MFA launches open search for ambassadors of Ukraine, vacant positions in 21 countries

KYIV. March 13 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched an open search for ambassadors of Ukraine due to the “personnel shortage”, today the posts of ambassadors in 21 countries are vacant, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said.

“I am convinced that there are strong and professional people in Ukraine. The only problem is that either: a) we have not found them yet, or b) they themselves have not yet found out about the opportunity to take on the extremely complex, but very necessary work of the ambassador of Ukraine. Therefore, we are taking an unprecedented step – creating an open mechanism that allows both diplomats from inside the system and people from outside to propose their candidacy for the post of ambassador,” the minister wrote on Monday.

The corresponding page has already been created on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the “Vacancies” section.

According to Kuleba, an open search among internal and external candidates will help avoid unacceptable situations when the vacancy of an ambassador in a certain country remains unfilled for several years.

He noted that the problem of “personnel shortage” is now well known not only to state institutions, but also to the private sector.

“It is especially difficult to find candidates for the posts of ambassadors. I’m looking for them in the diplomatic system. I’m looking for a business environment. I’m looking for scientists. But the pace of our diplomatic expansion is also growing, particularly in Africa. Therefore, more than two dozen countries are still without ambassadors,” Kuleba stressed.

According to the Foreign Minister, an open search for ambassadors is an opportunity for the system to expand horizons and an opportunity for “worthy candidates to try themselves where previously it was possible to get only through closed institutional mechanisms.”

“For the first time in the history of Ukrainian diplomacy, I am opening the door so that everyone has equal opportunities to try to become a strong manager, which is now so necessary for the state in the world. I would like to note that a special focus is now on the countries of Africa. Submission to these countries automatically increases the chances,” the minister stressed.

In addition, given equal professional indicators, preference will be given to women.

“Simply because diplomacy has been unfair for many decades about women’s career growth,” he added.

According to the Minister, currently 21 countries of Europe, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, the South Caucasus and Southeast Asia are listed in the vacancies section.