WARSAW, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared Monday evening the Norwegian consul in Poland as persona non grata, in retaliation to a similar move on Monday by Norway, which had asked Polish consul Slawomir Kowalski to leave the country within one week.
"The Ministry evaluates positively the work of consul Slawomir Kowalski, particularly when it comes to the defense of the interests of Polish families," the Polish Foreign Affairs Ministry wrote in a statement printed by the Polish State News Agency (PAP).
"We maintain our position that the accusations of the Norwegian side against the work of the Polish consul are unfounded," the statement wrote.
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained in statements to media that the decision to expel the Polish diplomat was caused by his involvement with matters which were not in line with his official duties.
Kolwalski reportedly had intervened on the side of Polish families who were disputing decisions by the Norwegian child protection services.
"In the last three years, we have many times received complaints about Mr. Kowalski at the Oslo Polish embassy," a spokesperson for the Norwegian Foreign Affairs Ministry told Polish website Wirtualna Polska.
