Bavdaž Kuret, who has been employed at the Foreign Ministry since 1991, will take over her new duties on 15 September, according to a press release from the government.

Benko will unofficially become Slovenia's new ambassador to Italy, with the appointment expected to be signed off by President Borut Pahor shortly.

Bavdaž Kuret has held several senior posts at the Foreign Ministry, heading the sectors for non-European countries, for neighbouring countries and for analysis and development, among other things.

Bavdaž Kuret has also served as Slovenia's ambassador to Israel (1995-1999), Sweden, Finland, Estonia and and Latvia from Stockholm (2002-2006), Hungary and Bulgaria from Budapest (2009-2013) and until August as ambassador to India, where she also served as concurrent ambassador to Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan.