Letter to the editor: The double standards in Albania’s diplomatic service

Story Highlights

• While any "street man" may become an ambassador, it takes at least 14 years for a career diplomat to be posted as ambassador. Most of the current Albanian diplomats serving abroad have little or nothing to do with the foreign service and often have no experience at all. A "street ambassador" is supposed to have 10 years of work experience dealing with foreign relations in what is a very broad and abusive definition. Meanwhile, a career diplomat must serve not less than 14 years in the foreign ministry to get the title of counsellor, let alone ambassador, a paradox a normal country diplomat would never believe.