ZAGREB, Oct 14 (Hina) - President Stjepan Mesic has relieved Dijana Plestina of her duties as an ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the president's office said in a statement on Tuesday.
ZAGREB, Oct 14 (Hina) - President Stjepan Mesic has relieved Dijana
Plestina of her duties as an ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, the president's office said in a statement on Tuesday.
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Plestina was relieved of her ambassadorial rank at her own request,
the statement added.
The Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday that Plestina, the wife of
Prime Minister Ivica Racan, had asked the president to relieve her
of her ambassadorial rank.
Plestina was not aware that she had been appointed an 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," a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman 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.
Plestina was appointed an 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