The Czech Republic decided Wednesday to close its embassies in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen, Kenya, Venezuela and Costa Rica as part of an austerity drive, dpa reported according to the Foreign Ministry.
The three-party, centre-right government of Prime Minister Petr Necas aims to cut spending to reduce the budget deficit to the European Union-required 3 per cent of gross domestic product by 2013.
Each ministry is required to start with austerity measures this year and more is to come in 2011, including cutting public servants' salaries, which is expected to provoke protests.
The closure of the five embassies early next year will save roughly 100 million koruny a year (5 million dollars), Foreign Ministry spokesman Jiri Benes said.