International Aspect of the Institution of Honorary Consuls

Lopičić Jančić Jelena Đ. (Redovni profesor na Fakultetu za diplomatiju i bezbednost, Beograd), jelena.lopicic@vektor.net

The article examines the institution of honorary consuls from the international legal aspect. Chronologically, the institution of consuls occurred first, and the institution of honorary consuls occurred much later. The institution of honorary consuls was first established and applied in the Middle Ages by the Republic of Dubrovnik in its consulates in the Mediterranean. Later, it was accepted by many countries. During the progressive codification of international consular law, which occurred and intensified in the 19th century, it included, to a greater or lesser extent, the institution of honorary consuls with different views on their legal status. The existing international consular practice has significantly contributed to the establishment of honorary consuls as an institute of international public law. Finally, with the adoption of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations from 1963, the status of honorary consuls was internationally recognized. The existing practice in the past period, from 1963 until today, has only confirmed the generally accepted international consular practice on the existence of honorary consuls.

Keywords: Consul, Honorary Counsul, Consular functions, Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963, Consular Law