JEDDAH, 29 March 2004 — The Austrian Consulate will not be closed or downsized, Ambassador Harald Wiesner said denying rumors.
While some European consulates have downsized, with others said to follow suit, Wiesner told Arab News here last week his country had no plans to do so.
Austria has a dual system of representation abroad — the diplomatic and consular service of the Foreign Ministry and the system of representations of the federal chamber of commerce. “This, I think, is the reason why the consulate in Jeddah is not in danger. Our consul here is also the representative of the federal chamber of commerce,” he said.
The ambassador, who is leaving after more than four years of duty in the Kingdom, said he was “in a pensive mood” because of the downsizing of the consulates in this part of the Kingdom.
“There is a tendency in the EU to downsize this diplomatic service. I think it is a pity. The city of Jeddah deserves better. Consular presence is needed. The capital is far away,” he said.
Wiesner said European citizens abroad should form a pressure group in order to support a consulate in danger of being closed.
