Vanuatu Diplomatic Passports

Radio New Zealand International reports that the Vanuatu Foreign Ministry is still trying to ascertain all the people who are traveling internationally using Vanuatu diplomatic passports.

Vanuatu’s Foreign Minister Edward Natapei is reviewing diplomatic passport appointments made outside of proper procedure.  As many as 70 of the 99 overseas representatives may lose their jobs after the review and 12 appointments have been already been revoked. The Minister is reported to have said that “Some of the diplomatic passports were signed and issued by former ministers and therefore the department does not have records of all the diplomatic passports. We’re still in the process of trying to find out who is out there.”  Minister Natapei is currently Deputy Prime Minister and has served as Minister for Foreign Affairs since March 23, 2013.

Hat tip to the East-West Center and Radio New Zealand International

(mew)

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