Overseas Staffing

In 1991 and 1992, the State Department opened embassies in 14 former Soviet republics. This report examines actions taken by the Departments of State and Commerce and other agencies to staff these new embassies. GAO discusses (1) planned and actual embassy staffing, (2) U.S. officials' views on the amount of staffing available to represent U.S. business interests, and (3) the actions other countries have taken to promote their business interests.

GAO found that: (1) commercial representation receives inadequate attention due to limited staffing levels and the varied duties of embassy officials; (2) 13 of the 14 Soviet embassies have a limited staff of between 5 and 7 State officials and approximately 4 additional positions from other agencies; (3) the Kiev embassy staff has increased from 4 to 29 positions, including one commercial officer; (4) many of the vacant embassy positions result from appointed officers finishing home leave, completing tours at other facilities, or acquiring language or technical training; (5) neither State nor Commerce has established long-term embassy continuity and attention to commercial representation; (6) the provision of commercial officers to other Soviet embassies relies upon additional funding requirements and pending legislation; (7) political, consular, administrative, and other duties restrict embassy officials' performance of commercial work; and (8) the United States is the only country with diplomatic representation in every republic, while other countries have limited representation.