ZAGREB, July 26 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic will soon decide about a proposal for relieving some Croatian ambassadors and consuls of duty and he is expecting a list of new ambassadors and consuls, Mesic's advisor on
foreign affairs Stanko Nick said. Foreign Minister Tonino Picula last week said he had forwarded to President Mesic a proposal on the replacement of 35 ambassadors and consuls. "The proposal has arrived. President has to give consent for the withdrawal of these diplomats and I believe he will do that in the next several days," Nick said. Nick believes there is nothing unusual about the change of diplomats and that it was within the frame of regular annual changes. The impression that the replacements are extraordinary is caused by a delay in their implementation, which is caused by the failure of the former authority to carry out the necessary replacements on time, he said. According
ZAGREB, July 26 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic will soon
decide about a proposal for relieving some Croatian ambassadors and
consuls of duty and he is expecting a list of new ambassadors and
consuls, Mesic's advisor on foreign affairs Stanko Nick said.
Foreign Minister Tonino Picula last week said he had forwarded to
President Mesic a proposal on the replacement of 35 ambassadors and
consuls.
"The proposal has arrived. President has to give consent for the
withdrawal of these diplomats and I believe he will do that in the
next several days," Nick said.
Nick believes there is nothing unusual about the change of
diplomats and that it was within the frame of regular annual
changes.
The impression that the replacements are extraordinary is caused by
a delay in their implementation, which is caused by the failure of
the former authority to carry out the necessary replacements on
time, he said.
According to Nick, most of the 35 ambassadors and consuls would have
been relieved of their duty even if the political changes in the
country had not taken place, because the mandates of some of them
had expired and some should have been sent into retirement.
Nick admitted though that part of the diplomats would not be
withdrawn within normal proceedings but would be replaced because
the current authority did not trust them.
"Among those are some who would not be withdrawn if the authorities
had not changed," he said.
The President has still not received a list of new ambassadors and
consuls.
Since the announcement of changes in Croatia's diplomatic service
by Minister Picula, the press has speculated about the names of
diplomats who are to be replaced.
"The names which have been mentioned are really speculations and we
are glad that there have not been any leaks," a source close to the
Croatian government told Hina on condition of anonymity.
According to some sources, all diplomats who are to be relieved of
duty have already been or will be informed of their replacement very
soon, before their names are made known.
(hina) mm rml