Moscow [Russia], March 30: Moscow has expelled a Moldovan embassy staff member in response to Moldova's recent declaration of a Russian embassy employee as persona non grata in Chisinau, the Russian foreign ministry said Friday.
According to a statement issued by the ministry, Moldova declared on March 19 persona non grata to an employee of the Russian Embassy in Chisinau, and banned the Russian delegation from entering Moldova to participate in the 34th session of the Regional Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for Europe.
In a diplomatic note addressed to Lilian Darii, Moldovan ambassador to Russia, the ministry said the expulsion was made in response to the Moldovan move.
Darii was also told that Chisinau deliberately abuses the status of the host country and openly politicizes the activities of the FAO. Such arbitrariness of the Moldovan authorities grossly violates their obligation to ensure the equal participation of all member states in this UN event.
Source: Xinhua