The Norwegian embassy in Pristina is expected to close next year, the government of this country announced on Friday.

According to a media release, diplomatic relations will be transferred to an embassy that is closer.

In addition to Kosovo, Norway will close its embassies in other countries as well.

These are the embassies in Bratislava (Slovakia), Colombo (Sri Lanka), the embassy office in Antananarivo (Madagascar) and the Consulate General in Houston (USA).

"It is never easy to decide to close Norwegian missions.

Closures like these affect the lives of Norwegian diplomats posted and have even greater consequences for staff employed in the country."

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"But we have a responsibility to use our resources in a way that enables us to protect Norwegian interests as effectively as possible," said Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt.

"Norway's diplomatic relations with Kosovo, Madagascar, Slovakia and Sri Lanka will be handled through alternative arrangements, for example responsibility for this will be given to a nearby Norwegian embassy, ​​or an ambassador based in Norway will be appointed for the country in question ", says the announcement of the Norwegian government.

Norway currently has 101 diplomatic and consular missions.

The Norwegian Foreign Service consists of more than 2,600 employees.

About 800 of them work in Oslo, over 600 are diplomatic staff and about 1,200 are locally employed staff recruited directly from missions abroad.

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Telegraph

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