attaché

(1) First diplomatic rank. According to the laws of almost all states this rank is conferred by an order of the minister of foreign affairs upon officials of diplomatic missions and departments of foreign affairs having work experience of from two to three years.

(2) Army, naval, and air attaches are officials of a diplomatic mission who represent the branches of service of their own country corresponding to those of the host state, and who render aid to the diplomatic representative on all military questions. With regard to their status, such military attaches are equal to diplomats; they are members of the staff of the diplomatic corps and enjoy diplomatic privileges and immunities.

(3) Commercial (trade), financial, agricultural, scientific and technical, and fishery attaches are members of the diplomatic staff of the diplomatic mission who carry out special functions in specific fields of foreign relations. They are officials with special knowledge, are capable of thoroughly understanding the complicated economics of the modern state and of analyzing the causes of the various actions of a government and the possible prospects for the development of political and economic relations of the host country with the accrediting country and also with other states. They enjoy diplomatic privileges and immunities. Within the diplomatic missions of the USSR abroad there are no commercial attachés, since all questions of trade are handled by trade delegations of the USSR.

(4) Cultural attachés are members of the diplomatic staff of diplomatic missions who handle questions concerning the development of cultural ties with the host country and gather information about the cultural life of the country. They also assist in demonstrating the cultural achievements of their own country within the host country. They enjoy diplomatic privileges and immunities.

(5) Press attachés are officials of the diplomatic mission who have expertise in matters of the press. Their functions are to compile surveys of the press of the host country and to inform their own government about this, to organize and carry out press conferences, and to inform the local press concerning their own country. Press attachés have diplomatic rank and enjoy diplomatic privileges and immunities.