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Norway plans to close four embassies in 2016

Xinhua, October 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

Norway plans to close its embassies in Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, Zambia and Zimbabwe in 2016 while its presence in Haiti and southern India will be strengthened, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.

Next year, some changes will be made to Norway's diplomatic presence abroad -- its embassies in Astana, Sofia, Lusaka and Harare will close and contact with the countries where embassies are to close will be maintained through other channels, the ministry said in a statement.

During the course of this year, the ministry will open a new consulate general in Mumbai in southern India and next year, Norway will strengthen its presence in Haiti, one of its focus countries for development cooperation.

In addition, the number of staff in the Foreign Service will be reduced in 2016, the ministry said, without elaborating.

"The Ministry must adapt to the changes that are taking place in the world, taking into account the resources available to run missions abroad. The structure of the Foreign Service, and the location, size, tasks and priorities of the missions abroad must be constantly be assessed," Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende was quoted as saying.

The Foreign Service today is made up of 103 missions across the world. Enditem