Poland to withdraw over 50 ambassadors

The decision could cause friction between the Polish government and President Andrzej Duda, who has the power to appoint and dismiss ambassadors. 

"Minister of Foreign Affairs Radoslaw Sikorski decided on March 13 this year to end the mission of over 50 ambassadors, and to withdraw several candidacies submitted for approval by the previous management of the ministry," said a statement on the Foreign Ministry's website. 

The proposed changes were presented by the Foreign Service Council, a body responsible for evaluating candidates for ambassadorial posts. After their acceptance by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, diplomatic revocation procedures were launched, the MFA said.

"The government, which has constitutional responsibility for foreign policy, believes that the necessary replacement of Polish representatives abroad serves a better, professional implementation of the difficult challenges facing Polish foreign policy today," continued the MFA statement. 

The MFA expressed hope "for harmonious cooperation of the most important authorities in the country in this matter." 

On Tuesday, Tusk said that "after President (Andrzej Duda - PAP) seemed to have given up on the idea of cooperation," he and Sikorski, had decided to ask the president for his consent to make changes to most of the embassies.

"If necessary, we will withdraw the ambassadors from the countries until the president changes his mind or until a change of president, (and) diplomats serving as charge d'affaires will be carrying out the duties of ambassadors," he said.

"If such a solution satisfies the president, well too bad," he added. "Either way, we need to build and improve a team that is loyal to the Polish state and that will conduct our affairs in all embassies," Tusk added.

He also said that "this is not retaliation; many ambassadors surely deserve to continue in their post."

The head of the President's Office, Marcin Mastalerek, said on Monday that Duda will not agree to a change in the post of the US ambassador. 

Tusk addressed this by saying that he had never been a fan of the Polish ambassador to the United States, Marek Magierowski, but had a "quite high opinion of his work in Washington."

Pursuant to the Foreign Service Act, the ambassador is appointed and dismissed by the Polish president at the foreign minister's request which has also been accepted by the prime minister. 

Before submitting the request, the foreign minister seeks the opinion of Foreign Service Council, composed of himself, the head of the Foreign Service, a representative of the President's Office and a representative of the Prime Minister's Office. 

Later on Wednesday, Sikorski told the RMF FM broadcaster that under Article 146 of the Polish constitution, foreign policy is conducted by the Council of Ministers.

Replying to a reporter's comment that under another article, ambassadors are appointed by the president, he said: "We have an act passed under the previous government, which states that initial consultations are carried out by the Foreign Service Council. It held a meeting and these decisions were passed by a majority of three to one." 

Asked whether the president was against the decision, Sikorski replied: "I am in dialogue with the president, but we will not talk about the details because the ambassadors are still serving."

"This is the beginning of the procedure," he added, "we will do it in a civilised way; this was not always the case under our predecessors." 

Asked whether Poland would now have charge d'affaires instead of ambassadors, Sikorski replied that "it happens in diplomacy, it has also happened in the past." 

President Duda, commented on the foreign minister's decision by saying: "No Polish ambassador can be appointed or recalled without the president's signature. 

"The decision made by the President of the Republic of Poland is of fundamental importance here," he added.(PAP)

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