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Financial problems force Ukraine to close embassies in some countries

30 March 2009 15:56 (UTC +04:00)

Kievâ€“APA. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry established a working group to search ways for optimizing the work of its diplomatic missions abroad. Spokesman for the Ministry Vasliy Kirilich said the question was not about the cutting the embassies, but optimizing their activities. â€œThe working group will search opportunities to cut the embassy staffs and to make them able to work in several countries. Devaluation of national currency had a negative impact on the activity of foreign ministry, which creates problems in accommodation and other expendituresâ€.

The Ukrainian newspapers reported about the closing of embassies in 10 countries because of financial problems. The government officials were forced to delay their visits to foreign countries. The Parliament fired the Ukrainian Foreign Minister on March 3. President Yushchenko nominated the Ukraineâ€™s ambassador to USA Oleg Shamshur for this post.