HCCD-India News


With great sorrow and grief the HCCD – India informs its members and other Hony. Consuls in India and abroad that Hon’ble Mr. Kartar Singh Bhalla, former Hony. Consul General of Nauru in India has left for his heavenly abode on 5th October, 2021.

The Bhog ceremony (Prayer Meeting) will be held on 10th October, 2021 from 3.00 PM to 4.00 PM at Pahariwala Gurudwara, Greater Kailash Part 1, New Delhi.

The President of the HCCD – India is pleased to inform all the Hon’ble colleagues that Hon’ble Prof. Ranganathan J, Hony. Consul of Myanmar in Chennai has been bestowed upon with “Buddha Peace Award” at the Embassy of the Republic of Union of Myanmar in New Delhi. The President on behalf of the HCCD – India congratulated Hon’ble Prof. Ranganathan J for his achievement.

 

Hon'ble Mr. Vivek Burman President HCCD- India, Hony. Consul General of Nicaragua

Greetings from HCCD-India!

It gives me great pride and immense pleasure to send you my best wishes on the inaugural event of your Chapter. I would have loved to be a part of this event in person but that was not possible due to the National Day celebrations of Nicaragua being organized by me in the capital. However we are all there with you in spirit and solidarity.

Consuls relations have been established between peoples since ancient times. The history of the consular function is largely associated with the development of international trade and the economic interest of States.

Tracing the history of consular functions, one comes across a classical term "Proxenos" which meant a citizen of a city state(usually rich), who felt friendship towards another city state and therefore he voluntarily took up some of roles which are fulfilled, in present times, by honorary consuls, Proxenos also used all his contacts and influence to support friendship or alliance with the town which he voluntary represented-like for example, Cimon, a Proxenos of Sparta in Athens who operated there even before the outbreak of the first Peloponnesian War (460 BC-circa 445 BC), nearly 2500 years ago.

The origin of honorary consuls can be traced back to the 8th century, especially to china, India, and the Middle Eastern regions. In Europe, the origin of the consular institution takes us to ancient Greece where, in 12th Century, the first figure of the consul emerged and development to its present and more complex structure. The official Consular Corps was first established in France at the end of the 18th Century. Other states soon followed. The office of the honorary consul was originally sanctified by common law. The extraordinary increase of consulates during the 19th and 20th Centuries highlighted the need for a more precise legal framework, particularly concerning the consular service and the status of consuls.

After years of consultations and preliminary work, the United Nations Conference on Consular Relations met in Vienna (Austria) and adopted on April 24, 1963 the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and two optional protocols. The Convention 'baptized' both categories of consuls, gave them a legal status, invested them with the UN authority and gave them global reach and recognition. Over ninety countries as well as several international organizations attended the Conference. It came into force on 19 March 1967. To date, the Vienna Convention has been ratified by over 130 countries.

Thus we must be conscious of this privilege and honour bestowed upon us and always work towards maintaining and enhancing the image and role of this office. You have all our support and good wishes. We look forward to your active participation in all matters and suggestions and feedback. I am sure in times to come, our Bangalore chapter is sure to be the benchmark for excellence, enthusiasm and dedication.

Kind regards,

Mr. Vivek Burman
President HCCD-India

The National Day of the Union of the Comoros was celebrated in New Delhi, India on 27th July, 2012. The function was attended by High Commissioners, Ambassadors, Hony. Consul General/Consuls and Who’s Who of Delhi. Excellency Mr. Ravi Bangar, Joint Secretary, Head of the South and East Africa Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India was the Chief Guest. A brochure on Tourism and Industry in Comoros was released on the said date.

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for the invitation to speak to you today. It is an honor to have this opportunity to share my experience as a Senior Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the United States House of Representatives with this distinguished gathering of consuls—the men and women who stand on the frontlines of international relations. In my thirty years in the United States Congress, I have been privileged to see the affects of the work that you do firsthand.....

 

Philippines: Consular Corps Dean's Monthly Letter for March 28 2012...

 

The 1st FICAC South Asian Regional Consular Conference being held in New Delhi from 15-16 February 2011 also discussed the economic meltdown; and the role of Micro Finance in Economic Development in South Asia. The Regional Conference is being organized by Honorary Consular Corps Diplomatique-India (HCCD) on behalf of the Federation Internationale des Corps et Associations Consulaires (FICAC), the premier organization of Consuls in the world.....