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Dzurinda: I Don't Have Hit List of Ambassadors to Be Dismissed
Sunday 25 July 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, July 25 (TASR) - Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda doesn't know anything about a list of ambassadors who are supposed to be in line for dismissal due to the recent change of government in Slovakia. "I haven't even had such a list drafted," he told TASR, adding that he isn't fond of purges, but likes natural decisions.
Former minister Miroslav Lajcak said recently that there were certain rumours concerning possible dismissals.
Dzurinda declared that his biggest interest is in improving Slovakia's prestige and reputation. He thinks that this will be more possible if people in individual posts are of higher quality and are more professional, which also concerns ambassadors. "If somebody is more or less politically affiliated or if they are rather career diplomats - this can't play the main role," claimed Dzurinda, adding that professional and personal qualities are crucial in managing individual missions. "This will be my clear criterion when assessing and choosing people for the diplomatic services," he stated.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry wants to define clearly which posts in the foreign policy sphere should be occupied by political nominees and which by career diplomats. Dzurinda wants to propose a mechanism for strengthening parliamentary control over these nominations, including hearings. This is one of the priorities in the working version of the Government Manifesto.
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