US State Department backs ambassador Schapiro in spat with Zeman over Moscow visit

The US State Department has expressed “full confidence” in the country’s ambassador to Prague over a dispute with the Czech president. Miloš Zeman said ambassador Andrew Schapiro would not be welcome at his office after the latter said it would be unfortunate if Mr. Zeman were the only EU head of state to attend a military parade in Moscow in May given that Russian forces were illegally destabilising Ukraine. State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said on Monday the US understood countries wanted to recognise those who made sacrifices in WWII; however, this is not time for business as usual, she said. Mr. Zeman says it would be disrespectful not to attend ceremonies marking the end of the war and that no ambassador will tell him where he can and cannot visit.

Author: Ian Willoughby