Polish Consulate...

May 1 is usually associated by Poles with Labor Day. Starting this year, it will also be associated with Poland's accession to the European Union.

On the night of April 30/May 1 on Piłsudskiego Square, President Aleksander Kwaśniewski will hoist the flag of the European Union. The event will take place in line with the protocol governing state ceremonies, in the presence of the prime minister, Sejm and Senate speakers, diplomatic corps and personalities involved in European integration.

An open-air show will also be held May 1 on seven stages in the Royal Castle gardens with the participation of representatives of the highest state authorities. Artists from the National Philharmonic, National Theater and Stary Theater from Cracow will give a performance entitled Warsaw Castle-May 2004.

Public events are also scheduled to take place in Warsaw. The concert Welcome Europe, organized jointly by TVP, the German ZDF television station and the European Broadcasting Union, will be held on April 30. The event, with the participation of artists from EU acceding countries, will take place simultaneously on Warsaw's Zamkowy Square and in Berlin's Konzerthaus.

The Office of the Committee for European Integration (UKIE) and the Polish Robert Schuman Foundation will jointly organize European Breakfast, to be held in the courtyard of Ujazdowski Castle on May 1. On May 8, European City-a picnic for Warsaw residents and youth-will be held on Teatralny Square.

Border checkpoints between Poland and European Union countries will be decorated with European symbols and leaflets and informational posters will be distributed.

European ceremonies will be held simultaneously in Dublin, Strasbourg and Brussels. President Aleksander Kwaśniewski and Prime Minister Leszek Miller will go to Dublin for the main ceremonies. Leszek Miller will arrive in the Irish capital in the company of the prime minister of the Czech Republic aboard German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's plane.

Apart from the meeting between politicians, on the night of April 30, the Irish capital will also host a fireworks display. Moreover, 24 huge screens will reproduce images sent via the Internet upon the sky over Dublin. Anyone can create an image at www.dublinelevation.net. Stalls and stands for Europe's Bazaar, with specialties from 28 countries on the continent-from Turkey to Finland-will appear May 1 on Merrion Square. Around 100,000 visitors are expected. A musical attraction at the ceremonies is a concert entitled Three Times Chopin to be held May 3 at the National Concert Hall, with the participation of Janusz Olejniczak, Leszek Możdżer and the Andrzej Jagodziński Trio.

Each of the 10 new member states will be presented in one Irish city. Letterkenny in Donegal county, Ulster, will be the place where Poland is presented. Polish violinists will play in the company of Irish bands.

From April 30 to May 2, Brussels' main square, Grand Place, will be a huge bandstand for artists from the 10 EU-acceding states. Poland received the best time from the Belgians-from 9:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. on the night of April 30/May 1. Polska Grupa Folklorystyczna (Polish Folklore Group), Rampa Quartet, Blue Café, Maja and Andrzej Sikorowski and the Orchestra of Opole Philharmonic will play during the Polish concert. Just before midnight, Małgorzata Walewska will perform A Polish Aria to Europe written by Krzesimir Dębski.

In Strasbourg, the ceremonies will take place on May 3. This is when parliamentarians from the 10 new member states will for the first time take their seats in the European Parliament as rightful members.

posted by: Oborski at 11:26 | link | comments |

From Warsaw Voice

"I don't have to enter the debates in order to be an active politician."
-Henryk Lewczuk, a deputy from the Movement for the Reconstruction of Poland (ROP), who for two and a half years since his parliamentary term began, has not spoken out in a debate and has not put forward any question or initiative

"We should wonder whether by supporting accession to the European Union, we are strengthening the destructive forces annihilating Christianity, or whether on the contrary, we are helping to save the remnants of the Christian civilization still defending itself in Western Europe."
-Deputy Antoni Macierewicz, leader of the Catholic-National Movement, on Poland's integration with the European Union

"I manage... I don't read newspapers and don't watch TV."
-Aleksandra Jakubowska, head of the political cabinet of Prime Minister Leszek Miller, who is constantly attacked by the media due to her involvement in the Rywingate scandal

"Did anyone catch me? I consider it a success when you cheat and they don't catch you."
-Sławomir Izdebski, a senator from Samoobrona, when asked whether he had cheated at the high school graduation exam he passed several weeks ago

"We are terribly sorry. The label said they were pacifiers."
-A representative of the organization committee of a children's poetry contest in Lublin, where by accident the laureates received mascots shaped like condoms

"The man said she was not committed to her work; besides, she scratched him quite badly. According to the law, we have to honor his complaint."
-A representative of the Romanian Commissioner for Consumers' Rights on a complaint filed by a dissatisfied client of a Bucharest prostitute

posted by: Oborski at 11:24 | link | comments |

From Warsaw Voice

"The court slapped him a zl.300 fine for stealing a pack of mini-cigars worth only zl.15 from a hypermarket in Bydgoszcz."
-A "police blotter" column in a regional newspaper about Michał K., deputy chair of the Law, Order and Public Safety Committee of the Council of Toruń County

"We Poles are the best-when it comes to robbery and burglary. We simply have the pugnacity and imagination for it."
-Krzysztof Rutkowski, a deputy from the Federative Parliamentary Caucus and a popular private detective, in an interview for an Austrian magazine

"If I were in the position of some of my colleagues who have one foot in one organization, and one in another, I would be very careful. For a man this is a dangerous position due to what he has between his legs."
-Aldona Michalak, a deputy from the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), on party activists considering joining the ranks of a new leftist grouping

"It also took me four times to pass my driver's license exam."
-Jan Maria Jackowski from the League of Polish Families (LPR) on the fact that the Council of Warsaw, in the fourth voting, elected him council chair

"In the winter time more and more often people use such methods in order to save less than zl.20 on a cubic meter of water."
-Jerzy Radecki, director of the Heating Network Company in Łódź, on the fact that some tenants drain water from the radiators to bathe or do the dishes

"We checked out their story. The criminals installed a machine that distributed pills instead of soft drinks."
-A police officer from St. Petersburg, on detaining young people who said they had acquired ecstasy pills by inserting coins in a vending machine at a night club.

posted by: Oborski at 19:45 | link | comments |

From Warsaw Voice

Polish President Aleksander Kwaśniewski talks to The Polish Voice.

Poland's accession to the European Union crowns many years of effort to make Poland a rightful member of the Western community of free nations. Earlier, one step towards this goal was NATO accession. What historical events would you compare to all that is going to happen after May 1, 2004?

It's not easy to give an unequivocal answer because Poland's history is filled with events that changed our country's fate. Undoubtedly Poland's accession to the European Union on May 1, 2004 will be one of them. However, I would avoid comparing the turning points in our history and suggesting which event was more important and which was less so. The baptism of Mieszko I in 966 assured Poland an equal place among the countries of Christian Europe and lastingly bound us to Western European culture. In our most recent history, on the other hand, one such event was certainly the election of a Polish pope, which created a foundation for changes not only in our country, but throughout Central and Eastern Europe. The Round Table, the political, social and economic transformation of which Poland was the initiator, essentially supported democracy and the free market in our region. Joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1999 was a giant leap towards ensuring peace and lasting security for Poland and other countries in our region.

EU accession is a crowning moment on Poland's return to its European roots. A presence in the EU will give Poland proper conditions for development such as we have never had before. For us Poles May 1, 2004 is a great holiday and cause for joy. For the EU it is the first step towards creating-at the same time preserving the diversity of the individual countries-a genuine European unity.

Entry into the EU will begin a new stage in the history of the Polish state. What major goals should we attain in the coming years?

"A strong Poland in a strong Europe"-the motto I have proposed as the theme of our internal debate about Poland's future after the enlargement-best defines our goals for the next few years. On one hand, this means optimal preparation for functioning efficiently in the enlarged EU and making up for the distance separating us from the most-developed countries, and on the other-a wider look at cooperation with our eastern partners, developing transatlantic dialogue, active participation in regional cooperation.

I do not doubt that over the next few years we have to focus on taking the greatest possible advantage of the possibilities offered by EU membership. Nobody expects that in the first days after accession Poland will be a wealthier and better functioning country. But what's important is that Poland in the EU will have much greater possibilities for attaining these ambitious goals: joining the most highly developed countries on our continent, leveling out the developmental differences among Polish regions, increasing the Polish economy's competitiveness. At the same time we realize that without our effort and mobilization in precisely that early period of membership, we cannot count on strategic benefits connected with accession. The issue is first and foremost to increase the pace of economic growth, improve the situation on the labor market and improve the standard of living of our citizens.

A huge part of the work has already been done, the foundations for our presence in the EU have been laid. Today we have to focus on conscientiously carrying out the obligations we undertook during negotiations, making effective use of EU financial assistance, familiarizing our citizens with the EU, but also shaping the future tasks of an enlarged EU.

The tasks we face in the coming years will not be as spectacular as those of the previous decade, when we were carrying out the economic transformation and working towards NATO and EU membership. But they will be just as important for our future. When we make the first comprehensive evaluation of our presence in the EU in a few years' time, all of us-the Polish government administration, local governments, non-governmental communities, Polish entrepreneurs and representatives of the media-will be jointly responsible for whether we were able to take advantage of this opportunity.

What kind of EU would you want for Poland?

Together with obtaining EU membership a great opportunity is opening up to ensure our country's favorable development and improvement in citizens' quality of life. Poles have great hopes and expectations pinned on accession to the EU, which they expressed by taking part and voting "yes" in last year's June referendum. The great majority of Poles believe that EU membership is a chance for civilizational advancement for Poland, for making up for many years of lagging behind, for accelerated and balanced economic development.

Our expectations towards the EU are not fundamentally different from the expectations of the citizens of present member states. We want an effective, efficient EU, capable of solving problems that are important to us. At the same time we want a strong Europe-a Europe that develops, is safe, and counts in global policy. Our expectations towards the EU thereby go beyond a purely financial dimension. Citizens expect the introduction and implementation of high standards in such areas as food safety, consumer and environmental protection, more effective combating of organized crime and corruption, a faster decrease of the unemployment rate. In all these aspects EU membership could constitute unquestionably invaluable support and stimulate our own activity.

The model for the EU's functioning or detailed institutional solutions should be derived from citizens' expectations as to the tasks and role that the EU should fulfill. The average citizen shouldn't be expected to analyze the operation of an institutional and legal system that is extraordinarily complicated and hard to understand sometimes even for experts. Citizens do have the right to expect, though, that the enlarged EU will work out an institutional model which will ensure efficient functioning, will not involve excessive bureaucracy and will enable them to undertake the challenges that are of the greatest importance to them. It is also extremely important for this model to give citizens the possibility-through democratic procedures-to have a real influence on the shape and staffing of EU institutions. In other words, it is necessary to ensure democratic legitimization of EU actions.

It's natural that in a group made up of 15-soon to be 25-member states, there are contradictory interests, conflicts, tensions. However, EU members are united in following a common catalogue of values and in the belief that a parliamentary democracy and free-market economy are the most effective forms of organizing public life. I am certain this catalogue of values and community of interests-expressed also in the principle of solidarity-will remain in force after enlargement. In this context, the idea of creating a "Europe at two speeds," which has been put forward in various statements, would mean negating the community of interests and values as well as the premises that lay at the foundation of the concept of enlargement, it would mean creating new divisions. Integrating Europe through disintegration makes no sense. Our guiding principle, our philosophy is for the enlarged EU to develop jointly, at the same speed, over its whole area and not just among the chosen.

What do you think Poland will bring to the EU?

I would like Poland in the EU to be a country that counts and is active, and our membership to be compatible with Polish aspirations and ambitions, allowing us to take advantage of the new possibilities at the level of both the state or region and every individual citizen. Remember that Poland is an attractive and dynamically developing country of close to 40 million inhabitants. Poles are the youngest society in Europe. Nearly 60 percent of the population is under 40. Young Poles are well educated and eager to take action. We are counting that together with their neighbors they will build a strong Europe, providing good testimony for Poland. I see Poland's EU membership as a chance both for Poland and for the European Union itself.

Due to its location and historical experience, in the geopolitical sphere Poland is sure to make a valuable contribution to the development of relations between the enlarged EU and its eastern neighbors. We would like to see the "Eastern Dimension" playing an important role in an enlarged EU's foreign policy, modeled after the currently existing "Mediterranean Dimension" or "Northern Dimension."

By supporting an open Europe, Poland wants to create the best possible conditions for cooperation between the EU and its new neighbors. Doubtless one of the most important successes of Polish foreign policy after 1989 has been the building of lasting and friendly relations, based on trust, with all our neighbors. What we can contribute to the EU's joint policy is the trust that our eastern partners have in us, our experience in cooperation and our knowledge of the changes occurring in those countries.

In terms of the economy, I am certain that a number of Polish products, services and companies will be able to compete on EU markets. In fact this is already happening, in construction services, for instance. The lifting of existing trade limitations on one hand unquestionably constitutes a challenge for Polish businesses, but on the other-it will open up new possibilities for export expansion, also for agricultural producers. The examples of many Polish companies, to mention those awarded my Economic Award or the Teraz Polska mark, show that we are able to produce well and competitively.

For years Poland has been considered one of the best-if not the best-ally of the United States in Europe. How will relations between Warsaw and Washington evolve after Poland joins the EU?

Poland's EU membership will certainly have an impact on Polish-U.S. relations, but I don't think these will be far-reaching changes. Cooperation with the United States is of key importance for Poland. Poland attaches importance to maintaining Washington's leadership role in NATO and maintaining the U.S. protective umbrella over Europe. The presence of the United States in Europe is an important factor in stabilizing our direct international surroundings and the whole of Europe.

One cannot imagine building a security system in Europe without ties to the United States. It's a mistake to think that America can now be pushed away and that we no longer need it for our security. There is no alternative option in Europe that would ensure a similar level of security guarantees. Establishing this fact has implications in terms of Poland's stand in relation to new projects within security policies in Europe. This is in our common interests.

The EU is becoming an increasingly significant global actor, not only in the context of economic and trade relations, but political relations as well. That's why European countries are starting more and more often to think about European policy in an external context-as a part of global policy. Thanks to adoption of this approach, and with an equal, partner-like approach to all the members of the European community, Europe will stand a chance of becoming a genuine actor on the global stage.

Efficient implementation of EU joint foreign and security policy is critical for ensuring peace on the European continent and for developing transatlantic relations. The changed geopolitical situation in the world can be regarded as the main cause of disputes between Europe and America concerning the character and rules of NATO's cooperation with the EU. It is not the capacity for defense against a mass military attack that is the measure of transatlantic security today, but the ability to counteract dangers and challenges of a new kind. That's why European security interests do not contradict the interests of the United States, and developing a cohesive European policy in security and defense will allow Europe to formulate its political goals properly and cooperate better with its American partner.

posted by: Oborski at 19:41 | link | comments |

From Warsaw Voice

Although Camp Babilon-where the headquarters of the multinational stabilization division commanded by Polish Gen. Mieczysław Bieniek is stationed-is peaceful and quiet, it feels as if Iraq has again become the scene of fighting.

An increasing number of helicopters fly over the base: not only Polish Sokół and Mi-8 but also American combat helicopters. In recent days, more and more U.S., British and Dutch uniforms are visible, while in the past soldiers of foreign armies were hardly noticeable in the crowd of Polish and Ukrainian troops.

This is not surprising: the riots which recently spread across Iraq also reached the central-southern zone, the area commanded by Gen. Bieniek. Riots and fighting took place not only in the Sunni triangle-chiefly Fallujah and its vicinity-which has been traditionally hostile to the coalition forces, but also in the largest Shiite cities in central and southern Iraq.

To date, this was the most peaceful part of Iraq and the Shiite majority's attitude towards the coalition forces was not hostile, if not openly friendly. In recent days, this attitude has changed and the rebellious actions of Shiite radicals, led by a Muslim religious leader in Najaf, Muktada al Sadr, meant that the coalition forces began fighting on two fronts. The first traditional front involves the pacification of riots in the aforementioned Sunni triangle, the area of the United States' responsibility. The second front is the pacification of riots and revolts among Shiites in the south and center of Iraq.

The existing situation in the Polish zone, chiefly in two holy Shiite cities-Najaf and Karbala-is especially complex. The rebellion of Muktada al Sadr's followers, grouped in the Mahdi Army, composed of a few thousand fighters, broke out several days before Arbain, the Shiite holiday which ends a 40-day period of mourning after the Ashura holiday that marks the martyr's death of Muhammad's grandson Hussein in the 7th century.

The Arbain holiday, banned during Saddam Hussein's rule, was celebrated this year for the first time in many years on such a grand scale. Pilgrims came to Karbala from the whole southern and central part of Iraq as well as from neighboring Shiite Iran. Four million pilgrims were expected to come to the city but the actual number was much smaller: slightly less than two million. This was a result of riots initiated by Muktada al Sadr's followers.

A dozen or so days before the holiday, fighting first started in Najaf and Karbala. The fuse which led to the explosion was a decision by Iraq's civil administrator Paul Bremer to close the Al Hawza weekly, connected with Muktada al Sadr, and to arrest one of his closest collaborators. From the political point of view, the two decisions were made at the least opportune moment. The outbreak of Sadrite dissatisfaction in the period preceding Arbain ceremonies could lead to unpredictable consequences. To make matters worse, the two decisions were made by Iraq's civilian administration without notifying the Polish military. As a result, the riots came as a total surprise to the central-southern division which, according to its spokesperson Col. Robert Strzelecki, was unable to prepare properly for the conflict situation.

The fighting started in Najaf, where rioters who broke into the Spanish base were killed. Coalition patrols lost control of the city. The Sadrites occupied the buildings of the interim administration. For a few days, Spanish soldiers stayed on the base.

Developments in Karbala took a different course. Polish and Bulgarian soldiers provided active support to Iraqi police and the Iraqi civil defense corps. For several nights, there was a regular exchange of fire in the city. Thanks to active defense by Poles and Bulgarians, the attacks of the Mahdi Army, designed to take over the city hall, police headquarters and the local prison, were repelled. Also, most of the city police stations remained in the hands of the local police but the number of coalition patrols in the city was reduced. The command staff did not want to expose soldiers to the risk of being hit by snipers.

At the same time, throughout the fighting in Karbala province and unrest in other cities of the zone, the division commanders conducted intensive negotiations with moderate Shiite leaders. The objective of the talks was the continuation of dialogue designed to pacify the wave of rioting. Gen. Bieniek reiterated on many occasions that negotiations had never been detrimental to any military operation.

Recent days showed clearly that the Polish command staff decided to act along two lines. In case of attacks, the coalition forces responded with fire but no offensive operation was initiated. At the same time, they continued talks with those Iraqi groups which are in opposition to the Sadrites. Commanders responsible for the Polish zone tried to avoid the solutions used by American forces in Fallujah, that is, offensive operations.

At the moment when I am writing these words, it is difficult to know whether this strategy on the part of commanders of the multinational division will produce results and whether negotiations will make it possible to pacify the situation in Najaf, where the Mahdi Army fighters and their leader found shelter. American forces, which according to local observers have orders to apprehend or kill al Sadr, are concentrated close to Najaf.

Chances for agreement did not seem great, especially after Muktada al Sadr's speech at a mosque in Kufah April 16. The radical Shiite leader declared he would not dissolve the Mahdi Army and that he was ready to die to defend Iraq against the occupiers. For the coalition forces and Iraqi interim authorities, Iraq is now the site of fighting with two enemies: the Sunni partisans, composed mostly of people who are still loyal to Saddam Hussein, and the Shiite radicals. The situation is aggravated by a wave of foreign civilian kidnappings, designed to force the governments and societies whose forces are stationed in Iraq to pull out. Taking hostages in order to exchange them for arrested Mahdi Army fighters and terrorists is a new element in this kidnapping wave.

Although the background of all these developments is not homogeneous, one can find their common roots. First of all, there is disappointment in a considerable part of the Iraqi nation about the changes which are taking place in contemporary Iraq. Unemployment continues to be high, especially among young people.

People who worked for the old regime are also hard pressed to find their balance in the new conditions. This increases the number of frustrated people. For some Iraqis, the presence of coalition forces in holy Shiite cities, Karbala and Najaf, is a problem. To that we may add frustration on the part of those Shiite leaders who failed to find a place for themselves among newly established Iraqi authorities. One of these is Muktada al Sadr, who was not invited to cooperate by the coalition authorities and the interim Iraqi authorities.

All these factors mean that one can hardly count on an early normalization of the situation. The implementation of numerous projects which might gradually change the picture of Iraq is delayed by rebel operations. Humanitarian organizations are withdrawing from Iraq, non-governmental organizations and civilian companies are limiting their activities. If, in the end, soldiers of multinational divisions are the only foreigners to remain in Iraq, full stabilization will become a goal with a distant future. The military will not solve all the problems which plague the local society.
Krzysztof Renik
Polish Radio special correspondent from Camp Babilon, Iraq

Spanish Pull Out of Iraq
Spain is going to withdraw its military contingent from Iraq within the next 15 days-this was announced April 18 by Miguel Angel Moratinos, the minister of foreign affairs in the newly established Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero government. The declaration from Zapatero, that Spanish soldiers would leave Iraq "as soon as possible," came even before the election won by his socialist party.

"The withdrawal from Iraq of the Spanish contingent is a sovereign decision of this state and this decision has to be respected," stated Gen. Bieniek. The Spanish contingent in Iraq is around 1,300 strong. They command the Plus Ultra brigade composed of soldiers from Spain, El Salvador, Honduras and the Dominican Republic. The brigade's area of responsibility covers two fifths of the central-southern zone: Kadisiya and Najaf.

According to unofficial sources, the withdrawal of the Spanish contingent will probably mean the end of the mission for the remaining countries making up the brigade: they depend on Spanish logistics and communications. This would mean a loss of 1,400 troops for the existing 10,000-strong division.

posted by: Oborski at 19:34 | link | comments |

From Warsaw Voice
Minister Vs. Prime Minister
April 2 in an interview in Gazeta Wyborcza, former Minister of the Treasury Wiesław Kaczmarek accused Prime Minister Leszek Miller of abuse of power when in 2002 he ordered the State Protection Office (UOP) to detain Andrzej Modrzejewski, the then president of Orlen petrochemicals. The next day Modrzejewski was dismissed from his office by Orlen's supervisory board. The prosecutor's office charged him with disclosing confidential information concerning one of the companies from the Kwiatkowski National Investment Fund which he had previously presided over. As a result, he allegedly earned a considerable amount of money on that company's stocks. No judgment in the case has been issued yet, while modrzejewski's detention has been considered unjustified by the court.

Kaczmarek claims having participated in a meeting held in the Prime Minister's Office at which "various scenarios" aimed at preventing the then Orlen president from signing a contract for oil supplies from Russia considered harmful for Poland.

In a special TV statement Miller categorically denied having ever used special services in an unlawful way, finding Kaczmarek's statement an element of election campaigning taking place in the disintegrating left wing. The former minister and long-time member and deputy of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) is today connected with the newly founded Polish Social Democracy (SdPl). The accusations presented in Gazeta have also been considered "rank lies" by Zbigniew Siemiątkowski, head of the Intelligence Agency, who denies having participated in the meeting described by Kaczmarek.

In response to the accusations put forward against the prime minister, the Sejm special services committee held a special session. According to a committee member, Konstanty Miodowicz, a Civic Platform (PO) deputy, the detention of Modrzejewski was at the UOP's initiative, as documents available to the Sejm committee have proven.

Law and Justice (PiS) deputy Zbigniew Ziobro has applied to the minister of justice for an initiation of criminal proceedings concerning the alleged abuse of power by Miller favoring private political and business interests.

Poland a Terrorist Target?
According to information received by the Internal Security Agency (ABW), Poland is facing a real threat of a terrorist attack. Andrzej Barcikowski, head of the ABW, finds Poland a possible target of terrorist attacks. This view is supported by evidence such as the recently discovered Internet report in which Poland is classified by Al-Qaeda's supporters as an enemy country because of its ally role towards the United States and the pro-Western attitudes of a majority of Polish political circles. However, according to experts, Poland still remains a difficult target for terrorist organizations as neither a large group of local supporters nor a significant Islamic community exist in Poland. Nevertheless, rumors of planned attacks continue to appear. One of the suspected targets of such attacks is the Jasna Góra monastery in Częstochowa which will probably attract several thousand people during the Easter period. Special security measures have thus been taken in the city.

PO for Dissolution of Parliament
According to Donald Tusk, chair of the Civic Platform (PO), his party expects its motion for self-dissolution of the Sejm and the organization of parliamentary elections together with elections to the European Parliament to be decided upon by the end of April. Tusk finds a change of the government and the parliament a good way to defend the Nice system of voting in the Council of the European Union that is favorable for Poland among others. "We have to emphasize our determination in the defense of Poland's political potential in Europe," says Tusk.

Asked about his view of the chances for early parliamentary elections, Tusk says that convincing a majority of deputies to vote for a shortening of the Sejm's term of office seems difficult, yet "every day of the agony of SLD and Leszek Miller's government denotes a further growth of support for Samoobrona." According to Tusk, the PO is ready to create a barricade preventing Samoobrona from taking power. The PO's most natural, yet difficult, partner in those efforts is Law and Justice (PiS).

Archbishop Critical Towards Parliament
Lublin Metropolitan Archbishop Józef Życiński has criticized Polish politicians for "insufficiency of moral sensitivity." He has warned that such a situation may lead to a "social protest directed against democracy."

In his homily during World Youth Day in Lublin, Życiński compared the idealism and sensitivity of the younger generation with the race for success and personal gains which, according to the archbishop, can be observed in the case of numerous politicians. He referred to a recent idea of one of Sejm committees concerning the passing of special pensions for former parliament members. "It is hard to stay calm observing that in a country of great social poverty some deputies secure financial privileges for themselves that don't exist in rich European countries," said Życiński.

According to the archbishop, such attitudes of politicians open the way for an overthrowing of democracy. "The pathological initiatives of contemporary Sejm deputies trying to reserve privileges for themselves in ways common in the previous political system, can result in a desperate social protest," warned Życiński. "Social hostility can easily turn against parliamentary democracy, pointing to parliament members as examples and embodiments of evil, defining the Sejm as the source of corruption and indifference to people's poverty and, in that way, leading to a populist dictatorship."

Using Your Resources
Managers from the biggest Polish companies will attend the International HR Congress, organized April 22-23 by The Institute of Management and Polish Human Resources Management Association. The major themes of this conference will be: Leadership as the Key HR Management Function; Where Does the Worldwide HR Go; Knowledge Based Economy; HRM Trends; Best Practices in HRM; and European HRM Projects.

The aim of the conference is to build awareness, create an understanding, develop a need for constant learning, and present the new possibilities and solutions in the range of HRM.

The program is comprised of all the issues which make the difference in a modern Europe which will be especially beneficial when UE integration becomes a part of Polish reality.

During the conference various problems will be brought up by the presentations ranging from e-learning to cultural change. Prof. Jerzy Hausner, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Labor and Social Policy, will appear touching on the key points of Poland as knowledge-based economy.

Here is a sampling of the other topics: HR in Transition: Trends of Note for the Professional in Knowledge Economies; Measuring and Managing the Value of Human Capital; Intellectual Capital-the New Balance Between Intelligence or Ignorance; Leadership Development as a Strategic Imperative; New HR Challenges Facing International Development of Business; Where Does the Worldwide HR Go?-HR departments are going to disappear soon from the organization structures of companies.

posted by: Oborski at 19:30 | link | comments |

Warsaw, April 26: President Aleksander Kwasniewski denied reports of the Zycie Warszawy daily, according to which Marek Belka wanted to give up his mission of forming a new cabinet and that Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski was to be a new presidential candidate for a PM. "This is not true," the president said and stressed that Belka was still working and that the new cabinet would be sworn in on May 2. "If this government was not formed or if it did not win a vote of confidence then we would have elections in mid-August. And this is not a good date. So it's necessary to think of another date," the President said. According to him, first it's necessary to define tasks and then to speak of an election date. The President stressed that while thinking of the election date one has to decide who is to prepare a budget for 2005. Maybe it would be better if this was done by Belka's competent team, the President said.

Warsaw, April 23: President Kwasniewski received deputy head of the CDU/CSU faction at the German Bundestag Wolfgang Schaeuble to discuss European affairs linked with Poland's accession to the EU. The President thanked German politicians for support which Germany has granted Poland on her way to EU membership. Both stressed the need of working out, as quickly as possible, of compromise on the future European constitution. The two also discussed Polish-German-French cooperation within the Weimar Triangle. Kwasniewsski and Schaeuble also exchanged views on the situation in Iraq.

Warsaw, April 23: President Kwasniewski is scheduled to meet with sixteen presidents who will arrive in Warsaw to take part in the three-day European Economic Summit starting on April 28. The presidential aide Andrzej Majkowski said the talks will focus on the situation in the region as well as on the developments in Iraq and struggle against terrorism. During the meetings sides will speak about Europe after enlargement. "It is important that among guests will be representatives of countries which will join the EU on May 1, and of those which will not join the EU but have such aspirations," said Majkowski. The summit is expected to be attended by 1,500 participants.

Warsaw, April 25: PM Leszek Miller stressed in a televised address that the top priorities of his cabinet were the entry of the EU and achieving an economic growth helping the country to cut the gap between developed EU states. Miller said the gap between current Union’s members and Poland is still large: "Our GDP per capita is merely 42 pct of per capita GDP in the 15-member EU. (...). "I put my career at risk to start up the economic growth mechanism. I have focused not on political theatre but on the economy since I took over as head of the government," he said. Miller said he kept the promises he had made in his major policy speech 30 months ago. "Our economy has reversed: from sinking into recession towards growth (...) Poland can be the fastest developing country in Europe. The 24 percent industrial development rise is the best result in the country's 15-year period of transition. The GDP growth of 6 percent is appreciated by many European states," the PM said. and added that many companies and joint-ventures, including Treasury-owned ones, have improved their performance. "This is proof that companies can be successful regardless of their ownership status. All you have to do is to create proper conditions," he said, adding that his government had cut the corporate tax. Miller said the situation is also improving in agriculture. "The jobless rate has fallen a little bit for the first time in many years. (...) Up to 250,000 new jobs may be created by the end of the year," he said. Miller spoke of the tasks a new government will face, a reform of public finances, a passage of his cabinet-prepared economic freedom bill and the best possible use of EU funds. A the end of his address Miller said the economy after his government's two and a half year in power is in a much better shape than in fall 2001.

Warsaw, April 23: Poland's EU accession is a successful effect of work of many people and political options, PM Leszek Miller stressed during a meeting of the National Council for European Integration. Miller said that the road to the Union would have been much more difficult if not for "Solidarity", people from the democratic opposition, the Roman-Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II and "reformatory trends in the previous system." Accession does not mean the conclusion of all issues. We will start to struggle for Poland's position in the EU. This position will also depend on how far Poland's economy is competitive, said Miller. The coordination of Poland's European policy in regard to the participation in the decision making process must be strengthened. Stands presented by us on the EU forum must by uniformed and coherent at all phases of the decision making process, preceded by wide consultations, stressed the Prime Minister who will resign from office on May 2.

Speaking about European Convention president Valery Giscard d'Estaing's proposals on the EU voting rules and its constitution, Miller was skeptical. Poland has protested the EC plans to strike the EU's Nice Treaty voting rules from the constitution act and replace them with a new system. London’s Financial Times recently reported d'Estaing was now considering a double majority voting system and allowing Poland and Spain to vote by Nice rules in special cases until 2012. The daily also said d'Estaing had discussed the matter during a recent visit in Warsaw. Miller said he would prefer a different solution to the issue. He reminded that other suggestions included a blocking-minority system which would suit Poland better. This would be a good solution for us provided it is worked out in detail, he said. D'Estaing's idea was one of many and should not be be treated as official. If we are to reach a compromise we must keep looking for solutions. If Poland is expected to ease up on its demands, then we expect the other side to adjust a little too, he said.

Warsaw, April 23: There will be no restrictions on exports of Polish food products to the EU after Poland joins the Union, agriculture minister Wojciech Olejniczak said. A day before the EC announced Polish food products will not come under the EU's protective clauses after enlargement, which means there will be no limitations on sales of Polish food products in the EU countries. Now over 1,600 Polish food exporters were licenced to sell on EU markets and another 700 would soon receive permits. Polish food is very good, this is also the opinion in the EU countries, where sales of our food products are visibly on the rise. Olejniczak praised the EU's common agricultural policy and assured that the EU's transparent market rules would help Polish food industry stabilize and switch to better planning. The value of Polish land would also rise after Poland became an EU member. Until now land was not very profitable property. This will change, the minister said.

Warsaw, April 25: Dozens of military intelligence (WSI) agents are operating as high ranking state officials, and several "undercover" WSI officers are employed as Polish Pime Minister's and President's personnel members, the Rzeczpospolita newspaper wrote Saturday quoting many sources, including former WSI head Gen. Tadeusz Rusak, as saying WSI agents operate as high ranking state officials. One of them, identified as Grzegorz Rydlewski, the head of the PM advisors, denied any link with the service and vowed to take legal action against the authors of the report, which "is a libel." WSI head Gen. Marek Dukaczewski said Rusak's comments have been made in response to "some documented irregularities in the performance of WSI at a time when Rusak was in charge". Rusak disagreed, saying that slandering actions have been taken against him and persons forced to quit the service. Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski said the comments made by the newspaper's informers are the sign of the rivalry between former military and non-military special service agents. Article co-author Malgorzata Subotic said that the authors had spoken with scores of people and read many officially unavailable documents. Sejm special services' committee member Konstanty Miodowicz (PO) said sweeping staff changes have to be made at WSI, but added that it would be bad to liquidate the service given the current international situation and the terrorist threat. Zbigniew Nowek, the UOP head under previous government, said that if what was written in the text is true, then "it is another very important argument in favour of dissolving WSI”. Dukaczewski has asked the Sejm committee to address the content of the article and Rusak's comments.

posted by: Oborski at 19:22 | link | comments |

This was in the "Express & Star" which is the main daily evening paper in the West Midlands. One of their columnists wrote rather neatly:-

"During the Second World War, when their capital city of Warsaw was systematically destroyed first by Nazi Germany, then by communist Russia, the Poles were our gallant allies. When the Gdansk shipyard strikes set in motion the collapse of the Soviet Bloc, the Poles were heroic underdogs. If you believe some newspapers today, now that Poland is becoming one of our economic partners in an enlarged European Union, the Poles are nothing more than a swarm of job-stealing itinerants. Have they changed that much, or have we?"

posted by: Oborski at 22:28 | link | comments |

posted by: Oborski at 15:53 | link | comments |

Lodz, April 14: Presidents of Poland, Aleksander Kwasniewski, of Israel Moshe Katsav and of the Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus are to take part in the ceremonies commemorating the 60th anniversary of the liquidation of the ghetto in Lodz. Thousands of guests from all over the world, including ghetto survivors are expected to come. The main ceremonies will begin on August 29, the anniversary of deportation of the last Jews from the Lodz ghetto to death camps of Chelmno and Auschwitz in 1944. Only 830 people survived. Lodz Jewish Community leader Symcha Keller stressed that many Jewish intellectuals from Poland, Germany, Austria and Luxembourg were kept in this ghetto. "Very few people know that two sisters of Franz Kafka were kept here and next sent to gas chambers in Chelmno," Keller said. The Nazis set up the ghetto in Lodz in February 1940, and closed a total of about 220 thousand people in it. In 1944 the ghetto was finally liquidated.

Bielsko-Biala, April 14: Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Joseph Lapid will attend this year’s March of the Living due to take place in the Auschwitz-Birkenau former Nazi death camp site in Oswiecim on April 19, to commemorate the Holocaust victims.

Brussels, April 14: A special team of the European Parliament held hearing of the Polish EU commissioner-designate Danuta Huebner. She was the seventh future EU Commission member to undergo this procedure. Huebner had submitted written answers to a questionnaire sent to all ten candidates for new EU commissioners. She praised the draft EU constitution compiled by the European Convention, saying that "although the draft is not ideal it represents a very important step for the Union and deserves to be agreed on promptly within the framework of the intergovernmental conference." Huebner did not take any side in the dispute on the European Council voting system. She wrote that "the Council should simplify its decision-making procedures and ensure their smooth functioning." In a reply to another question Huebner did not reveal which portfolio she would be trying to get in the Commission except for saying this would be in the area of economic affairs.

Warsaw, April 14: As Christians and Europeans we want the full right to testify to our faith in public life as the Bible commands us to, Poland's bishops wrote in an open letter marking Poland's EU accession. The bishops underscored Christianity's role in shaping European spiritual culture and declared the wish to participate in contemporary European reality on par with other Europeans. For us this will mean a serious (...) reopening to the Scriptures and radicalism in our evangelical work, they stressed. The letter will be translated into English and published in the EU and candidate countries. It will be also presented to EU in Brussels and ambassadors of the EU states in Poland.

Warsaw, April 15: Presidential candidate for a new PM Marek Belka said he did not believe that the Sejm would decide to hold elections this autumn and stressed he was focusing now on forming a new cabinet. I think that there is not a two-thirds majority in the Sejm for early elections. (...) We should rather think now how to form a platform that can rule the country, he said and added he was sure he would be able to form a government and stressed he wanted it to last at least by next spring which (for parliamentary elections) is a good date. Belka did not mention any names but confirmed he wanted J. Hausner, W. Cimoszewicz and J. Szmajdzinski to continue to holds their posts.

Camp Babylon, April 14: Polish troops will not take part in the U.S.-planned strike against Shii'te extremists in the area of Nadjaf, south-central Iraq, Polish military spokesman in Iraq Lt. Colonel Robert Strzelecki said. He confirmed that several Poles were currently stationed near Nadjaf but they were only communications teams. He also denied rumours that Polish forces near Nadjaf will be strengthened. All offensive operations will be carried out by units sent by command in Baghdad.

Warsaw, April 15: Finance Minister Andrzej Raczko said that the current economic growth had already started to translate into citizens' incomes. Raczko said he expected an investment boom in Poland and added it would reduce unemployment. The economy is in very good condition and no one will be able to spoil this, Raczko said but admitted that connections between politics and economy were "quite strong". The minister stressed that a stable growth and its visible rise would surely improve the situation of ordinary citizens though this might be slightly delayed. We are witnessing a considerable growth of wages. In February it was 6 percent and this means that the economic boom had already started to translate into incomes. Raczko stressed that the economic growth was the best way of combating unemployment.

Warsaw, April 15: The finance ministry estimates that Poland's public debt amounted to 51-52 pct of GDP in 2003 and expects the public debt to be 51-52 pct of GDP in 2003, including guarantees. In 2002 public debt rose to 47.6 pct of GDP, or 353.84 bn zlotys.

Warsaw, April 14: Prosecutors demanded the maximum three-year prison sentence for film producer Lew Rywin on charges of influence peddling, closing a bribery scandal that has gripped the nation. According to the prosecution, in 2002 Rywin, co-producer of the Oscar-winning "Schindler's List" and "The Pianist", sought a 17.5 million USD bribe from Agora SA, the publisher of the Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper, in exchange for changes to a proposed media law which would enable Agora to buy a nationwide broadcaster. Rywin claimed at the time he was making the offer on behalf of PM Leszek Miller and "an unspecified group holding power". In her closing arguments, the prosecutor said Rywin had acted "to achieve financial gain" and that the trial had produced no evidence that he was representing Miller or anyone else in government. The Warsaw provincial court is expected to deliver its verdict on April 23. Miller, who testified during the trial, has vehemently denied any part in the affair.

Warsaw, April 14: The Grand Theatre National Opera company of Warsaw is going to London for a series of guest performances in Sadler's Wells (April 20 to 25). The British audience will have an opportunity to see masterpieces of Polish opera: Stanislaw Moniuszko's "The Haunted Manor", Karol Szymanowski's "King Roger" and Krzysztof Penderecki's "Ubu Rex". Grand Theatre artistic director Jacek Kaspszyk said that the choice of productions was "enthusiastically accepted by the British side." According to the prestigious "Opera Now" magazine, British audience is waiting "very eagerly" to see the Polish productions. The invitation of the Polish company to London was "a wonderful idea" because many British opera goers have never seen any opera of Moniuszko and know little about Polish music traditions. The program of the visit includes two performances each of "The Haunted Manor" and "Ubu Rex", and a concert version of "King Roger". All performances will be conducted by Jacek Kaspszyk. The performances in London will accompany the British release of EMI's recording of "The Haunted Manor" first released in Poland in 1993. This is the first work by Moniuszko to enter the EMI’s catalogue. London critic Edward Greenfield wrote in „The Guardian” that thanks to this "rare timing" the recording "provides the most tempting taster (...) The Haunted Manor is one of the hidden treasures of Polish opera". He praised Polish performers, all coupled "with superb playing and singing from the Polish National Opera Chorus and Orchestra dynamically conducted from first to last by Jacek Kaspszyk." Barkley called Szymanowski an "incredible" composer, and Penderecki "the trade-mark" of Polish contemporary music.

Warsaw, April 14: Antiglobalists planning demonstrations during this month's Economic Forum in Warsaw plan no riots, the demo-organizing Antyszczyt Wa29 (anti-summit Wa29) antiglobalist activists said. The groups opposed to the Forum are planning a major demo in Warsaw on April 29. According to the demonstration organizers, only several thousand demonstrators were expected. The protesters also announce appointing orderlies to watch for aggressive people in their midst.

posted by: Oborski at 00:15 | link | comments |

From Warsaw Voice

"He told us to study too much. We're athletes, not nerds."
-A student from a sports junior high school in £êczna, explaining why students insulted their English teacher by calling him names, spitting at him and tearing his clothes

"It's like a man who wakes up in the morning with a hangover and he is interested in nothing but his hangover."
-Krzysztof Martens, a leader of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) in Podkarpacie province, on why SLD activists are wondering how their party's popularity dropped disastrously-instead of discussing what should be done about it

"When you try to squeeze information from government documents, sometimes all you are left with is the paper clips."
-Józef Oleksy, deputy prime minister and minister of internal affairs and administration

"Financial exemptions for the Church are like a knife that can be used both for cutting bread and committing murder."
-Bishop Tadeusz Pieronek, rector of the Papal Theological Academy

"I'm glad. But, you can't be very happy when someone who kicked you three years ago only now says 'I'm sorry'."
-Bogdan Zdrojewski, former mayor of Wroc³aw, on the court sentence acquitting the city in a trial in which Wroc³aw was accused of not paying VAT when he was mayor

"Perhaps it's because mail with stamps that might be attractive to collectors disappears more often."
-An employee of a post office in Kielce, explaining why clients sending letters or packages ask for ugly stamps

"A radio for a lifetime."
-An advertising slogan of the Czech private station Radio Kiss; the posters feature a photo of a smiling double murderer who is serving a life sentence

posted by: Oborski at 10:41 | link | comments |

Moniuszko: The Haunted Manor: Kruszewski/ Hossa/ Lubanska/ Stachura/ Nowacki/ Toczyska/ Polish National Opera/ Kaspszyk

(EMI, 2CDs)

Edward Greenfield
The Guardian

The Haunted Manor by Stanislaw Moniuszko is one of the hidden treasures of Polish opera, a lively piece that has been described as a Polish equivalent of Smetana's The Bartered Bride. Later this month (on April 20 and 21), the Polish National Opera brings it to Sadler's Wells in London and, with rare timing, EMI has come up with a recording that provides the most tempting taster.

Moniuszko, the leading Polish romantic after Chopin, is remembered - if at all - by his opera Halka, a tragic story set against a peasant background. Yet The Haunted Manor is more original, more inventive and above all more attractive, with its tuneful sequence of ensembles. Two shuddering chords at the very start reflect the title, but the first scene sets quite a different tone of voice in a rousing military ensemble, when two brothers, Stefan and Zbigniev, on leaving their comrades, swear they will never marry, so as always to be ready to fight for their country.

Needless to say, they meet their match when they visit an old friend of their father's, Miecznik the Sword-Bearer, and encounter his two daughters, Hanna and Jadwiga, each intent on finding a husband. The manner is as close to Gilbert and Sullivan as to Smetana, with a dash of Donizetti thrown in. A fortune-telling scene prompts a charming duet and ensemble for women's voices, when the sisters learn that they will marry soldiers. After that, the main haunting scene anticipates Gilbert and Sullivan's haunting scene in Ruddigore, with portraits coming to life. This, however, is no genuine haunting, simply a ruse by Hanna and Jadwiga, who take the place of the portraits.

Though the plot rather rambles towards the end, and Moniuszko fails to give the lovers the sort of duets one expects, what matters is that everything is happily sorted out. The denouement is helped by the unexpected arrival of a crowd of party guests; this, however implausibly, gives Moniuszko the excuse to insert a big mazurka number for the full ensemble, plainly designed to bring the house down.

Though ensembles predominate throughout the four acts, each of the main characters is given a big showpiece aria. The one for Hanna is particularly impressive, with its Donizettian coloratura brilliantly sung by the bright-toned Iwona Hossa. Anna Lubanska, with her firm, warm mezzo, is also impressive as Jadwiga. But the casting of the two brothers is not so strong: tenor Dariusz Stachura is strained as Stefan, not attacking notes cleanly, and Piotr Nowacki as Zbigniev is happier in fast music than sustained melody.

posted by: Oborski at 10:37 | link | comments |

From Warsaw Voice

A publication in the controversial NIE weekly has set off an earthquake in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MSZ). The weekly revealed that 12 hard drives had disappeared from the ministry, containing thousands of files, including classified and confidential materials.

NIE wrote April 5 that its editorial staff was in possession of the 12 hard drives. Documents saved on the drives came from 1994-2004 and contained materials such as operation guidelines for intelligence officers in diplomatic missions, security variants in MSZ buildings and the personal data of officers from the Government Protection Office (BOR) who guarded the ministry.

In the long article published on the front page, NIE presented a few excerpts from the documents, such as the blood type and passport number of Foreign Affairs Minister W³odzimierz Cimoszewicz, the price of his official diplomat coat commissioned from a tailor in Warsaw, the license plate numbers of the cars of a few MSZ officials, fragments of records from official meetings, including one devoted to Polish diplomats in Iraq, and bits of private correspondence between MSZ employees. The weekly announced it was only the first episode of a new series about MSZ secrets.

On the same day, Cimoszewicz took full responsibility for the scandal and tendered his resignation. Prime Minister Leszek Miller did not accept it. Both Miller and President Aleksander Kwaœniewski, who made an immediate statement on the issue, decided that at that point of time, the minister's honorable resignation would have been extremely harmful to Poland's foreign policy, especially in the context of Poland's forthcoming accession to the European Union.

"Embarrassment, scandal, criminal negligence," Andrzej Barcikowski, head of the Internal Security Agency (ABW), said about the affair. ABW, together with the prosecutor's office, launched investigation procedures April 5. MSZ also started special verification of its confidential information protection system.

"We have good legal solutions in confidential information protection, but the human factor has always been the weakest link," Barcikowski said. In Barcikowski's opinion, every journalist who is aware of revealing secret information and does it deliberately will bear the consequences, including imprisonment. April 6, the director-general of the foreign service dismissed two directors: from the board of the MSZ service and the information office. Further personnel decisions were announced.

Cimoszewicz said the MSZ was working on recovering data from the missing hard drives. "So far, I have not been advised that the affair concerns any truly important documents," he said. "I do not want to formulate any final assessment yet; I want to first learn all details. But I say with all honesty: even if the documents turn out to be unimportant, this will not diminish the critical evaluation of what has happened."

On the following day, NIE handed all the hard drives over to ABW. Jerzy Urban, editor-in-chief of NIE, said, however, that the weekly would continue to publish excerpts of documents from the hard drives. In his opinion, "the material is very interesting and sensational; it will serve us for many months to come."

Urban and Andrzej Rozenek, author of the article, say they will take the confidentiality clause into consideration in further publications, but they emphasize that if such documents testify to criminal activities of MSZ officials, they will see the light of day. Both editors have not said whether they have copies of the drives, nor have they revealed how the weekly got hold of the drives.

On the night of April 7, ABW officers apprehended Mateusz K., a student of the Warsaw University of Technology who tried to sell the MSZ hard drives to a few newspapers in Warsaw. He probably sold the drives to NIE. Apparently, the price approximated $10,000. After a preliminary interrogation, the prosecutor's office charged him with a violation of confidential information. He can be sentenced to up to five years in prison.

It soon became clear how the enterprising student had come into possession of the hard drives. A few hours prior to the ABW's operation, a technical worker at the MSZ was apprehended. He had brought the drives out of the ministry and sold them to a second-hand computer store for zl.10. According to the ABW, he had no idea about the contents of the hard drive and sold them as ordinary memory storage devices. It is uncertain if and what charges he will face.

It is still not entirely clear when exactly the wayward hard drives found new, unauthorized owners. A few other newspapers, including Poland's largest dailies Gazeta Wyborcza and Rzeczpospolita, reveal they were approached with proposals to buy sensational electronic material related to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a few weeks ago. The two titles categorically declined the proposals.

The Sejm Committee for Foreign Affairs debated the hard drive affair at a special session April 8. The issue was presented by Cimoszewicz and Barcikowski. The minister assured the deputies that confidential documents dealing with Poland's membership in international organizations, NATO and the EU in particular, were subject to special security procedures and no violation of the rules of handling with such documents had been reported.

So far, the investigation conducted by the ABW and the prosecutor's office has not detected any political or intelligence motives in the entire scandal.

posted by: Oborski at 10:34 | link | comments |

Prof. Marek Belka, President Aleksander Kwaœniewski's candidate for prime minister, is seeking parliamentary support, yet all seems to suggest that it will not be easy to find even on the governing left.

In spite of his efforts and initial optimism, Belka did not manage to convince the Polish Peasants' Party (PSL) to his program. April 8, after a meeting of the party's Chief Executive Committee, PSL Chairman Janusz Wojciechowski said that his party did not support Belka and would not take part in the consultations concerning his formation of a government. The leader of the PSL justified the decision saying that Belka was going to execute a "continuation policy" with a particular intention to implement Hausner's plan, which was unacceptable for the PSL.

According to Marek Dyduch, secretary-general of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), the PSL's declaration "seriously complicates Belka's situation." In Dyduch's opinion, the new government needs wider support than that of the SLD, the Labor Union (UP), the Federative Parliamentary Caucus and one-time support of the Social Democracy of Poland (SdPl). Among SLD members opinions differ on whether, in connection with the PSL's declaration, another candidate for the new government's prime minister should be appointed who would gain PSL support, or rather if attempts should be made at constructing a new coalition around Belka. One of the top candidates of the SLD is Józef Oleksy.

Marek Borowski, leader of the SdPl, says his party will present its program suggestions to Belka so that he can consider taking some of them into account. "From the very beginning we have claimed that the government should be nonpartisan in character, since it will only stay in power for a short time and none of the parties ready to support it boast enough social support for the undisturbed formation of a government at the moment," said Borowski.

"Samoobrona will not support a government headed by Belka," said Andrzej Lepper after a meeting with the president's candidate for prime minister (see photo). In Lepper's opinion, parliamentary elections should be held as soon as possible. The meeting lasted only about 15 minutes. Belka managed to present his plan of activities for the coming weeks and a general outline of the new government's program.

In a recent statement, Lepper said that his party was ready to take over power with him as prime minister. His declarations followed the publication of a poll in which Samoobrona won 29-percent support, thus becoming the decided leader. This scenario is considered to be apocalyptic by a majority of Poland's political cir

"Cześć!"

Links

Archives

Counter

posted by: Oborski at 11:26 | link | comments |

posted by: Oborski at 11:24 | link | comments |

posted by: Oborski at 19:45 | link | comments |

posted by: Oborski at 19:41 | link | comments |

posted by: Oborski at 19:34 | link | comments |

posted by: Oborski at 19:30 | link | comments |

posted by: Oborski at 19:22 | link | comments |

posted by: Oborski at 22:28 | link | comments |

posted by: Oborski at 15:53 | link | comments |

posted by: Oborski at 00:15 | link | comments |

posted by: Oborski at 10:41 | link | comments |

posted by: Oborski at 10:37 | link | comments |

posted by: Oborski at 10:34 | link | comments |