Changes at Malta's embassies in the offing

Malta’s top diplomats are in for some turbulence in the coming weeks with many already told to pack their bags and return home while others were instructed to move sideways to different posts abroad, Times of Malta has learnt. Senior diplomatic sources told this newspaper that many current ambassadors, including career diplomats, have already been informally told that their postings are over, even if some of them have been in the post for less than a year. Last week Foreign Minister George Vella revealed that his ministry is currently carrying out “an audit of Maltese embassies” to take stock of the current situation. He said this audit should be completed in two weeks’ time. However, sources at the Foreign Ministry told Times of Malta that the “audit” mentioned by Dr Vella is a full-blown transfer exercise aimed at re-shuffling various ambassadorial posts around the world and putting in place ‘diplomats’ and political appointees close to the current administration. According to the sources, changes have already been planned for the majority of Malta’s embassies abroad. The majority of Malta’s ambassadors and permanent representatives – including those in Paris, Beijing, Riyadh,...