Head of the Polish Ministry of abroad Affairs in Brussels on Thursday Radosław Sikorski stated that he hoped that another Community countries would support Czech initiative concerning restrictions on movement for Russian diplomats.
However, it shortly turned out that not everyone would support this solution. The large opponent of the thought is to be German Government, which, as RMF FM stated, fears that Russia will apply symmetrical reprisal steps.
Restrictions for Russian diplomats. Germany opposes
The German government argues that it does not see the advantages of a solution to possible problems that might affect diplomats from the European Union countries. For this reason, the European Commission did not add the draft to Russia's 16th sanction packageto be officially approved on 24 February.
– EU institutions know that Berlin does not want this and that do not propose – handed over an anonymous diplomat in an interview with RMF FM.
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According to unofficial findings, the Czech thought is now simply 10 EU countries, including Poland, Romania and the Baltic countries. “Warsaw does a lot on this issue,” said the radio speaker.
Radosław Sikorski about Czech initiative: Poland will advance it
As Radosław Sikorski reminded in Brussels, Polish authorities already introduced restrictions. As a country, we closed the Russian consulate in Poznań, and the closure of further facilities is besides taken into account if hybrid attacks, specified as arsons, happen in Poland.
– We besides restricted the right to decision Russian diplomats around our country, including employees of the Russian embassy in Warsaw (only) to the Mazowieckie Voivodeship – the head of the Ministry of abroad Affairs mentioned. akin restrictions besides apply to consular staff and their families in Gdańsk and Kraków.
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Sikorski besides pointed out that Some 2,000 Russian diplomats inactive service in the EUwith At least 20 percent of them could be intelligence officers. At the same time, he stressed that “when a diplomat of an enemy state is in the territory of a given country, he is under reflection by the intelligence services of that country. At the minute he leaves, specified reflection is already much more difficult.”
Talks on adding the initiative to the sanction package are to be discussed with Polish diplomacy with partners, including the head of the Czech MFA John Lipavski.
– In order to limit the right to decision Russian diplomats, there is no request for unanimity in EU countries, due to the fact that the introduction of restrictions lies within the competence of the associate States themselves said Sikorski.
