Since the IIRD's constitution, back in 1977, a criteria has been developed within the Institute, upon which the significant events of contemporary history took place with more or less balanced respect of the equilibrium that opposed the blocks. It is not easy, however, to remember the so far away looking past, even if it is really not so remote at all. Should we rerun the path the Institute has followed developing a politics based upon the close neighbourhood of people and nations, we shall realise that only a real coherence of the principles is merit worthy at all.
The perseverance which has kept alive the great elements of discussion like the liberty and liberties , aid and development, the third and fourth worlds, the North and South of the planet, endogenous and provoked wars, the right and the rights, pandemic ethnic, religious or expansion conflicts, looks as if it were a matter of the past, but appears to be opposed to the reality we live in today.
Considering one's political ideas, but for reasons everyone could accept more likely, we have crossed not just a symbolic ford, being boldly represented by a fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Two centuries after the French revolution, after many local and the two world wars, after real and simulated restorations, the world seems to enjoy a new élan.
The social and political systems that looked solid as a rock, started crumbling rapidly, and no one new what is going to happen, or how the new ones will be, then emerging problems to be solved.
Naturally, no one could ignore the immense changes impending, above all in the redrawing the new reality for States being absorbed in confluence, often not wanted, during the past period.
The picture of new, blooming countries, many of which have trasformed themselves into real States, was shaded by a first big emergency - the lack of borders, as barriers to prevent large groups of people migrating towards other countries, because of religions or ideological persecution, but above all looking for a significant improvement of their lives quality.
In the meantime, the large international organizations have suffered equally for the fact that they were not prepared, thus they demonstrated their fragility in a lot of occasions, when they tried to listen to both the songs sung by sirens, and to the threats of those trying to weigh the real their historic role.
The IIRD also could not adjust its own programs and projects to the pressing reality, due to its engagement in new processes, which, above all, involved the diplomacy of those countries that expressed their willingness to found and let the Institute live.
In fact, we need to say that we have tried more to understand analysing, than to analyse and intent to accomplish.
To be honest, we think of this period as a period of being plastered, and we intend to remove the plaster by immediately launching activities that are more actual.
Referring to the above mentioned multiplication of the States, we cannot ignore the fact that the presence of the new countries in the world scene is often quite symbolic.
Commonly, the diplomacis of such countries are actually represented by delegations at the most important international organisation, above all the United Nations. Then, there is a certain exchange of diplomats with the neighbouring countries, but their presence is rarely spread over far realities, with or without a Consular net.
This is seldom a purely political choice of the country. Usually, the reasons are above all of economic nature. The Balance of most countries does not really allow more offices than the ones barely needed.
It is our belief, that the more spread presence of the countries among each others, will be a fundamental element of a better knowledge and understanding of many social and political realities far from the ordinary scene.
A separate problem for the micro States is the fact that they have to face as probably the most important problem the lack of knowledge of their actual existence, apart from those problems professionally involved or an impassioned lower of political geography.
These States are usually present in the Assembly of the United Nations, and probably in the Red Cross.
One can easily imagine what the lack of knowledge about these and many other countries really means, when we consider how the ignorance, suspects and refusals spread, bringing the worlds even more fare away.
Now, even the name of THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS has a semantic value which brings to belief the importance of diplomatic relationships being developed even far over than the principles of the jus gentium may allow to keep within academic forms in which it normally develops.
The evolution of the media system barring the access to reciprocal knowledge only to those not wishing to reach it, may become extremely important in order to create the "Islands of Knowledge" aiming to the promotion of the diplomatic presence in the country bearing a high development level.
Therefore, the IIRD intends to present to all its members the program which shall set the trend for the five-year-period of 2000-2004, promoting the completely new approach to the traditional diplomatic presence, not wishing to destruct, but on the contrary to exalt the value and function.
It is known that there is many a worthy person who could actually carry out scrupulously and with passion the meritorious honorary diplomatic function, obtaining unbelievable results in a difficult duty of development of various interests of the State they represent.
What should melt together, completing each other, is the need or the convenience of certain States to be present in the above-mentioned places, the interest of a worthy person to be appointed as a honorary diplomat, on one side, and a project that IIRD is giving life and soul to, on the other.
One can clearly see, at a first glance, that this is a project bearing a burden of great importance, and thus not necessarily welcomed by everyone, but definitely charged with new perspectives of international interest.
The political value of such an event is easy to guess, and tends to different combinations of appraisal and analysis.
There are many problems nested in the realization of this project are many, and there is no easy way of solving them.
It might be suspected that there would be some manipulations when suggesting the various diplomatic appointments, or the overexposure of the diplomatic presence in some countries and a definite lack it in some other.
Even more important, a cost of such an operation may present a difficulty.
The IIRD not only believes, but expects that all the objections and scepticism shall be the object of a wide, sincere and constructive discussion.
It is certain that IIRD may take the charge to promote the constitution of a "Diplomatic Island", aimed to the presence of those countries intending to join the project, free of charge for the respective Governments, through a proposal of candidates for honorary representatives, as well as a honorary support to official diplomatic representative, by complementing functions.
In fact, to make it known, by means of a public document, there shall be a sort of enlistment, for self-candidate persons, who will commit to bear the costs of representance, which in turn may become the most correct and advanced project of real diplomatic nature.
A proposal of a project of a "Diplomatic Island" to be submitted to the opinion of all the members, during the extraordinary Assembly to be kept during the year 2001 is being prepared by IIRD.
It is clear, that it will be useful to divulge the project in a massive way, prior to the Assembly, in order to create a sort of preliminary sensation in order to collect ideas, suggestions, particular projects to develop, solution of the problems, even if temporary, that shall inevitably emerge.
Therefore, everybody is invited to participate, and every and each contribution shall represent a dowel of the final composition of the project we intend to call the "Diplomatic Island".
We wish a good work to everybody.
At the seat of the presidency, January 2000.