Professional Diplomacy: Yes or No?
Professional Diplomacy: Yes or No?

Author(s): Jožef Kunič
Subject(s): Politics, Diplomatic history, Political history, International relations/trade, Transformation Period (1990 - 2010)
Published by: IFIMES Mednarodni inštitut za bližnjevzhodne in balkanske študije
Keywords: diplomacy; politics; Slovenia; 90s; foreign policy;
Summary/Abstract: Already in mid 1990s the diplomats of the independent state of Slovenia undertook the activities aimed at professionalization of Slovenian diplomacy. After the consultation with the then President of the National Assembly Janez Podobnik, a number of professional diplomats assumed the leading positions in Slovenian embassies. However, that was only the beginning of long-lasting efforts. Slovenian diplomacy and even its highest positions were still staffed by people coming from the fields that were not much related to diplomacy, and they were often appointed for only one term of office. There have been about 70 such members of embassy staff appointed for only one term of office who then quit this profession, which is a very high number for Slovenia. Career diplomats were justifiably dissatisfied with the situation. Eventually, the law was amended last year to stipulate that the ambassador may only be a person who is a diplomat, which means that he/she has to be employed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and have at least seven years of practical experience at that Ministry.

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