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Polish FM sees 'no reason for Russia to retaliate' over consulate closure

23.10.2024 20:00
Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said on Wednesday that he sees no reason for Russia to retaliate against his country's decision to close a Russian consulate in the western Polish city of Poznań.
Audio
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski.Photo: PAP/Marcin Obara

Sikorski's remarks came a day after he announced his decision to "withdraw consent for the functioning of the Russian consulate in Poznań" following consultations within the government.

As a result, the Russian consulate in the western Polish city will be closed, and the diplomats must leave Poland, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

Sikorski predicted on Wednesday that "even though Poland does not conduct any subversive activities in Russia," Moscow may still retaliate.

He told reporters that there has been "no official response from Russia yet regarding the decision to close its consulate in Poznań." He reiterated that there is no reason for retaliation by Moscow because Poland is not involved in any sabotage activities in Russia.

If Russia escalates, so will Poland, FM says

"We expect that the response will come only after the Russian side reviews our note," Sikorski said. "You never know, but it will likely be a matter of a few days. For now, there’s no formal reaction."

He added that Poland "is not yet considering" the possibility of expelling the Russian ambassador from Warsaw.

"We hope that yesterday's decision will make the Russian authorities reconsider and stop paying hired saboteurs for hostile activities that could result in significant material damage or harm to people's health, or worse," Sikorski said.

"If any harm comes to a Polish citizen, and Russia escalates, we will respond in kind," he vowed.

"If we were to expel the Russian ambassador, the Russians would do the same," Sikorski told Polish state broadcaster TVP Info. "However, if acts of sabotage continue, such a scenario cannot be ruled out."

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Tuesday warned of "painful" retaliatory measures against Poland and labeled Sikorski's decision a "hostile step."

The Russian consulate in Poznań had been operational since 1946, and Russia still has consulates in Gdańsk and Wrocław, along with its embassy in Warsaw.

Sikorski on Wednesday discussed Russia's war against Ukraine with his visiting Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide.

Warsaw, 23.10.2024. Poland's Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski and Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide during a press conference. Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski (right) and Norway's Espen Barth Eide (left) attend a joint news conference after their talks in Warsaw on Wednesday. Photo: PAP/Albert Zawada

Their talks focused on "relations in the areas of economic cooperation and energy" and "international security, including the situation in Ukraine," according to the Polish foreign ministry.

(mp/gs)

Source: IAR/PAP/MSZ

Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland's Marcin Matuszewski.

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