The United States has raised the European Union’s representation in Washington as equal to national ambassadors, months after downgrading it into a secondary list.
The State Department issued a statement announcing the decision while also welcoming the EU’s new US ambassador, Stavros Lambrinidis, on Monday.
The EU "is a uniquely important organization, and one of America’s most valuable partners in ensuring global security and prosperity," said US Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland in the statement.
“Europe’s security and success are inextricably linked to that of the United States, and this level of engagement and cooperation should be recognized appropriately in all settings,” he added.
No reason for the prior downgrade was given in Monday's statement.
The US lowered the EU mission's diplomatic status to that of a secondary status reserved for international organizations last year. The EU was, however, never notified of the change.
https://twitter.com/SJLambrinidis/status/1102567741825974272
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https://twitter.com/PressTV/status/1102855665725394944
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https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2019/03/05/590179/US-raises-EU-diplomatic-status
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https://useu.usmission.gov/immediate-change-to-the-eu-delegation-to-the-united-states-protocol-status-2/
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