FOREIGN MINISTRY ON PROCEDURE OF INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR JOBS

ZAGREB, Dec 10 (Hina) - The Croatian Foreign Ministry has issued a press release dismissing "accusations to the effect that it followed political interests at the last internal invitation for applications for vacancies of 8 September", and added that this was a part of the regular procedure of filling in vacancies in diplomatic missions and consulates. #L# The announcement was made for ten vacancies in embassies and consulates, and nine candidates were selected. In addition, three candidates were selected for seven vacancies in administrative and technical staff. Under regular procedure, the selected candidates were sent to the Diplomatic Academy for further training, after which some of them started working at their new posts, the press release read. In compliance with an announcement of vacancies, published in March this year in three dailies and the Official Gazette, the Foreign Ministry selected 20 trainees to undergo a 16-month training course. After their supervising teachers gave them positive marks, 17 trainees were given full-time job contracts on 4 November. The ministry said it issued the press release in response to articles in Wednesday's issues of Jutarnji List daily and Globus weekly and prime minister-designate Ivo Sanader's statement in a Croatian Television programme on Tuesday night that the ministries of foreign affairs and culture were "filling in positions with new staff". Sanader said that, in view of the recent change of government, this was unacceptable. The ministry said that the purpose of giving unchecked information was to create a false picture of the situation at the Foreign Ministry. It added that applications for vacancies were invited twice a year, in spring and autumn. This practice of internal announcement of vacancies was introduced when Tonino Picula became Foreign Minister. (hina) ms