There are also speculations about some urgent dismissals. 31 October 2000 is stated as a deadline. In other words, there is plenty of time for these people to settle their affairs in the country of their service, to have their farewell parties, or to make a tour of the States of their accreditation, to welcome the new ambassador. I presume that two or three months are quite enough for the receiving country to agree with the assignment of the next ambassador. To sum up, revolutionary changes, no, profound reforms, yes.
New appointments are, of course, under consideration.
They have not yet been fully agreed upon, because I want to be as careful in proposing the list of appointments as I was careful in submitting a well thought-out list of withdrawals. The basic criteria applied in proposing or nominating new ambassadors and consuls will be their qualifications and abilities to properly represent the political and economic interests of Croatia. They may not necessarily be career diplomats from the ranks of foreign service. Good ambassadors are often persons who are not officially employed with the Foreign Ministry. What must also be considered in addition to professional competence and public weight is the political profile of the candidate.