The New Diplomacy: The Virtual Consulate Model

[Media Note]

I would like to thank Ambassador Jim Holmes and Joe Merante, along with the entire Office of E Diplomacy for sponsoring the Commission’s examination of “The New Diplomacy” model.

The New Diplomacy utilizes innovative thinking and new forms of media to expand the reach of our foreign policy. It has the potential to increase our ability to put forth America’s message to the global society.

I think it is quite fitting that today our discussion is in the Carl T. Rowan Press Briefing Room. Mr. Rowan, the former journalist who succeeded Edward R. Murrow as director of USIA (U.S. Information Agency), knew how to communicate directly with people all over the world, and that is what the New Diplomacy is all about.

To inform and influence foreign audiences, the Department of State must continue to go beyond traditional government-to-government communication. Today, we have the ability to speak directly to local populations. These populations have a great deal of influence over their respective governments’ foreign policy.

One of the fastest growing forms of this new direct communication is the Internet. As international Internet usage increases, the American governments’ presence on the Internet must also increase.

The Virtual Consulates model, which was created in Yekatrinburg (E-cat-rin-burg), Russia by Tom Niblock – whom we are fortunate to have with us today – has the potential to be an important building block in this strategy. The Virtual Consulate uses the Internet to communicate and interact with local publics and interested Americans. It is a locally branded product that has a portion of its content customized to the target region. This model may be able to handle up to 50% of a physical consulate’s workload.

In Chelyabinsk (Cheli-ahh-binsk) and Yekatrinburg, Russia, I witnessed the influence a Virtual Consulate can wield. From our General Consulate in Yektrinburg, our staff is able to stream relevant and newsworthy information in a time sensitive manner to our focus population in Chelyabinsk. Previously, we have had no presence in a region of almost 3 million people.

The Virtual Consulate is probably the most flexible and agile instrument in the “New Diplomacy” arsenal. With the inevitable increase of Internet usage in most regions of the world, it is important for us to invest heavily in the Virtual Concept for the future.

We are capable of doing all of the work of a Virtual Consulate remotely. But to optimize its’ effectiveness, we should also augment the program with regular visits from the Ambassador or other senior American officials. This will increase the legitimacy and interest among the focus population. These visits add to the visibility through increased press coverage, which further enables host populations to view the Virtual Consulate as a critical extension of a physical American presence.

As Internet accessibility increases, host country citizens will begin to see the Virtual Consulates as one-stop-shopping for all news, information and services brought to them by the United States government.

With $10,000 in start up costs, this robust model can handle many tasks performed by a physical consulate. Only the issuing of visas requires a fixed location and stationary staff. The Virtual Consulate, with a series of Internet kiosks throughout a region, can be viewed as a gateway for the “New Diplomacy” in areas that are currently underserved.

Coordinated with American Presence Posts and the American Corners, which my colleague Commissioner Evers has just spoken of, the Virtual Consulate has the power to change public diplomacy in an efficient and cost effective manner for the better.

Let me now return the microphone to Chairman Barrett, who will introduce Ambassador Holmes and Tom Niblock who are the real experts on this subject.

Thank you.