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[[Image:Flickr_ymimexico_247769858--Jalapeno_poppers.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Jalapeno poppers.]]
[[Image:Schild-Deutsche Botschaft.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Seal on the building of German Embassies. <br>Text: "Federal Republic of Germany - Embassy"]]
'''Jalapeño poppers''' are [[jalapeño]] [[chile pepper|pepper]]s that have been hollowed out, stuffed with a mixture of [[cheese]], [[spices]], and sometimes ground meat, and then deep fried. They are served (usually with some kind of dip) as appetizers at some Mexican- or Southwest-themed bars and restaurants.
[[Image:Australias indonesian embassy.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Indonesian Embassy in Australia]]
A '''diplomatic mission''' is a group of people from one nation [[state]] present in another nation state to represent the sending state in the receiving state. In practice, a diplomatic mission usually denotes the '''permanent mission''', namely the office of a country's diplomatic representatives in the [[capital]] city of another country. Under [[international law]], diplomatic missions enjoy an [[extraterritoriality|extraterritorial status]] and thus, although remaining part of the host country's territory, they are exempt from local law and in almost all respects treated as being part of the territory of the home country. They are also only required to pay taxes equal to their respective countries' guidelines.
==Naming==
A permanent diplomatic mission is usually known as an '''embassy''', and the head of the mission is known as an [[ambassador]]. Missions between [[the Commonwealth|Commonwealth]] countries are known as '''High Commissions''' and their heads are [[High Commissioner]]s. All missions to the [[United Nations]] are known simply as '''Permanent Missions''', and the head of such a mission is typically both a ''Permanent Representative'' and an ambassador. Some countries have more idiosyncratic naming for their missions and staff: a [[Holy See|Vatican]] mission is headed by a [[Nuncio]] and consequently known as an ''Apostolic Nunciature'', while [[Libya]]'s missions were for a long time known as ''People's Bureaus'' and the head of the mission was a ''Secretary''. (Libya has since switched back to standard nomenclature.)
In the past a diplomatic mission headed by a lower ranking official (an ''envoy'' or ''minister resident'') was known as a '''legation'''. Since the ranks of envoy and minister resident are effectively obsolete, the designation of ''legation'' is no longer used today. (See [[diplomatic rank]].)
In cases of dispute, it is not uncommon for a country to recall its head of mission as a sign of its displeasure. This is less drastic than cutting diplomatic relations completely, and the mission will still continue operating more or less normally, but it will now be headed by a [[chargé d'affaires]] who may have limited powers. Note that for the period of succession between two heads of missions, a ''chargé d'affaires ad interim'' (a.i. for short) may be appointed as caretaker; this does not imply any hostility to the host country.
A [[Consulate general|Consulate]] is also a diplomatic office, but undertakes a more restricted range of duties as defined by the [[Vienna Convention on Consular Relations]]. A Consulate is generally a representative of the Embassy in locales outside of the capital city. For instance, The British Embassy is in [[Washington, D.C.]], and there are British Consulates in Los Angeles, New York City, Houston, etc.
The term "embassy" is often used to refer to the building or compound housing an ambassador's offices and staff. Technically, "embassy" refers an [[ambassadorial residence|Ambassador's Residence]] rather than the office bulidings. However, this distinction is rarely used in practice. Residences enjoy the same rights as missions.
==Role==
The role of such a mission is to protect in the receiving State the interests of the sending State and of its nationals, within the limits permitted by international law; negotiating with the Government of the receiving State as directed by the sending State; ascertaining by lawful means conditions and developments in the receiving State, and reporting thereon to the Government of the sending State; promoting friendly relations between the sending State and the receiving State, and developing their economic, cultural and scientific relations.
Between members of the Commonwealth of Nations embassies sometimes have an additional role. It is generally expected that an embassy of a Commonwealth country in a non-Commonwealth country will do its best to provide diplomatic services to citizens from other Commonwealth countries if the citizen's country does not have a embassy in that country. (eg. If a South African citizen found him/herself in need of the services of an embassy in Thailand, it is generally understood that he/she could go to the Canadian Embassy and be provided with some help in obtaining the necessary services.) Same kind of procedure is also followed multilaterally by the memberstates of [[European Union]]. European citizens in need of consular help in a country without diplomatic or consular representation of their own country may turn to any consular or diplomatic mission of another EU memberstate.
The rights and immunities (such as [[diplomatic immunity]]) of diplomatic missions are codified in the [[Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations]].
==Non-recognized states==
Nations that are [[Non-recognized nations|not recognized]] have legations overseas but these are not recognized as having official diplomatic status as defined by the Vienna Convention. These ''de facto embassies'' are usually refered to as '''Representative Offices'''. Some examples of these types of missions: the [[TRNC Representative Office to the United States|Representative Office]] of the [[Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus]] in Washington, D.C., [[Somaliland]]'s representatives in [[London]], [[Addis Ababa]], [[Rome]], and Washington, D.C., the [[Nagorno-Karabakh|Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh]] has a representative office in Washington, D.C., the [[Taipei Economic and Cultural Office]] in Washington, D.C. (representing the [[Republic of China]]), and the [[American Institute in Taiwan]] (representing the United States in the Republic of China). Under United States law, such offices are regarded by the [[State Department]] officially as 'information centers' and the persons working in them do not have diplomatic visas, nor are [[Letter of Credence|credentials]] from their chiefs of mission accepted.
==See also==
* [[Diplomacy]]
* [[:Category:Embassies|List of embassies and high commissions]]
==External links==
*[http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_24509,00.html Emeril Live! Tailgating Recipe Contest Winner]
* [http://www.ediplomat.com/dc/diplomatic_missions.htm eDiplomat.com: Diplomatic Missions]
*[http://southernfood.about.com/od/jalapenochilerecipes/r/bl21220b.htm Mexican Recipe]
* [http://www.flickr.com/groups/embassies/ Flickr group ''Embassies worldwide''] with photos of embassies from all over the world
* [http://www.embassyworld.com/ Embassy World]
* [http://www.emb.com/ Embassy network]
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