By Libya Herald reporter.
Tunis, 13 January 2016:
The Beida-based Abdullah Thinni government of Libya today published its decision number 582 (2015) dated . . .[restrict]21st December 2015 which drastically reduces or cuts diplomatic postings abroad in Libya’s embassies.
The decision which was leaked at the end of last year stipulates the return of all overseas postings who have spent a total of 16 years abroad as well as those who’s period of posting abroad have ended.
It also stipulates that all those posted abroad ad hoc or temporarily without a formal decision and have spent more than half of their time of posting abroad are to be returned.
There is also to be a return of all political postings abroad who do not hold a politics or diplomacy qualification. All new appointments are to be frozen.
The decree calls for the implementation of Foreign Ministry decision of 22nd March 2015 reducing the number of local as opposed to Libyan employees at embassies by 50 percent.
The cuts and cancellations contained in the decree make across the board cuts or cancellations in defence, cultural, educational, health, legal, security, commercial and financial attaches.
The decree stipulates that it must be implemented by 28th February 2016.
The decision to cut overseas diplomatic employees who are paid in hard currency is seen as part of the wider move by the Libyan government to reduce foreign currency expenditures and save Libya’s fast depleting foreign currency reserves caused by a fall in Libya’s oil production and the crash in international crude oil prices. [/restrict]
