Foreign Minister explains planned cost cutting closures

Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg has explained cost cutting measures including planned embassy and consulate closures at a meeting with President Václav Klaus on Thursday. According to leaks, the ministry plans to close two embassies in South America and two in Africa as well as a consulate in India due to budget cuts. The Nigerian embassy in Lagos and embassy in Venezuela are said to be among those tipped for closure.

Mr. Schwarzenberg said the president agreed that the closures were a ministry matter. The government was due to discuss the closures on Wednesday but that debate was postponed. The lower house of parliament’s foreign affairs committee criticised the planned closures saying that it should have been informed before final decisions were taken and called for further analysis.