Italian Deputy Foreign Relations Minister Mario Giro has told Listin Diario that last year the Italian government “detected serious irregularities in the granting of visas by the Italian Embassy in Santo Domingo. “There has been an inspection and several officials have been penalized,” he said. He added that “the ambassador has been courteous and has left the service. All is in the hands of the Attorney General (in Italy) and we will see what he will do and what will happen. This is a pending matter because there should not be flaws when it comes to services.”
He denied, however, that this was the reason behind the decision to close the Italian Embassy. Giro said that the decision had been made for economic reasons. “Nevertheless, we have to guarantee that the services that are offered comply with the law, and naturally the official who will be based in Santo Domingo will have that priority: We as Italy will try to give him the conditions to grant transparent services to the citizens of Santo Domingo, both to Dominicans and Italians.”
Giro told the newspaper that some of the Italian government properties would be sold, and others will be rented.
www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2014/6/6/324914/Vicecanciller-de-Italia-dice-cierre-de-Embajada-no-tiene-vuelta-atras