The Cabinet referred to the Parliament yesterday the presidential decree on a bill aimed at amending some provisions of the law No. 45 of 1982 on diplomatic and consular careers. This came after the government approved the bill clauses in its meeting last Wednesday. The Cabinet official spokesman, Dr. Magdy Radi, declared the amendments aimed to reorganize the process of nominating attachés. This way, he said the best choices would be made by having an exam among various candidates and that attachés would be put to the test for two years from the date they took up their new post. He also said the attachés' competencies would be specified based on the report on the results of the Diplomatic Institute and the reports - prepared by the ministry during that period - on the competencies of these attachés. Radi said that, according to the proposed amendments, being promoted to the post of delegated minister would require at least five years of service as counselor and at least 19 years of overall service, at least ten of which spent as effective service in diplomatic corpses inside and outside the country. The attachés' assessment levels would be increased from three to five, while it would be possible to be promoted to the post of counselor by seniority or choice only after passing a training course. The amendments include new conditions to be promoted to the post of ambassador. Such appointment would be made according to the candidate's performance and conduct throughout his professional career. Top ambassadors would be chosen based on their excellent performance in their previous employ and according to the criteria set by the executive regulations. According to the amendments, diplomats' service abroad can be extended for a fifth year if they are transferred from a mission to another. Compensations will be increased in case of death or impotence in order to face the consequences of the risks that the diplomatic member may face. Moreover, the members of the diplomatic corps who obtain a postgraduate university degree during their service would receive an allowance and an incentive. As for the representation allowance, it would be 100% for the staff working inside the country and 120% for the staff working abroad since they take up their post.
