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Slovakia to Open Embassy in Montenegro, Lacks Funds to Do More
Tuesday 11 May 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, May 11 (TASR) - Except for the embassy proposed to be opened in Montenegro sometime next month, Slovakia this year cannot afford to launch diplomatic offices elsewhere because of the lower 2010 budget allocations in the wake of the global economic crisis, said Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak on Tuesday.
Slovakia, however, does need to increase its diplomatic presence in other countries, according to him, especially in Moldova or southern Caucasus as well as in the Gulf countries. "But this year's budget does not provide for that," he said.
As well, Montenegro, Albania and Cyprus are set to open their embassies in Slovakia later this year.
Lajcak revealed that the Montenegrin office premises are projected to be rented with start-up expenses of €86,500 and an annual operating cost of close to €200,000.
He further stated that his proposal, due to be voted on by the Government on Wednesday, also suggests Slovakia cut its diplomatic presence in Germany by closing an embassy affiliate in Bonn and reassigning its duties between the Berlin embassy and General Consulate in Munich.
Meanwhile, embassy closure has been announced by Sweden, which plans to do so later this year in four other unnamed EU countries as well.
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