THE REAL DECREE THREE THOUSAND THIRTY-ONE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SIX, OF THREE DECEMBER, ON PROMOTIONS AND THE PROVISION OF JOBS IN THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER, HAS DEMONSTRATED, SINCE ITS PROMULGATION, TO BE PERFECTLY VALID AND OPERATIONAL AS A WHOLE. HOWEVER, EXPERIENCE GAINED SINCE ITS VALIDITY HAS SHOWN THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO AMEND SOME OF ITS ARTICLES IN ORDER TO FILL GAPS AND TO COVER NEW CASES IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE BETTER ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF THE OF THE SERVICE AND A GREATER GUARANTEE AND PROTECTION FOR THE INTERESTS OF THE OFFICIALS.

THEREFORE, AFTER THE APPROVAL OF THE PRESIDENCY OF THE GOVERNMENT, WITH A FAVOURABLE REPORT FROM THE HIGHER COMMISSION OF STAFF, ON A PROPOSAL FROM THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND AFTER DELIBERATION BY THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS AT ITS MEETING OF THE DAY FOURTEEN OF APRIL THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-EIGHT, I HAVE:

UNIQUE ARTICLE. -ARTICLES THREE, FOUR, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN, ELEVEN, TWELVE, THIRTEEN, FOURTEEN, FIFTEEN, SIXTEEN, SEVENTEEN, EIGHTEEN AND TWENTY-THREE OF THE ROYAL DECREE THREE MY THIRTY-THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SIX, OF THREE DECEMBER, ON PROMOTIONS AND THE PROVISION OF JOBS IN THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER, ARE WORDED AS FOLLOWS:

" ARTICLE THREE.-VACANCIES IN THE OTHER CATEGORIES, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE, SHALL BE COVERED BY OFFICIALS OF THE CATEGORY IMMEDIATELY BELOW IN ORDER OF SENIORITY, PROVIDED THEY HAVE BORROWED THE FOLLOWING YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE:

TO FILL VACANCY OF FIRST CLASS EMBASSY SECRETARY:

-YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE, OF WHICH ONE MUST HAVE BEEN BORROWED ABROAD.

TO FILL EMBASSY COUNSELOR VACANCY:

-SIX YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE, OF WHICH THREE MUST HAVE BEEN BORROWED ABROAD.

TO FILL IN THIRD CLASS PLENIPOTENTIARY MINISTER VACANCY:

TEN YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICIO, OF WHICH FIVE MUST HAVE BEEN BORROWED ABROAD.

TO FILL SECOND CLASS PLENIPOTENTIARY MINISTRY VACANCY:

-TWELVE YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE, OF WHICH SIX MUST HAVE BEEN BORROWED ABROAD.

TO FILL PRIME MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY VACANCY:

-FOURTEEN YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE, OF WHICH SEVEN MUST HAVE BEEN BORROWED ABROAD.

COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS REQUIRED BY THIS ARTICLE FOR THE PROMOTION OF CIVIL SERVANTS WILL NOT BE REQUIRED IN CASES WHERE THE NUMERICAL COMPOSITION OF THE CATEGORIES OF THE RACE IS MODIFIED BY LEGAL PROVISION. DIPLOMATIC.

EXCEPTIONALLY, THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, BY MINISTERIAL ORDER, MAY, OR THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER BOARD, EXAMINE AN OFFICIAL OF THE MINIMUM PERIODS OF SERVICE ABROAD ESTABLISHED IN THE PRESENT ARTICLE TO FILL VACANCY IN THE UPPER CASE WHERE THE OFFICIAL HAS, BY REASON OF HIS SPECIAL PREPARATION, LENT OR IS TO CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OR IN THE SELF-EMPLOYED SAME. " " FOURTH ARTICLE. -NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF THE PREVIOUS ARTICLE, THE BOARD OF THE DIPLOMATIC RACE, BY A MAJORITY OF TWO THIRDS OF ITS MEMBERS, MAY PROPOSE THE PROMOTION BY MERIT TO PROVIDE ONE OF EVERY FIVE VACANCIES THAT OCCUR IN THE CATEGORIES OF MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY. SUCH PROMOTION MAY TAKE PLACE ONLY AMONG OFFICIALS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER WHO, BEING ACTIVE OR IN A SITUATION OF SPECIAL LEAVE, APPEAR ON THE LADDER IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE CATEGORY, IMMEDIATELY BELOW, AND HAVE COMPLETED THE YEARS. OF SERVICE PROVIDED FOR IN THE PRECEDING ARTICLE, AND ONLY IN THE EVENT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PROMOTED, PRECISELY BY SENIORITY, AT LEAST THE LAST FOUR OFFICIALS PREVIOUSLY PROMOTED IN THE CATEGORY CONCERNED. "

" ARTICLE SIX. -WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE LEGISLATION IN FORCE, THE POSTS TO BE FILLED BY THE OFFICIALS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER SHALL BE CLASSIFIED ON A PROPOSAL FROM THE BOARD OF THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER. THE FOREIGN EMPLOYMENT POSITIONS SHALL BE CLASSIFIED IN CLASSES A), B) AND C), TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE OBJECTIVE CONDITIONS OF THE BUDGET. THIS CLASSIFICATION, WHICH SHALL BE MADE IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER OF EACH YEAR, MAY BE ALTERED AT ANY TIME, IF THESE CONDITIONS UNDERGO MAJOR CHANGES. ANY ALTERATION IN THE CLASSIFICATION SHALL HAVE IMMEDIATE EFFECT, BUT SHALL NOT AFFECT THE OFFICIALS HOLDING THE POSTS AT THE TIME OF THE CHANGE. THE POSTS IN THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND IN THE SELF-EMPLOYED BODIES DEPENDENT ON IT SHALL BE CLASSIFIED IN CLASS B). "

" ARTICLE SEVEN. THE STAY IN CLASS A POSTS SHALL BE A MINIMUM OF THREE YEARS AND A MAXIMUM OF FIVE YEARS. THE STAY IN CLASS B POSTS SHALL BE A MINIMUM OF THREE YEARS AND A MAXIMUM OF FOUR YEARS, IN THE CASE OF POSTS ABROAD, AND OF A MINIMUM OF TWO YEARS AND A MAXIMUM OF FOUR YEARS, IN THE CASE OF POSTS IN THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OR IN THE SELF-EMPLOYED BODIES DEPENDENT ON IT. THE STAY IN CLASS C POSTS SHALL BE AT LEAST TWO YEARS AND A MAXIMUM OF THREE YEARS. HOWEVER, THE BOARD OF THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER MAY PROPOSE TO EXTEND THE MAXIMUM PERIOD OF STAY IN CLASS C POSTS), UP TO FOUR YEARS, PROVIDED THAT THE OFFICIAL CONCERNED HAS SO REQUESTED BEFORE 1 JANUARY OF THE YEAR IN WHICH HE IT WOULD BE MANDATORY TO ATTEND.

EXCEPTIONALLY, THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, ON A PROPOSAL FROM THE BOARD OF THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER, WILL BE ABLE TO LEAVE WITHOUT EFFECT THE RULES REGARDING THE MINIMUM LENGTH OF STAY IN THE POSTS ABROAD, FOR REASONS DULY JUSTIFIED, EITHER ON A PERSONAL BASIS OR ON GROUNDS OF SERVICE. THE OFFICIAL WHO FOR SUCH REASONS CEASES TO BE ASSIGNED SHALL BE ASSIGNED TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. "

" ARTICLE EIGHT. -ONE. NO OFFICIAL OF THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER WHO IS IN A POSITION OF CLASS C) MAY BE ASSIGNED, AGAINST HIS WILL, TO ANOTHER POST OF THE SAME CLASS.

TWO. NO OFFICIAL OF THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER WHO IS IN A POSITION OF CLASS A) MAY BE ASSIGNED TO ANOTHER OF THE SAME CLASS.

THREE. NO OFFICIAL OF THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER SHALL BE ABLE TO SERVE TWO CONSECUTIVE POSTS IN THE SAME FOREIGN COUNTRY.

FOUR. NO OFFICIAL OF THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER SHALL BE ABLE TO HOLD CONSECUTIVE POSTS ABROAD FOR A PERIOD OF MORE THAN NINE YEARS.

FIVE. NO OFFICIAL OF THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER SHALL BE ABLE TO HOLD CONSECUTIVE POSTS IN THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OR IN SELF-EMPLOYED BODIES DEPENDENT ON HIM FOR A PERIOD EXCEEDING EIGHT YEARS.

OFFICIALS ENTERING THE DIPLOMATIC RACE MUST PARTICIPATE IN THE FIRST CONTEST TO BE CONVENED, PROVIDED THAT THE DEADLINES SET IN THIS ROYAL DECREE PERMIT. THOSE WHO ARE ASSIGNED TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OR TO THE SELF-GOVERNING BODIES WHICH ARE DEPENDENT ON IT SHALL PARTICIPATE, AFTER THE MINIMUM PERIOD OF RESIDENCE LAID DOWN IN ARTICLE 7, IN THE FOLLOWING IMMEDIATE CONTEST, BY EXCLUSIVELY APPLYING FOR JOBS ABROAD.

HOWEVER, ANY OFFICIAL ASSIGNED TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OR SELF-EMPLOYED BODIES MUST TAKE PART IN THE ANNUAL COMPETITIONS FOR THE FOURTH YEAR OF HIS STAY IN THE MINISTRY OF AFFAIRS. EXTERNAL OR AUTONOMOUS BODIES.

SEIS. NO OFFICIAL OF THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER SHALL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES ABROAD IN THE SAME DIPLOMATIC MISSION OR CONSULAR POST IN WHICH THEY LEND THEIR RELATIVES IN FIRST OR SECOND DEGREE OF CONSANGUINITY OR IN THE FIRST DEGREE OF AFFINITY.

THE GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE AND THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER BOARD WILL TAKE CARE OF STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES CONTAINED IN THIS ARTICLE. "

" ARTICLE NINE. IN THE COURSE OF THE MONTH OF JANUARY EACH YEAR, EVERY OFFICIAL OF THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER WHO WISHES TO BE ASSIGNED TO ANOTHER POST, PROVIDED THAT THE MINIMUM PERIOD OF TIME OF THE NEXT MONTH OF JUNE HAS BEEN MET STAY IN THE POSITION IT OCCUPIES, IT SHALL COMMUNICATE IT IN WRITING TO THE GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF THE EXTERNAL SERVICE. '

" ARTICLE TEN.-THE FIFTEENTH OF FEBRUARY OF EACH YEAR THE GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE SHALL DRAW UP, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEEDS OF THE SERVICE, AND HEAR THE MEETING OF THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER, A RELATIONSHIP IN WHICH THE POSTS ARE ESTABLISHED OF WORK VACANCIES WHICH MUST BE PROVIDED ON THE THIRTIETH OF THE FOLLOWING JUNE AND SHALL FORWARD IT IN WRITING TO ALL OFFICIALS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER. THE RELATIONSHIP WILL CONTAIN AS MANY JOBS AS OFFICIALS MUST BE PRESENTED TO THE CONTEST REGULATED IN THIS ROYAL DECREE. THE RELATIONSHIP SHALL SPECIFY THE DIFFERENT PLACES OF WORK, THE CLASSIFICATION OF EACH OF THEM REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 6, THE CATEGORY TO BE PERFORMED BY OFFICIALS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER AND THE TOTAL REMUNERATION. OF EACH POST, AS WELL AS THE VARIOUS CONCEPTS OF IT.

IN THE CASE OF CASUALTIES ON THE LIST OF CONTESTANTS BEFORE THE TWENTIETH OF APRIL, THE DIRECTORATE-GENERAL OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE, OR THE BOARD, WILL REMOVE AN EQUAL NUMBER OF POSTS IN THE LIST OF VACANCIES, AGREEMENT WITH THE NEEDS OF THE SERVICE. THE OFFICIAL WHOSE APPLICATION IS AFFECTED BY THAT AMENDMENT SHALL NOT BE UNDERSTOOD AS BEING INCLUDED IN THE CASE REFERRED TO IN THE THIRD PARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 11. '

" ARTICLE ELEVEN. -OFFICIALS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER WHO MUST CEASE IN THEIR POST FOR THE THIRTIES OF THE NEXT MONTH OF JUNE THE MAXIMUM PERIOD OF STAY IN THE SAME ONE, OR FOR HAVING SUBMITTED THE COMMUNICATION TO THE IT REFERS TO ARTICLE NINE, AS WELL AS THOSE WHICH ARE TEMPORARILY DESTINED FOR THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, FOR HAVING BEEN FOUND AFTER THIRTY-ONE JANUARY OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR IN ONE OF THE SITUATIONS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 18 SHALL SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION FOR A NEW DESTINATION BY 15 MARCH. THAT APPLICATION SHALL INDICATE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ROYAL DECREE, AND IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE, FIVE SEPARATE POSTS, INCLUDING IN THE RELATIONSHIP REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 10, TO WHICH THEY WISH TO BE ASSIGNED, SPECIFYING THE REASONS WHY THEY ARE REQUESTING THEM IN RELATION TO THE ELEMENTS OF JUDGMENT REFERRED TO IN THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE.

IN THE REQUEST FOR JOBS IN THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND IN THE SELF-GOVERNING BODIES DEPENDENT ON IT, OFFICIALS MUST INDICATE THOSE TO WHOM THEY WISH TO BE ASSIGNED.

OFFICIALS WHO SHALL INDICATE FEWER THAN FIVE POSTS IN THEIR LIST OF PREFERENCES AND WHOSE APPLICATIONS ARE NOT ADDRESSED MAY BE ASSIGNED TO ANY OTHER POST, WITHOUT THIS AWARD BEING ENFORCED. "

" ARTICLE TWELVE.-IN THE ELABORATION OF THE PROPOSAL FOR THE PROVISION OF JOBS THE BOARD OF THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER, IN ORDER TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF THE SERVICE, WILL BE GUIDED, WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE EIGHT, FOR THE FOLLOWING ITEMS OF JUDGMENT AS A WHOLE:

ONE. THE SPECIFIC PREPARATION OF THE OFFICIAL FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THE POST IN QUESTION.

TWO. THE WISHES OF THE OFFICIAL AS SOON AS THEY CAN FACILITATE THEIR PREPARATION FOR THE BEST PERFORMANCE OF THEIR FUNCTIONS.

THREE. THE POSTS WHICH THE OFFICIAL HAS PREVIOUSLY OCCUPIED, AND IN PARTICULAR THE FORCED OR VOLUNTARY CHARACTER WITH WHICH HE HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THEM.

FOUR. THE OFFICIAL ' S SERVICE SHEET.

FIVE. THE LANGUAGE SKILLS OF THE OFFICIAL.

SEIS. THE seniority IN THE SERVICE. "

" ARTICLE 13. WHERE A POST IS TO BE ASSIGNED TO AN OFFICIAL WHO HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE CONTEST, EITHER BECAUSE THE POST IN QUESTION HAS NOT BEEN REQUESTED OR BECAUSE AN OFFICIAL OF THE IF THEY HAVE PARTICIPATED IN IT, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE HEARD IN THEIR REQUESTS, THE BOARD SHALL MAKE THE CORRESPONDING PROPOSAL, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 12.

THE COMPULSORY NATURE OF THE DESTINATION SHALL BE ENTERED IN THE SERVICE SHEET OF THE PERSON CONCERNED, FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 12. "

" ARTICLE FOURTEEN. ON THE TWENTIETH OF APRIL OF EACH YEAR, THE GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE WILL PUBLISH THE NEW DESTINATIONS OF THE FUNCINARIES OF THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER, WHICH WILL TAKE EFFECT ON JUNE 30, DATE FROM WHICH THE CALCULATION OF THE EESC DEADLINE SHALL BE INITIATED.

HOWEVER, THE OFFICIAL CONCERNED MAY REQUEST A MODIFICATION OF THE REGULATORY DEADLINES AND THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE, OR THE BOARD, TO AUTHORIZE IT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE NEEDS OF THE SERVICE.

THE GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF THE EXTERNAL SERVICE SHALL TAKE THE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THE CESSATION AND THE TAKING OF POSSESSION TAKE PLACE IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT DISTURB THE NORMAL OPERATION OF THE SERVICE. "

ARTICLE 15. THE NEWLY CREATED POSTS, THOSE WHICH HAVE BECOME VACANT IN THE CONTEST AND THOSE WHICH ARE VACANT BETWEEN THE FIFTEENTH OF FEBRUARY OF ONE YEAR AND THE FIFTEENTH OF FEBRUARY OF THE FOLLOWING YEAR, BY DEATH, RETIREMENT, SPECIAL OR VOLUNTARY LEAVE, PASS TO SUPERNUMERARY SITUATION, FIRM SUSPENSION, SEPARATION OF SERVICE, APPOINTMENT FOR ANY OF THE CHARGES REFERRED TO IN THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE OR TRANSFER FOR EXCEPTIONAL REASONS REFERS TO THE SECOND PARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 7, AND THAT THE NEEDS OF THE SERVICE MUST BE PROVIDED BEFORE THE NOTICE OF THE FOLLOWING ANNUAL CONTEST SHALL BE COVERED, ON A PROPOSAL FROM THE BOARD AND BY SPECIAL INVITATIONS TO TENDER FOR EACH VACANT POST, AMONG THE OFFICIALS OF THE RELEVANT CATEGORIES WHO SO REQUEST AND MAY ATTEND, AND WHO SHALL BE INFORMED IN ADVANCE OF SUCH VACANCIES AT THE TIME, CONDITIONS AND TIME LIMITS PROPOSED BY THE SAME BOARD.

FOR THE ELABORATION OF THE PROPOSAL FOR THE PROVISION OF THESE POSTS, THE BOARD WILL BE GUIDED BY THE ELEMENTS OF JUDGMENT CONTAINED IN ARTICLE TWELVE.

UNTIL THE FINAL DECISION OF THE ANNUAL CONTEST, OR OF THE SPECIAL ONES WHICH MAY BE CALLED, THE POSTS REMAINING VACANT MAY BE COVERED, IF IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, BY THE OFFICIALS WHO, ON THE BASIS OF A COMMISSION OF SERVICE, PROPOSE THE BOARD.

THE PERFORMANCE OF A SERVICE COMMISSION BY AN OFFICIAL WHO WILL ALREADY OCCUPY A POSITION WILL IN NO CASE BE CONSIDERED AS A NEW DESTINATION, WITH THE COMMISSION ' S PERFORMANCE TIME PERIOD BEING COMPUTED AS A STAY IN HIS POST. "

" ARTICLE SIXTEEN.-THE FOLLOWING CHARGES SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED TO BE POSITIONS:

ONE. DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

TWO. HEADS OF DIPLOMATIC MISSION.

THREE. DIRECTORS GENERAL, TECHNICAL SECRETARY GENERAL AND FIRST INTRODUCER OF AMBASSADORS.

FOUR. DIRECTOR OF THE DIPLOMATIC SCHOOL.

FIVE. HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL LEGAL ADVICE.

SEIS. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF EMBASSIES, MISSIONS AND CONSULATES.

SIETE. DIRECTOR OF THE CABINET OF THE UNDERSECRETARY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

EIGHT. CHAIRMAN OF THE UPPER COUNCIL FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

NUEVE. PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF THE IBERO-AMERICAN COOPERATION CENTER.

DIEZ. DIRECTOR OF THE HISPANIC-ARAB INSTITUTE OF CULTURE. "

" ARTICLE SEVENTEEN.-THE GENERAL SUBDIRECTORATES AND THE ORGANIC UNITS TO WHICH THEY ARE ASSIMILATED MAY BE PROVIDED, AT ANY TIME, BY MINISTERIAL ORDER, ON A PROPOSAL FROM THE CORRESPONDING DIRECTOR GENERAL, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORECASTS TO BE ESTABLISHED IN THE ORGANIC TEMPLATES.

THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, RESPECTING AS FAR AS POSSIBLE THE WISHES OF THE OFFICIALS, MAY TRANSFER THEM FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER IN THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OR THE DEPENDENT AUTONOMOUS BODIES OF THE SAME. "

" ARTICLE EIGHTEEN. -OFFICIALS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER WHO, AFTER THIRTY-ONE OF JANUARY, END UP IN OFFICE AND ARE NOT APPOINTED TO CARRY OUT ANOTHER POST, RETURN TO THE ACTIVE SERVICE, BE TRANSFERRED TO THE THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS FOR EXCEPTIONAL REASONS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SECOND PARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 7 OR ENTERING THE DIPLOMATIC RACE, SHALL OCCUPY A POSITION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLES NINE TO 14 OF THE PRESENT ROYAL DECREE.

THE OFFICIALS REFERRED TO IN THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE FROM THE DIPLOMATIC SCHOOL IMMEDIATELY, SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE FIRST CONTEST OF DESTINATION TO WHICH THE RULES LAID DOWN IN PARAGRAPH FOUR, IN THE FIRST SUBPARAGRAPH OF PARAGRAPH 5 AND ARTICLE EIGHT (6), NOT TO BE APPLIED TO THE OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE SAME ARTICLE, NOR TO ARTICLE 7 (7) THEREOF.

THE TIME FOR STAYING IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE SITUATION OF VOLUNTARY LEAVE OR SPECIAL LEAVE SHALL NOT BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE TIME LIMITS LAID DOWN IN PARAGRAPH 4 AND THE FIRST SUBPARAGRAPH OF PARAGRAPH 5 OF THIS ARTICLE. OCHO ARTICLE.

THE OFFICIALS REFERRED TO IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF THIS ARTICLE, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO MAY NOT, AS A RESULT OF THE APPLICATION OF ARTICLE EIGHT, BE PLACED IN THE ANNUAL CONTEST, SHALL BE TEMPORARILY ASSIGNED TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, BEING ABLE TO CARRY OUT THE COMMISSIONS OF SERVICE REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF ARTICLE 15. IN ANY CASE, THEY MUST APPLY FOR THE FOLLOWING JANUARY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 11. "

" ARTICLE TWENTY-THREE. -IT WILL BE UP TO THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER BOARD TO PROPOSE TO THE MINISTER OR, IF APPROPRIATE, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY:

A) THE APPROVAL OF PROMOTIONS TO THE CATEGORIES OF MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE FOUR OF THIS ROYAL DECREE.

B) THE PROVISION OF JOBS IN THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, IN THE SELF-GOVERNING BODIES DEPENDENT ON IT AND ABROAD, AS SET OUT IN CHAPTER II OF THIS ROYAL DECREE.

C) THE APPOINTMENT OF THE INSTRUCTORS TO UNDERSTAND IN THE PROCESSING OF DISCIPLINARY FILES.

D) HOW MANY QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER CONSIDER RELEVANT AND THOSE SUBJECT TO CONSULTATION.

(E) QUESTIONS RELATING TO THIS ROYAL DECREE AND THOSE RELATING TO ITS APPLICATION AND INTERPRETATION.

THE BOARD OF THE DIPLOMATIC CAREER SHALL ALSO PERFORM THE OTHER FUNCTIONS ENTRUSTED TO IT IN THIS ROYAL DECREE. "

TRANSIENT DISPOSITION

THE PROVISIONS OF THIS DECREE WILL NOT APPLY TO THE GENERAL COMPETITION CORRESPONDING TO YEAR ONE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-EIGHT, WHICH WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE PREVIOUS RULES.

FINAL DISPOSITION

THIS REAL DECREE WILL ENTER INTO FORCE ON THE DAY OF ITS PUBLICATION IN THE "OFFICIAL STATE BULLETIN".

GIVEN IN MADRID ON APRIL 14, THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-EIGHT. -JUAN CARLOS.-THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MARCELINO OREJA AGUIRRE.