Honorary Ambassador of Vishwamitra in Canada
| Honorary Ambassador of Vishwamitra in Canada | |
|---|---|
| कनाडा में विश्वामित्र के मानद राजदूत Ambassadeur honoraire de Vishwamitra au Canada | |
 | |
| Ministry of External Affairs | |
| Style | His/Her Excellency (international correspondence) |
| Nominator | Minister of External Affairs |
| Appointer | Rashtradhyaksh (as Chief Ambassador) |
| Term length | On the pleasure of the Rashtradhyaksh |
| Inaugural holder | William Cooper |
| Formation | 23 December 2020 |
The Honorary Ambassador of Vishwamitra in Canada (Hindi: कनाडा में विश्वामित्र के मानद राजदूत, French: Ambassadeur honoraire de Vishwamitra au Canada) is an officer of the honorary diplomatic corps of Vishwamitra who serves as the head of the honorary diplomatic mission of Vishwamitra in Canada. The diplomat holds the rank of an Honorary Ambassador who is appointed by the Rashtradhyaksh and remains in office at the pleasure of the Rashtradhyaksh and during their tenure in office, they represent the crown and the government of Vishwamitra in Canada and is responsible to cater the interests of the non-residential (overseas) citizens of Vishwamitra residing in Canada or are of Canadian origin.
As the recognition of Canada by Vishwamitra is not reciprocated and not bilateral, Vishwamitra maintains an honorary embassy in the country as compared to a full-fledged mission which are, in contrary, only accredited to mutually recognized nations (the micronations).
History
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The position of the ambassador was first created on 23 December 2020 along with the creation of a full-fledged mission. The first ambassador was William Cooper who served in office until his resignation amidst the India-Canada diplomatic crisis on 21 September 2023 which was accepted on 23 September 2023.
In a cabinet decision, the regular diplomatic missions accredited to macronations which are unilaterally recognized by Vishwamitra were reorganized to honorary status on 8 May 2023. Thereupon, the status of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Canada was changed to the position of that of an Honorary Ambassador. Ambassador Cooper continued to serve as honorary ambassador in Canada until his resignation. He was replaced by Chief of Army Staff General John Caravaggio III on 23 September 2023.
Responsibilities
The honorary ambassador serves as the principal representative of the crown of Vishwamitra and the government in Canada and is responsible to cater the interests of the non-residential (overseas) citizens of Vishwamitra residing in Canada or are of Canadian origin. The ambassador is also responsible to present the policies of the government of Vishwamitra to the citizens and report the policies of the Canadian government to the Vishwamitran government and the crown. The ambassador also oversees the diplomatic activity and is often responsible for overseeing the trade and cultural relations between Vishwamitra and Canada.
List of ambassadors
The first ambassador in office was William Cooper who served between December 2020 and September 2023. The current ambassador is General John Caravaggio III who was appointed on 23 September 2023.
| No. | Portrait | Name (born-died) |
Tenure | Appointer | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term began | Term end | Term length | |||||
| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Canada | |||||||
| 1 | .png)
|
Tan Sri Dato Sri Utama William Cooper (born 2006) |
23 December 2020 |
8 May 2023 |
2 years, 136 days | Varuna Sriraya (Rashtradhyaksh) |
Appointed as the inaugural ambassador upon the creation of the mission on 23 December 2020. Served as the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps between February 2021 and December 2021. Appointed as privy councilor in May 2021 and later was elected to the Lok Sabha and served as the Leader of the Opposition and then as Minister of Culture, Prime Minister's Office and Citizenship and Immigration. Continued to serve in office upon the changes to the status of the office in May 2023. |
| Honorary Ambassador to Canada | |||||||
| (1) |
|
Tan Sri Dato Sri Utama William Cooper (born 2006) |
8 May 2023 |
23 September 2023 |
138 days | Varuna Sriraya (Rashtradhyaksh) |
Appointed as the first honorary ambassador in Pakistan upon the initiation of changes to the position in May 2023. Later also served as Vice President of the Privy Council of Vishwamitra. Resigned from all positions in the nation on 21 September 2023 amidst the India-Canada diplomatic crisis. The resignation was accepted on 23 September 2023. |
| 2 | 
|
General Tan Sri Dato Utama John Caravaggio III (born 2003) |
23 September 2023 |
Incumbent | 215 days | Varuna Sriraya (Rashtradhyaksh) |
Chief of Army Staff. Appointed as the second holder of the office on 23 September 2023 upon the resignation of William Cooper. Currently serving in office. |