Poland wants its Oslo consul to finish term: report

The foreign ministry of Norway said this week it had urged Poland to recall the diplomat over his “performance in several consular cases which is incompatible with the role a diplomat.”

The PAP news agency on Tuesday quoted Czaputowicz as saying that the Polish government held a positive view on Kowalski's performance in his role as the consul in Oslo.

Czaputowicz said that the Polish government does not think Norway has any well-grounded reasons to request that the diplomat be recalled from his post, PAP reported.

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said at a press conference on Tuesday: “We will fight for Polish citizens dispersed across the globe,” adding that “such is the task of Polish ambassadors and consuls ...”

According to Czaputowicz, the Polish government has not received a formal communication from the Norwegian foreign ministry on the matter.

He said, as quoted by PAP: “If we receive a formal statement from Norway, we will respond in accordance with the circumstances.”

He added: “We will see what Norway’s reaction is.”

Kowalski has been in Norway for over five years.

The consul is known for his conflict with Norway's Barnevernet child protection service over the rights of Polish children, the PAP news agency has previously reported.

He has helped 150 Polish families who faced the loss of custody of their children in Norway under decisions issued by the Barnevernet, according to the news agency.

(aba/gs)

Source: PAP