The task of diplomacy is to follow, promote and maintain international relations, to eliminate and settle misunderstandings and problems which have arisen in relations between subjects of international law and international relations in general.
Like any organization or society which has to function according to certain rules, the same is true of relations between states where it is necessary to ensure that their contacts and cooperation are in accordance with a number of universally accepted rules and customs, and within the framework of pre-planned arrangements. In the course of its development, diplomacy has elaborated special techniques of communication and conduct, applying various forms and methods which have, over time, become standard norms of behaviour of diplomats. These rules have changed, been upgraded and improved with new knowledge and customs, and have become generally accepted, thus forming an international diplomatic protocol. Therefore, diplomatic protocol is the sum of rules of conduct of official representatives of states and international organizations in the exercise of diplomatic functions in international relations. These rules are embodied in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR), the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR), the Convention on Special Missions, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations and its Specialized Agencies, and in multilateral and bilateral treaties.