Foreign Ministry Changes Embassy Network to Strengthen Economic Diplomacy

Bratislava, May 16 (TASR) - The Foreign and European Affairs Ministry is adjusting its network of embassies in order to strengthen Slovak economic diplomacy, the biggest reform in recent years, general secretary of the ministry's service office Miroslava Vozaryova stated during a meeting with the Czech Republic's Foreign Affairs Ministry State Secretary Radek Rubes in Bratislava on Thursday (May 15), TASR learnt from the ministry's communications department on Friday. The delegations of the two diplomatic missions held talks individually and in expert groups. "Given the essential need to consolidate public finances, we're implementing this reform exclusively within the ministry's budget," said Vozaryova. According to the Foreign Ministry, she informed the Czech side that Slovakia currently has 66 embassies abroad, seven permanent missions to international organisations, 11 Slovak institutes, seven consulates-general, one liaison office and one economic and cultural office. The ministry further stated that Vozaryova and Rubes agreed that quality foreign service and effective services to citizens around the world depend mainly on qualified professionals. They added that the foreign ministries support and motivate them, which, in their opinion, requires appropriate financial provision. am/df