Prague, Sept 14 (CTK) – Czech abassador to Slovakia Livia Klausova may lose her salary and office by the end of the year, but she may still represent the country due to a clash between President Milos Zeman and Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek, daily Hospodarske noviny (HN) writes yesterday.
Ethnic Slovak Klausova, wife of former president Vaclav Klaus (2003-2013), will keep the nomination decree, HN writes.
An unpleasant situation the Czech diplomacy has never seen may soon occur, HN writes.
All of this is caused by the different attitudes of Zaoralek (Social Democrats, CSSD) and Zeman to the new civil service law, it adds.
The legislation stipulates that civil servants over 70, including ambassadors, may no longer serve the state, HN writes.
This is the case of Klausova, who will turn 72 this November, it adds.
As a result, Zaoralek will end her work contract with the Foreign Ministry, HN predicts.
“It is simply impossible to circumvent the law and I cannot disrespect it. Laws are valid for all without any exceptions,” Zaoralek is quoted as saying.
However, Zeman insists on Klausova staying in Bratislava, HN writes.
He will then refuse to dismiss her and to appoint any replacement for her, HN predicts.
“The president has the right to appoint and dismiss ambassadors,” Zeman’s spokesman Jiri Ovcacek is quoted as saying.
Zeman has a different interpretation of the civil service law, HN writes.
The Presidential Office has said the diplomats’ position differs from that of mainstream civil servants as the former do not pass any competition for their jobs and it is still the government and the president who discuss their names, it adds.
In addition, the agreement of the host country is needed and they are eventually named by the president, HN writes.
The civil service law took effect in the Czech Republic this July. At the end of the calendar year, the work contracts of all civil servants over 70 must be terminated, it adds.
This means that there is only time left to deal with the problem till the end of the year, HN writes.
As neither of the parties involved is ready to yield, Klausova will still be the Czech ambassador with the nomination decree. However, she may only have to work in her own office she may lease, it adds.
Zeman insisted on naming Klausova in November 2013. He complied with Klaus’s wish. Critics said this was a sort of reward for Klaus who supported Zeman in the presidential contest at the beginning of the year, HN writes.
Keeping Klausova in her post in Bratislava is vital for Zeman. The post itself is not the most important one, but this has become a matter of prestige for him, it adds.
The paper also mentions the case of Czech ambassador to Syria Eva Filipi who is over 70, too, and should leave the post in December.
However, the Czech Republic now also represents the interests of the USA in Damascus. At present, the USA does not have its own embassy in Syria. As a result, her successor would have to know Arabic and suit Prague, Syria and the USA, HN writes.
“As Filipi enjoys an untransferrable respect in the Arab world, we are planning to create a new position for her so that she could stay there,” HN quotes a source from the Foreign Ministry as saying.
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