Hungary, severely hit by the economic crisis, has said it is to close four embassies worldwide to save money, including one in Europe. Budapest intends to close its representations in Luxembourg, as well as in Malaysia, Chile and Venezuela. It will also shut down eight consulates - in Lyon (France), Dusseldorf (Germany), Krakow (Poland), Chicago (US), Toronto (Canada), Sao Paolo (Brazil), Sydney (Australia) and Hong Kong, Hungarian foreign minister Peter Balazs announced on Tuesday (16 June). Crisis-hit Hungary will be closing four embassies and eight consulates worldwide in a bid to save money "With the reorganisation, the ministry will save two billion forint (around €7 million) annually," Mr Balazs said at a press conference in Budapest, French news agency AFP reported.
Hungary, severely hit by the economic crisis, has said it is to close four embassies worldwide to save money, including one in Europe.
Budapest intends to close its representations in Luxembourg, as well as in Malaysia, Chile and Venezuela.
It will also shut down eight consulates - in Lyon (France), Dusseldorf (Germany), Krakow (Poland), Chicago (US), Toronto (Canada), Sao Paolo (Brazil), Sydney (Australia) and Hong Kong, Hungarian foreign minister Peter Balazs announced on Tuesday (16 June).
Crisis-hit Hungary will be closing four embassies and eight consulates worldwide in a bid to save money
"With the reorganisation, the ministry will save two billion forint (around €7 million) annually," Mr Balazs said at a press conference in Budapest, French news agency AFP reported.
His Excellency, Mr Moonlighter - Mail & Guardian Online: The smart news source
This month a diplomat based in Austria committed suicide, reportedly in a state of depression after receiving an eviction notice. She was buried in Harare after friends and relatives chipped in to pay for transporting her body home. Stories abound of diplomats who are surviving on foreign currency sent by the extended families back in Zimbabwe and on hand-outs from friends. Many are deep in debt after resorting to overdrafts for their everyday needs.
