Diplomat opposes EU post for D'Alema

BRUSSELS, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- A Polish diplomat said Thursday his country might take issue with former Italian Premier Massimo D'Alema assuming a European Union post.

Jan Tombinski, Poland's permanent representative to the European Union, said other former Warsaw Pact members would likely also have problems with D'Alema being named EU foreign minister, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

"It would be better to have someone whose authority could not be questioned because of his past political affiliations," said Tombinski, likely referring to D'Alema's past position with the Italian Communist Party.

He insisted his stance regarding D'Alema did not represent Poland's official stance regarding the Italian politician.

The new EU post was created as part of the EU's governing Lisbon Treaty.

Tombinski said when the treaty goes into effect next year, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband would be his choice for the position.