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Teodor Baconschi: Is it possible to close a number of diplomatic missions in 2011

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Teodor Baconschi, said on Wednesday that a series of diplomatic missions of Romania might be closed in 2011 as a result of a lower budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) for next year compared to 2010.

The minister also claimed that it is hard to imagine that MAE could open new diplomatic missions or consular offices in 2011.

''No doubt that, although the issue was held two years in stand-by, I believe that 2011 will require a political decision to close 14 offices. (...) The limit set by the Ministry of Finance for goods and services, namely 176 million lei, provides just the basic operating costs of the 155 diplomatic missions. It is hard to imagine that we will be able to expand our activity by opening new diplomatic missions or consular offices'', underlined Baconschi during the meeting that brought together the Parliament's two foreign policy committees.

According to the minister, there are plans to establish a consular office in Catania, a consular point within the Czech Republic Embassy in Kabul and a consulate general in Erbil.

''We have a project of a consular office in Catania, because there is a very compact Romanian community in Sicily - 40,000, isolated from the peninsula and they must cross hundreds of kilometers in order to solve the issues. Also, without too much cost, I agreed with the Czechs to offer consular assistance to our troops in Afghanistan, and also as a first political step, by opening a consular office within the Czech Embassy in Kabul. I have received from the Romanian business environment many signs of interest in the opening of a consulate general in Erbil, in Iraqi Kurdistan'', Baconschi also stressed.

In turn, MAE Secretary General, Robert Cazanciuc, explained that the ministry has sought a 'one-man show'' formula, when opening new consular offices. Thus, the consular point operates with one person, but who has the possibility to employ some help locally, one or two people, thereby reducing costs.

As well, Baconschi announced that there is a plan to move the consulate from Montreal to Vancouver.

''In the North American space, on the coast, we have no representation from Vancouver to Mexico. All Romanians there must travel enormous distances, or give up, and I want to move, because it is a small cluster, the consulate from Montreal to Vancouver, to better cover that area'', he said.

At the same time, Teodor Baconschi said that MAE wants to purchase two armored vehicles for the protection of the diplomatic missions in Baghdad and Islamabad.

In terms of reducing the number of positions in the structure of the MAE, Teodor Baconschi said that in 2011 it will suffer a cutback by 464 on the current year.

The number of positions next year is lower by 464 compared with this year. Included in this figure are budgeted, but unoccupied positions, which were eliminated. Effective layoffs were made in the case of 155 people'', the official also said.

Sursa: http://www.actmedia.eu

Tags: missions consular diplomatic number baconschi teodor