Ukrainian FM on results of contest to fill in ambassadorial vacancies: There are already some 30 candidates

MOSCOW. May 11 (Interfax) - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba announced the interim results of an open competition to fill in vacant ambassadorial posts, saying that about 30 "very strong" candidates have been found to date.

"We have found nearly 30 very strong candidates for the posts of ambassadors. They are already taking tests and are receiving invitations to interviews from the HR service of the Foreign Ministry. Those who will pass this stage will undergo a security check and an interview with me. After that, I will compile a shortlist of candidates and will ask the president to consider these candidacies," Ukrainian media outlets quoted Kuleba as saying in a social media post.

Over this period, the Foreign Ministry has received and processed a total of 1,038 applications, he said.

There are about 100 motivated and strong candidates who are not up to this job, but can work in other diplomatic positions, the minister said. On a par with other potential candidates, these people will continue to take part in the Foreign Ministry's open contests in Kiev and abroad, he said.

Kuleba said on March 13 that the Foreign Ministry had announced an open call for potential candidates for ambassadorship because of a "staff shortage". The posts of Ukraine's ambassadors to 21 countries of Europe, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, the South Caucasus, and Southeast Asia were vacant then.