Cheremetievo 1 pour que le salon d'honneur spit ouvert a l'arrivee de M. BAUMEL, et saisit cette occasion pour lui renpuveler les assurances de sa haute consideration.
MINISTERE DES AFFAIRES ETRANGERES DE LA FEDERATION DE RUSSIE
– Protocole

– Premier Department Europeen
EMBASSY OF FRANCE IN RUSSIA

No. 293 /MID
The Embassy of France pays its respects to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and has the honor to inform Him of the following.

Former Minister, Deputy Chairman of the Defense and Armed Forces Committee of the National Assembly, Chairman of the WEU Defense Committee, Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Mr. Jacques BOMEL will arrive in Moscow from Baku on November 13 at 21.00 on Transaero Flight 216 to Sheremetyevo-1 Airport.

The Embassy of France would be grateful to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation not to refuse the courtesy of assisting the authorities of Sheremetyevo-1 Airport to open a VIP lounge for Mr. BOMEL upon His arrival, and takes this opportunity to renew the assurances of its highest consideration to Him.
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Moscow
AMBASSADE DE LA REPUBLICQUE DU SENEGAL

EN FEDERATION DE RUSSIE

12, Rue Donskaya

No. 0552 /ASM/95 MOSCOU,

le 04 dec. 1995
L'Ambassade de la Republique du Senegal presente ses compliments au Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres de la Federation de Russie et a l'honneur de porter a sa haute connaissance que Madame Absa Claude DIALLO, L'Ambassade de la Republique du Senegal presente ses compliments au Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres de la Federation de Russie et a l'honneur de porter a sa haute connaissance que Madame Absa Claude DIALLO, ambassadeur Extraordinaire et Plenipotentiaire du Senegal, se propose de quitter definitivement Moscou, le Mercredi 6 December 1995, par Vol AF 1849 a 16.15, a l'issue des operations de fermeture de l'Ambassade du Senegal.

En exprimant au Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres de la Federation de Russie, sa tres vive appreciation pour sa constante sollicitude et l'excellence des Relations entretenues, l'Ambassade de la Republique du Senegal saisit sette occasion pour lui renouveler les assurances de sa tres haute consideration .
MINISTERE DES AFFAIRES ETRANGERES

DE LA FEDERATION DE RUSSIE

Moscow*
* 1) Place and date of departure at the top;

2) printing at the cut of the sheet to the right;

3) the note is sighted (see further translation).
Embassy

REPUBLIC OF SENEGAL

0552
The Embassy of the Republic of Senegal pays its respects to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and has the honor to announce to its high knowledge that Mrs. Absa Claude Diallo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Senegal, intends to leave Moscow for good on Wednesday, December 6, 1995, on flight AF 1849 at 4.15 pm after she completed the procedure for closing the Embassy of Senegal in Moscow.

Expressing its deep gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation for the continued support and excellent relations that exist between the two countries, the Embassy of the Republic of Senegal takes this opportunity to renew the assurances of its highest consideration to the Ministry.
Moscow, December 4, 1995
TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Moscow
In the diplomacy of the 50s, the practice of exchanging notes directly between governments appeared. This testifies not only to the expansion of the scope of traditional forms of diplomatic correspondence, but also to the increased role of foreign policy, an increase in the level of responsibility of diplomacy in solving the cardinal issues of our time. At present, this practice is rarely used.

As a rule, there are no compliments in the notes on behalf of the government. Usually in this case, the note begins as follows: "The Government of the Russian Federation has the honor to declare to the Government of (name of the country) the following."

There is no final compliment in the note. All notes are official documents, regardless of the nature of the matter set forth in them. Any note is considered as coming from the government. Notes require proper attention and require a response from the side of the one to whom they are directed.

In diplomatic practice, cases of sending a collective note by representatives of several states are becoming less and less common. States build their relations on a bilateral basis as equal, sovereign members of the world community. A collective note, either from the entire diplomatic corps or from a group of embassies, can be seen as a demarche, an attempt to exert pressure, which cannot but cause a backlash.

Of particular interest is the interaction of ambassadors of the countries of the European Community in Moscow in relation to the authorities of the host country. The rotation of the Community presidency in Brussels automatically leads to the fact that the ambassador of the presiding country becomes the head of the ambassadors of the EU countries in Moscow, representing the interests of the Community and speaking on its behalf. Such speeches and documents (notes, letters) under certain conditions can be considered as collective demarches.

To avoid the accusation of a collective demarche, the form of sending identical notes is used. This is resorted to, if necessary, to state to any state a point of view agreed between several countries or to report on the adoption of appropriate measures.

There are documents in diplomatic correspondence that do not require complimentary registration. These include memos, memorandums.

There are two types of memos: memos handed over in person and memos sent by courier. An aide-mémoire is usually handed in person in order to enhance the meaning or emphasize the importance of an oral statement or request made during the conversation, to facilitate the further progress of the case, to prevent the possibility of misinterpretation or understanding of the conversation or oral statement. The text of the memorandum is compiled in an impersonal form using the expressions: “a request is made”, “it is necessary to state”, “it is reported”.

Commemorative notes are printed on plain paper without a coat of arms. Address and outgoing number are not set; only the place and date of departure are affixed: “Mr. Moscow, ___ July 20___. Above the text of the note is printed the inscription: "Memorial note".

Commemorative notes sent by couriers are now quite rare. In form, they almost do not differ from a verbal note: they are drawn up in the third person, contain an appeal and a compliment, are printed on a note sheet, have a number, place of sending and date. Unlike a verbal note, such notes are not stamped and do not indicate the address. On top there is an inscription: "Memorial note". Memoirs are sent either at the request of the person with whom the conversation took place, or as a reminder of a particular issue.

A memorandum is a document that examines the factual side of a particular issue, contains an analysis of its individual aspects, sets out arguments in defense of one's position, contains a polemic with the arguments of the other side. The memorandum can be either an attachment to a personal or verbal note, or an independent document transmitted personally or sent by courier. Attaching a memorandum to a note makes it possible to shorten the text of the note itself and, at the same time, gives certain advantages in the nature of the presentation of the issue that is the subject of correspondence.

The memorandum as an appendix to a personal note is printed on music paper without a coat of arms; number, stamp, place (city) and date of departure are not set. A memorandum handed in person is printed on a note sheet, and has no appeal or compliment. The stamp and number are not put on it, however, the place and date of departure are indicated.

A private letter of a semi-official nature is sent to familiar officials in cases where any assistance is required in resolving issues that are the subject of official correspondence or negotiations in order to emphasize the author's interest in this case or to expedite the resolution of any issue by using the influence of the person to whom it is sent. letter.

Private letters are written on plain paper (half a sheet), sometimes on a letterhead with the name and surname or official title of the sender printed in the upper left corner. The reverse side of the sheet is not used. The appeal in such a letter is as follows: “Dear Mr. N”:

The final compliment is required. The number is not indicated on the letter, the date and personal signature are required. The address is written only on the envelope.

Sample private letter:
Moscow, February ___, 20___
Dear Mr. Ambassador,

Returning to our pleasant conversation yesterday, I would like to thank you once again for your kind invitation to the concert of the soloists of your country's opera house.

My wife and I greatly enjoyed the music of the famous classics, and the performance skills of the artists were beyond praise.

The evening spent in your house will remain in our memory for a long time.

Please accept, Mr. Ambassador, the assurances of my deep respect for you.

(signature)
§ 10. When leaders speak and write
In addition to the types of diplomatic documents listed above, which are considered traditional and generally accepted, there are others that are used by many states. Unlike those discussed above, such documents do not have a strict form. This significantly expands their opportunities in terms of the nature of the formulation and coverage of problems.

Diplomatic documents of this group should include declarations, messages, statements of heads of states, governments, foreign ministers, legislative bodies of states on international relations.

With the development of telegraph and radio communications, such a type of diplomatic documents as telegrams became widespread. As a rule, telegrams require a response. The content of the telegrams often has important political implications.

The reasons for sending telegrams can be different: national holidays, anniversaries, anniversaries of important events, etc. Not a day goes by that the leading newspapers do not publish such documents on the front pages. Sending, for example, a telegram in connection with the assumption of the post of a new head of state is not only a sign of courtesy, accepted in international protocol practice. It is also an indicator of the level and nature of relations between states, an occasion to demonstrate the desire to continue to develop cooperation and expand ties.

Thus, in connection with the assumption of George W. Bush as President of the United States of America, President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin sent him a congratulatory telegram.
TO HIS EXCELLENCY MR GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Washington
Dear Mr. President,

I congratulate you on your official assumption of the office of the President of the United States of America and sincerely wish you success in your new high position.

I fully share your desire to "strengthen Russian-American friendship in the coming years."

I would like to express some preliminary considerations as to how we imagine the ways of developing the Russian-American dialogue. For us, the United States is the most important foreign policy partner, and we, for our part, are ready to continue to work towards strengthening new cooperation relations between our countries and peoples, and to jointly search for answers to the serious challenges that the 21st century throws at us and the international community as a whole. I agree with you that Russian-American relations should be approached pragmatically, cooperate on an equal footing on a broad eagle of coinciding interests, and find rational solutions to existing disagreements on a mutually acceptable basis.

I think that a good foundation has been created for such an approach in our relations, useful experience has been accumulated through many trials and even mistakes. Therefore, building on it a positive continuity and at the same time taking into account new realities, we can move forward in expanding the improvement of our cooperation and interaction. The main thing is; as you rightly emphasize, is; that we threaten each other more and do not see each other as adversaries. Of particular importance now, of course, is the beginning of our direct dialogue, in which we, as I understand it, adhere to a common approach. I know that you value frank personal communication. In this regard, in the coming months, without waiting for some big international forum, I would suggest considering the possibility of our meeting with you, say, in a third country: Such a meeting would not be formalized, it would not it would take a long time to prepare through bureaucratic channels, and there we could, without excessive detail, exchange views on the international economic and political situation, the priorities of our interaction. Of course, you and I will not solve all the problems right off the bat, but we will undoubtedly give our representatives an impetus for a productive dialogue.

This, in particular, also applies to the complex of START/ABM problems. Here, as we understand, there is both a coincidence of approaches regarding further reductions in nuclear weapons, as well as fundamental disagreements regarding missile defense. It is necessary to find ways and return to the joint search for means of ensuring our national security and maintaining strategic stability.

I am ready to talk in principle about our vision of the most acute regional problems. The last years of the 20th century once again clearly demonstrated that success in a peaceful settlement can only come when Russia and the United States act jointly or on parallel courses. This concerns our common interest in continuing the negotiation process in the Middle East, in resolving the situation in the Balkans and the Korean Peninsula, in countering the international terrorist threat, and in resolving many other problems.

An important task is to make fuller use of the potentials of the two countries in the matter of intensifying Russian-American business ties against the backdrop of a difficult international economic situation, and making the relevant bilateral mechanisms more effective.

If such a plan of action, based on the situation that is developing in the United States after the presidential election, suits you, then it would be desirable to hold a meeting of our foreign ministers to launch it. Relevant instructions I.S. I have already given Ivanov and I hope that C. Powell will also receive a similar assignment.

In conclusion, I would like to once again express the hope that relations of equal, mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and the United States will receive concrete development for the benefit of the peoples of our two countries and the entire international community.

Sincerely,

V. PUTIN
Speaking of diplomatic correspondence, it is impossible not to name the documents emanating from the highest legislative bodies: appeals to the parliaments of various states on disarmament, prevention of nuclear war, joint communiqués of parliaments following the results of visits and negotiations of parliamentarians.

The category of important diplomatic documents should include the responses of leading figures of states to appeals or questions from representatives of public organizations or individuals; answers to questions from newspaper correspondents on the most pressing problems of the international situation; speeches of state representatives at international forums, public meetings dedicated to significant dates in relations with foreign states; speeches by heads of state, government, foreign ministers at diplomatic receptions in honor of foreign guests. Such documents are usually published in the press. They are filled with great political content, affect not only bilateral relations, but also global problems, thanks to which they receive a great international response.

International practice knows documents of a diplomatic nature, which are adopted on a regional and global basis. Among them are the UN documents.

During its existence, the UN has adopted a significant number of various documents that have had a significant impact on international processes and the formation of the international climate. As examples, two of them can be cited: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (December 1948), which proclaimed that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity”, and the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (December 1960). ), which stated that "all peoples have the right to self-determination", that "they freely determine their political status and carry out their economic, social and cultural development".

Although, in accordance with the UN Charter, the documents adopted by the General Assembly are in the nature of recommendations, they nevertheless have great moral and political weight and influence the formation of the position of the world community on a particular issue. Thus, the 1960 Declaration contributed to the completion of the collapse of the colonial system.

As one foreign journalist wittily put it, "A UN resolution is not a restaurant menu that can be easily discarded."

In any diplomatic document, both content and form are important. In this regard, noteworthy is the technique of compiling such documents, the ability to realize the possibilities that are embedded in documents of various types.

Drawing up a diplomatic document requires taking into account many factors. Ultimately, the diplomatic service decides what to leave in this or that document, what to omit, which arguments to give preference to, and so on. However, it is necessary to take into account possible counter-arguments of partners. Therefore, the preparation of such documents requires great professional knowledge and diplomatic experience.

The diplomatic service of Russia actively uses the entire arsenal of forms of diplomatic correspondence. Having accumulated extensive experience in drafting diplomatic documents, openly addressing governments and peoples, Russian diplomacy influences the outside world, mobilizes all progressive forces in defense of peace and trust among peoples.

Diplomatic correspondence, like diplomacy in general, has come a long way in development. Being one of the forms of diplomatic activity of the state, diplomatic documents reflect the features inherent in the socio-economic system of the country, language, culture. However, with all the differences, the common thing for diplomatic documents of different eras was that special requirements have always been and continue to be presented to them to this day. And the point is not only that in the past diplomatic documents came only from the monarch or were signed by an authorized person on his behalf and were addressed to another, the head of state. Whether the document was written in cuneiform on clay tablets, like the treaty of the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II with the Hittite king Hattushil III (1296 BC), or on papyrus, silk, paper, it had a special meaning (“written with a pen - you can’t cut it out ax"). Sovereign heads of state took upon themselves the obligation to observe the "letter and spirit" of the document. Deviations from accepted obligations (oral or written) entailed a loss of prestige and trust, which, of course, does not pass without a trace for the state.

Since all documents of diplomatic correspondence are official, the correct choice of the type of document is of great importance: it must correspond to this particular case.

In this case, one should proceed mainly from the content of the document, have a good knowledge of the technique of diplomatic correspondence and take into account the traditions of the host country when it comes to notes of a diplomatic mission. It is customary to respond to a verbal note with a verbal note, and to a personal letter with a personal letter. It is considered impolite to respond to a personal letter with a verbal note, just as it is considered impolite to respond to a letter with a personal signature with a letter with a surname typed on a typewriter.

A diplomatic document requires a response. The absence of a response will be perceived as a response of a certain negative nature: This form of response should be resorted to in exceptional cases. Any document begins with a call. The exact title and surname of the person to whom this document is addressed are sometimes no less important than its content. Any distortions in the past and now are not allowed.

During the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich in Russia (1645-1676)*, the embassy order (then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) was led by an outstanding Russian diplomat, Duma boyar Ordin-Nashchokin. In an official letter drawn up in an embassy order addressed to the tsar, the word "sovereign" was omitted; In this regard, the tsar sent a letter to Ordin-Nashchokin with the following content:

“April on the 19th day, he wrote to us, but in your unsubscribe in the first column it is written where it was necessary to write us, the great sovereign, and they wrote the great one, but the sovereign was not written. And then you didn’t do it carefully, and all our letters will come to you, and you would continue in your unsubscribes and in all our deeds that will be on the letter, our, great sovereign, name and honor were written with great caution.

And you, clerks, would read all the letters yourself more than once and look out for much, so that in the future there would be no such indiscretions in your letters.

... And the clerk Grishka Kotoshikhin, who wrote that reply, was ordered to inflict punishment for that - to beat the batogs.

* Alexei Mikhailovich (1645-1676) from 1645 pursued an active foreign policy, the most important tasks of which he considered the return of the Russian lands that were under the rule of the Commonwealth and Sweden, as well as ensuring the security of the southern borders from the attack of Turkey and its vassal - the Crimean Khanate. Alexei Mikhailovich signed decrees and documents with his own hand, directly supervised foreign policy negotiations with Sweden, Poland and other states, strengthened control over the activities of Russian ambassadors.

Such severe penalties for errors in a diplomatic document are not currently resorted to, but they are still fraught with serious consequences.

Strictly adhering to the traditional norms and rules of correspondence, the diplomatic protocol closely monitors the observance of these norms and rules by foreign states, resolutely opposes their violation, and even more so attempts to harm the dignity of the country.

One of the requirements for a diplomatic document to this day remains the correct spelling of the addressee's surname and title. The document may sometimes contain something unpleasant for the addressee, but the formulas of politeness must be observed. Many are very particular about the spelling and order of their names. Both must strictly correspond to the records in official documents emanating from the institutions in which these persons work. The spelling of complex names and surnames (Spanish, Arabic, etc.) requires special attention, and their reduction should not be allowed, guided by the rules of the Russian language. Some peoples do not have surnames in our understanding, there is only a name, to which the name of the father is sometimes added in official correspondence, an arbitrary reduction of one name can cause a reasonable offense in a person.

It is the duty of everyone who is instructed to prepare a diplomatic document to figure out where the surname is and where the name is. Do not infringe on the dignity of the partner, show correctness, respect - this is what the correct spelling of the appeal and address is. In this case, the form is no less important than the content. There are many examples in the history of diplomacy when attempts were made to codify titles and politeness formulas when referring to monarchs, members of their families, representatives of the church, dukes, marquises, baronets, etc. Back in the middle of the 17th century, the Russian embassy order established a list of "titles to which the potentate of the Moscow Tsar of the writer." The basis was the principle of mutual respect: "... the tsar writes in his letters to the surrounding great potentates titles according to their dignity, as they describe themselves, without derogation."

An inexperienced diplomat entrusted with correspondence can often face difficulties even now, especially when leaving documents addressed to heads of state. So, in 1984, Sultan Iskander was the head of Malaysia. His full title could hardly have been written without error without the help of an authoritative source, but even here it was not without "perestroika". The corrected title of the head of Malaysia was: "His Majesty Sultan Azlan Shah, Supreme Head of Malaysia, Akong of Malaysia". No less original was the official title of the former head of state of Zaire: "His Excellency Marshal Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngebendu Wa Za ​​Banga, President of the Republic of Zaire, Chairman of the Executive Council, Chairman - Founder of the People's Movement."

And here is the title of the head of state and government of Brunei Darussalam, with which Russia has established diplomatic relations and sent its ambassador: “His Majesty the Sultan Sir Muda Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzadeen Waddaulah Sultan and Head of State, Prime Minister of Brunei Darussalam.”

Mistakes in the spelling or understanding of the names and surnames of dignitaries sometimes lead to curiosities, as, for example, in the semi-anecdotal case with the owner of a hotel in the south of France. He was approached by a foreigner with a request to give him a hotel room; when asked who he was, the foreigner answered: Domingo Rumardo Montealegre Almendares Covarrubias; having heard this, the owner said that the first two could stay in his hotel, and the rest in the hotel opposite ... And this was one Spaniard.

At first glance, it may seem insignificant if one note begins with the words "... has the honor to announce that ...", and the other simply "... announces that ..." However, this is far from being the case. Departure from the generally accepted formula may take place. But this should be a deliberate step, and it needs serious reasons. When, for example, a presentation is made or a protest is expressed, in connection with some conflict situation, the document may not contain the usual closing compliment ("... takes the opportunity to renew ... assurances of his ... respect").

Attempts by the diplomacy of some countries to abandon the established formulas of politeness do not find support in international practice. The vast majority of states show signs of respect to each other in their diplomatic correspondence. If one of the parties refuses the politeness formulas, then, based on the principle of reciprocity, the other party does the same.

A diplomatic document must have an impeccable appearance. Therefore, all diplomatic documents are printed on top quality paper, machine cut. When printing the text, erasures and corrections are not allowed. Envelopes for documents must be of the appropriate size and quality. The seal should be in its proper place - at the bottom of the document, and the text should be beautifully located throughout the sheet.

There are cases in history when the paper on which the document was written carried a greater semantic load than its content itself.

In 1915, Japan issued an ultimatum to China - the so-called "twenty-one demands". It was about extortionate terms, and Chinese President Yuan Shikai was slow to respond. Then the Japanese ambassador advised him to look at the paper on which the ultimatum was printed into the light. The watermarked silhouettes of Japanese warships were clearly visible on the paper.

Today's diplomatic correspondence does not require a huge number of scribes who "whitewashed" official documents. Nowadays, personal letters of a semi-official nature are sometimes still written by hand. All other diplomatic letters are typewritten, often even using a copying technique. But at the same time, if the author of the letter wants to show signs of special respect to the addressee, an appeal to him (“Dear Mr. Ambassador”, “Mr. Minister”, etc.), as well as a final compliment (“With best wishes”, “Sincerely yours ”, etc.) he writes by hand, although the rest of the text will be typed.

At present, stamping a diplomatic document has been reduced to a mere formality. Previously, the place of printing on the document was of fundamental importance. In 1595, the Russian ambassador Vasily Tyufyakin, who was sent to Iran to conclude a treaty, was instructed to insist that "the shah would order his nishan (seal) to be attached to the final letter at the bottom, and not at the top." As a compromise, the ambassador could agree to have the Shah affix the seal "to the side, in the middle of the letter".

The royal seal was a symbol of power and could only coexist with the seal of another sovereign and at the same level2. This testified to the equality and sovereignty of the heads of state. And at present, when affixing notes with an official seal, one should carefully monitor that the coat of arms occupies the correct, strictly vertical position *.

* On the royal charters of the ambassadors of Morocco, the seal is still placed at the top. This is perhaps the only country in the world that draws up credentials in this way.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs conducts diplomatic correspondence in the language of its country. However, a translation into a foreign language MAY BE attached to the official text. This is done if there is an intention to bring the contents of the document to the addressee as quickly as possible, and also to prevent possible inaccuracies that may be made when the document is translated by the addressee. In the early years of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs, a number of verbal notes were sent to foreign missions in Moscow in French.

Embassies can correspond with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the language of their country. But this rule is not universal. Embassies often correspond in the language of the host country or attach translations of documents into this language to the originals. Diplomatic documents, as a rule, must be handed over personally to the addressee or sent by courier and handed over to a special authorized person against receipt. It is not recommended to send diplomatic correspondence by mail.

No matter how important the form and attributes of courtesy in a diplomatic document are, priority should still be given to the content, clarity of presentation, logical thought, evidence of facts, taking into account the characteristics of the addressee and possible reaction on his part.

A diplomatic document will be effective if it reflects the whole complex set of big and small problems concerning one or several countries, if it is imbued with concern for the welfare of mankind.

In diplomatic correspondence, inaccuracy, distortion of facts, their understatement or exaggeration should not be allowed. Such slovenliness makes the document vulnerable, since its content will be called into question. Subsequent amendments and clarifications, as a rule, cannot help. Therefore, when analyzing and selecting facts in documents, only those that have absolute certainty should be used.

It is appropriate to apply the rule to diplomatic documents: words should be cramped, and thoughts should be spacious. The language of diplomatic documents is simple, concise, comparisons and epithets are rarely used. However, an artistic image applied to the place can enhance the expressiveness of the document.

A word in a diplomatic document must be absolutely authentic to the concept embedded in it. If a word in some context can be understood and interpreted in different ways, then it is better not to use it, but to choose another one. The Russian language is rich and powerful, but a passion for literary style at the expense of clarity and precision can be harmful.

While presenting the thought clearly and clearly, striving to use fresh words and unhackneyed formulations, the drafter of the document should not neglect the already established and established concepts. There is no need, for example, to look for a semantic replacement for the expressions "peaceful coexistence", "cold war", "positions of strength" politics, "new thinking", "perestroika", "people's diplomacy". These and other similar well-established expressions in different languages ​​express specific, unified concepts.

The word in diplomatic correspondence and in diplomacy in general can be both an ally and an enemy. Skillfully chosen and said to the point, it will convince the doubters, incline the hesitant in the right direction, strengthen the conviction of the sympathizers. With a strict selection of verbal material, a diplomatic document will become conclusive and convincing. A word spoken in a hurry, written in a document in a hurry, will become an enemy, because it is not in vain that they say: "The word is not a sparrow, it will fly out - you will not catch it."