ZAGREB, Jan 15 (Hina) - An ambassador has the right to request to be relieved of his duties, but cannot resign unilaterally, reads an official response of the Croatian Foreign Ministry to the resignation of Croatia's Ambassador to
Slovenia, Celestin Sardelic. The Foreign Ministry considers Sardelic's conduct, a day before a meeting of the two countries' foreign ministers, unjustified and irresponsible, reads the statement.
ZAGREB, Jan 15 (Hina) - An ambassador has the right to request to be
relieved of his duties, but cannot resign unilaterally, reads an
official response of the Croatian Foreign Ministry to the resignation
of Croatia's Ambassador to Slovenia, Celestin Sardelic. The Foreign
Ministry considers Sardelic's conduct, a day before a meeting of the
two countries' foreign ministers, unjustified and irresponsible, reads
the statement. #L#
Sardelic sent his written resignation to President Stjepan Mesic,
explaining that he was excluded from normal communication with the
Foreign Minister, that he had not been invited to the meeting of
Croatian Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul and his Slovene counterpart
Dimitrij Rupel in Zagreb on Friday, and that assessments of his
performance were made public without anybody distancing themselves
from those assessments.
The Foreign Ministry claims in its response that Sardelic's statements
are unfounded. "Ambassador Sardelic participated in preparations for
the Croatian-Slovene ministerial meeting in Zagreb and was part of the
Croatian delegation to hold talks with the Slovene delegation," reads
the statement. The ministry made no assessment of Ambassador
Sardelic's performance and his communication with the ministry was
intensive in light of preparations for tomorrow's meeting, reads the
statement.
"The conduct of Ambassador Sardelic one day before the meeting between
Croatian and Slovene delegations cannot be considered either justified
or responsible and the Foreign Ministry cannot take responsibility for
his decision," the statement concluded.
(Hina) rml sb