Prominent lawyer Ami H. Orkaby, chairman and dean of the Consular Corps of Israel, has been reelected to a second term as a member of the nine-member Executive Board of the World Federation of Consuls (FICAC). The elections took place on Friday, October 31, during the Federation’s General Assembly, held in Marrakesh. More than 200 consulates from around the world participated in the elections.
The reelection of Orkaby to the board was a remarkable achievement, given that it occurred during a complex period for an Israeli candidate on the international stage and with the participation of some representatives from countries that do not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.
“I am happy,” said Orkaby, “that in spite of the difficulties that we have encountered over the past two years, we have shown that FICAC is above politics. When the time came, everything was put aside, and they chose the right people at the right time to help promote FICAC’s work around the world under the leadership of the Hon. Nikolaos Margaropoulos, FICAC’s president.
“I see this reelection not only as a personal achievement but as an opportunity to further advance dialogue, people-to-people diplomacy, and, in the Israeli-regional context, the expansion of the Abraham Accords on the global stage.”
Orkaby delivered a talk at the General Assembly on the future of diplomacy in the age of artificial intelligence, addressing the impact of emerging technologies on the role of consuls, international relations, and the challenges of trust and ethics in a rapidly changing diplomatic world. He pointed out that while digitization has taken over certain consular activities, such as issuing visas and passports, the human element remains significant.
“It is almost impossible to replace the human factor – the face-to-face negotiations, the trust, the art of reading what is not said, and the people-to-people diplomacy, which AI and algorithms cannot change.”
Speaking of his position as a member of the FICAC board, Orkaby, who is the honorary consul general of South Korea and of Mongolia in Israel and is a partner at the Tel Aviv-based Meitar Law Offices, said, “At the end of the day, my role on the board is to work together with a strong group of leaders to promote dialogue among consuls around the world, encourage the exchange of technologies, and create business bridges.”
FICAC's history
Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, FICAC unites consular associations and bodies from over 90 countries worldwide. Its mission is to promote cooperation among consuls, uphold the principles of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, and strengthen the status and professionalism of consuls around the globe. It is recognized by the United Nations with Special Consultative Status at the UN Economic and Social Council and actively contributes to international diplomacy and humanitarian initiatives