OSLO: Norway and Poland to expel diplomats in tit-for-tat exchange

Norway will expel a Polish diplomat who had clashed with local officials after Warsaw declined to recall him, the Norwegian foreign ministry said on Monday. Poland said it would expel a Norwegian diplomat in exchange, in a rare spat between the two countries which have strong economic links. Norway had decided to expel Polish consul […]

Norway will expel a Polish diplomat who had clashed with local officials after Warsaw declined to recall him, the Norwegian foreign ministry said on Monday.

Poland said it would expel a Norwegian diplomat in exchange, in a rare spat between the two countries which have strong economic links.

Norway had decided to expel Polish consul Slawomir Kowalski because his behaviour was not compatible with his diplomatic status, the foreign ministry’s spokeswoman said.

She said the ministry had received numerous complaints from officials that the consul has obstructed their work.

Norwegian media said Kowalski had been involved in several cases where Polish citizens were disputing decisions by Norwegian child protection services.

“This is an extremely unjustified decision,” Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sek said on Twitter.