Cash-Strapped Bulgaria to Close Embassies Abroad

Foreign Minister, Nikolay Mladenov, informs that 20% of the 100 Bulgarian diplomatic missions abroad will be closed. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria is getting ready to close several of its embassies abroad, but their number and exact location are yet to be decided, Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister, Nikolay Mladenov, informs.

Mladenov, who spoke Saturday in an interview for Darik radio, said the measure would not immediately bring any significant savings, even if the State is able to sell the buildings, but will have a great effect in the long run.

About 20% of the 100 diplomatic missions abroad will be closed, however, the criteria are yet to be determined, the Minister pointed out, adding a special matrix, classifying and categorizing all embassies, is being prepared. The criteria include: Bulgaria’s strategic partners and business interests, the potential to develop them, and possibilities to transfer diplomats to more promising locations.

Another matrix will deal with the staff structure of the Embassies. Mladenov said that during his Balkan trip he established that Bulgaria’s economic relations with these countries have low turnover, but each Balkan Embassy has a business attaché with undetermined duties while the Embassy in Athens has 20 people staff and no consul.

The Minister further spoke about the difficult work conditions for Bulgaria’s young diplomats, who, according to him, are hard-working, ambitions and well qualified.

“The Foreign Ministry ranks 17th among Bulgaria’s institutions by the level of salaries; we require people to have college degrees and speak two languages fluently, but offer them a starting salary of BGN 300,” Mladenov said.

On an another topic, the Minister explained Bulgaria cannot and would not pose conditions to other Balkan countries for their future EU membership because such accession is not forthcoming thus there is no need to state any requests at the moment.

 

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