Foreign Ministry plans to close embassies in Iraq and Syria

Slovakia's Foreign and European Affairs Ministry is planning to shut down its embassies in Baghdad and Damascus. The diplomatic office in Baghdad should be closed down due to the prevailing unfavourable security situation due to the fact that Islamic State militants have seized a large part of the country. Another reason is the high financial expenditures associated with renting the embassy's premises due to altered rent conditions. The embassy is due to be closed as of August 31. Slovakia's embassy in Damascus interrupted its activities at the end of March 2012 due to the on-going conflict aimed against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The situation in Syria hasn't been developing in a way that would indicate any chance of a political settlement in the country in the near future or an improvement in the security situation. The ministry has therefore proposed closing the embassy in Damascus completely. Instead, the ministry is promoting the setting up of a full-fledged representation in Beirut. Such an office would cover Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and, in the meantime, also Iraq.