ZAGREB, Oct 13 (Hina) - Dijana Plestina, the wife of Prime Minister Ivica Racan, has asked to be stripped of her ambassadorial title, the Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday.
ZAGREB, Oct 13 (Hina) - Dijana Plestina, the wife of Prime Minister
Ivica Racan, has asked to be stripped of her ambassadorial title,
the Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday. #L#
"Dijana Plestina has resigned as an ambassador-at-large and has
sent a letter to President Mesic asking him to relieve her of her
ambassadorial rank," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Natalija
Bukovec told Hina, adding that this was the first time an ambassador
had asked to be relieved of his or her duties.
Plestina was not aware that she had been appointed ambassador in
violation of the rules of the Foreign Ministry, so she asked to be
relieved of her duties because "she wants the rule of law to
function," Bukovec said.
According to the Foreign Ministry rules, only a person with at least
eight years of foreign service may be appointed an ambassador.
Plestina is returning to her old post in the Foreign Ministry where
she worked as an adviser on mine clearance, the spokeswoman said.
Plestina was appointed ambassador-at-large by President Mesic on
July 14, and the Foreign Ministry explained then that the title
would help her in her work relating to mine clearance.
The Foreign Ministry said that Plestina credited her pay into the
account of an international institution for mine clearance and
assistance to the victims of land mines.
Her appointment as ambassador at the Foreign Ministry caused a
public outcry in the country.
(hina) vm