A diplomat who served in the Permanent Representation of the European Union, returned to Cyprus in 2013, but was still collecting the General Foreigner's Allowance for three months, which corresponds to 16,500 euros.
The data is contained in the report of the Audit Service for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and concerns 2022, which was examined by the Audit Committee of the Parliament.
The Auditor General, Andreas Papakonstantinou stated that there was a request from the then President of the Republic and the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the diplomat in question, to take up duties in Cyprus, without giving him a warning.
He added that in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs there are no clear regulations on allowances.
The Director of Administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chrysanthos Chrysanthis, replied that the foreign allowance is paid to cover the price difference between Cyprus and the country where the diplomat is posted.
The chairman of the Audit Committee, Zacharias Koulias, pointed out that the regulations must be respected in all cases.
The Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andreas Kakouris, indicated that in some matters the position of the Ministry is different from that of the Audit Service.
Source: Radio RIK
AKO/MX
