Original article in Norwagian by Finn-Ove Hågensen
The Norwegian foreign office has asked the Polish government to recall consul Slawomir Kowalski, currently stationed at the Polish embassy in Oslo.
Senior consultant Per B Wiggen at the foreign office confirms in an e-mail received by TV 2 that Kowalski is no longer welcome in Norway. The reason for this is that «his behavior in a range of cases, some including public servants, has been inconsistent with his role as a diplomat».
It is stressed that this case does not affect the good relation between Poland and Norway. The foreign office will not expand on the reason why the consul is no longer welcome. However, TV 2 know that Kowalski has been in conflict with the Norwegian Child Protection service on multiple occasions.
Police assistance
Last year in August, the diplomat was asked to assist a Polish family in Akershus. They were about to loose custody of their four children. However, Kowalski was physically prevented from taking part in the meeting with the Child Protection service when he arrived together with a child psychologist. Artur Kubik, an employee of the Polish labor union Solidaritet's office in Norway, who knows both the distressed family and Kowalski, can attest that his happened.
– This is a breach of the Wien convention. The consul had every right to attend the meeting.
The Child Protection service called in the police who promptly removed the diplomat from the premises.
This is not the only time the consul has been in conflict with the Child Protection service and Norwegian police. The web pages of Christian Coalition Norway describe an episode last year where Kowalski was expelled from a Polish home in Akershus by police officers who acted on behalf of the Child Protection service. This family was also in the process of loosing custody of their children.
Slamovir Kowalski, as well as the Polish ambassador, declined to comment to TV 2.
Consul of the year
The consul has in his five years in Norway helped more than 150 families who have come into conflict with the Child Protection service. This according to Artur Kubik. The Polish foreign office declared him «consul of the year» in 2016.
Kubik tells TV 2 that he cannot understand this expulsion:
– Any claims of aggressive behavior by the consul is pure nonsense. On the contrary, he has always acted according to the rules. He has helped many Polish families.
Consul Slawomir Kowalski has received a tree weeks notice to leave Norway. However, senior consultant Per B. Wiggen at the foreign office is unwilling to call it an expulsion.
– This is merely a recommendation. We are asking Polish authorities to call Kowalski home to Poland, that's not an expulsion.
– So he may stay in Norway?
– That's correct, concludes Wiggen.
(The polish government has since chosen to keep the consul in his current position until his scheduled dismissal in June.)
Polish Embassy in Oslo
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