The Split in Diplomacy

After the departure of the Slovenes stationed in Belgrade, the withdrawal of the Slovene ambassadors has gone in a somewhat different mood. The following ambassadors have resigned their posts: Ernest Petric, the former ambassador to India (now the chief of the Slovene diplomacy in Washington) and the former ambassador to Mexico Ignac Golob (now the Slovene representative in New York), the former ambassador to Holland Borut Bohte, the former ambassador to Australia Boris Cizelj, the ambassador to Zair Miho Vrhunec, the former ambassador to Tanzania Petar Tos, the former ambassador to Portugal Stefan Korosec and the former ambassador to Germany Boris Frlec. Although it is trying hard to follow in Slovene footsteps, Croatia is practically keeping all of its previously scheduled diplomatic posts. The exception is provided only by the famous case of Bozidar Gagra, who was removed from Paris of his own accord. Although according to the claims of the Croatian diplomacy all the ambassadors have stated their loyalty to the new Croatian government (only the ambassador to Indonesia Vjekoslav Koprivnjak distanced himself from it), they are still keeping their positions.

Pretoria As Well?

Regardless of the mass internal destruction, Yugoslavia is still exercising its international and legal authority. Belgrade has recently renewed its relations with Israel, which is in all probability to be followed by the revival of diplomatic links with the Republic of South Africa. The Foreign Ministry will initiate the formation of the diplomatic bureau for the protection of Yugoslav interests in Pretoria. This diplomatic bureau, which would deal with all the relevant political, economic, cultural and other issues, could easily take over the ingerence of the embassy.