Status on the closure of the South African Honorary Consulate and the position of the appointed person in Venice

QUOTE

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO: 1267

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 21 OF 01 AUGUST 2008

MR LB LABUSCHAGNE (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

1. Whether the (a) commission of appointment of a certain person (name and details furnished) has been cancelled or withdrawn and (b) Ambassador acted on instruction in (i) closing the consulate and (ii) terminating the appointment of the said person: if not, what is the position in this regard: if so, what was the date of the instruction:
   
   
2. Whether the failure to request the renewal of the said person’s documentation reflected on the said person’s personal abilities; if so,
   
   
3. Whether this was discussed with the said person, if not, why not; if so (a) what are the relevant details and (b) why was the renewal of the exequatur not requested;
   
   
4. Whether the closure of the consulate was because Venice and its area of jurisdiction no longer required a South African Honorary Consulate; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;
   
   
5. Whether the Euro 800 000 training programme obtained by the said person was implemented; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY:

1. (a) The Exequatur was not cancelled or withdrawn. It expired in terms of Italian Protocol guidelines.

        (bi) Due to the expiration of the Exequatur the opportunity was used to reconsider the
............. number of Honorary Consuls in Italy. 
        (bii) N/A  

2. No

3. As the Exequatur expired a letter signed by Ambassador Shope was forwarded to the Honorary Consul 3 March 2008 thanking him for his services.

(a) Letter attached
 b) The Missions in Rome and Milan, after careful consideration, are of the opinion that there are
..... too many Honorary Consuls in a small country such as Italy.

4. Due to the close proximity of the Mission in Milan to Venice, this area can easily be serviced from Milan.

5. Since details of the programme are not provided, there is no certainty that this programme was properly in the domain of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

UNQUOTE