Kaczyński-Sikorski row worsens in ambassador fight

According to the daily, the minister and the president no longer agree on candidates for the ambassadors, as the presidential chancellery did not reply to the proposed personnel changes. As a result, the president might not sign the nominations for persons already approved by the hosting countries of Albania, Austria and Slovakia. "I do not accept a thought that Mr. President would like to hinder the functioning of the Polish foreign affairs. On my side I do anything that is possible to work out a compromise," said Sikorski. The problem is serious, as in 18 embassies there has been a shortage of ambassadors for months. If the president does not sign the nominations, the ministry would only be entitled to send charges d'affairs who would not have access to the highest persons in the hosting countries and it might be regarded as disrespect. "The application of similar loopholes might have a negative influence on the Polish reputation," said former deputy foreign affairs minister Paweł Kowal.