Polish Consulate...

Warsaw, Jan. 28: PM Marek Belka said after meeting with leaders of the ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) that he had urged SLD to support an early election. I think June is a better date for the ballot and I repeated once more that I did not plan to resign my government if elections were held in autumn, Belka told. Early elections were also supported by Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) caucus leader Krzysztof Janik and deputy PM Jerzy Hausner. Janik admitted that some in SLD would prefer an autumn date as foreseen in the Polish constitution. SLD leader Jozef Oleksy said that he preferred an autumn election as it would allow the ratification of the EU constitution treaty this year. Asked about the government's role in deciding the issue Janik stated that the government "had nothing to do with the matter". The government is a representation of parliament. The constitutional election date is announced by the president. In cases of an early election the decision lies with parliament and needs a 307-strong majority, Janik explained.

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Speaking at the Wyre Forest Holocaust Memorial Service today Cllr Mike Oborski, Consul of the Republic of Poland for the West Midlands, said…

I want to remind you about Eva Mozes Kor. We talked about her here – exactly one year ago.

Mozes Kor lived in Hungary in a well-to-do Jewish family, but the coming of the Nazis changed everything. In 1944 the 10-year-old Mozes Kor and her identical twin sister, Miriam, were packed into a cattle car with their mother, father and two other sisters, aged 12 and 14, and taken to Auschwitz.

Mozes Kor said she remembers her very religious father in the corner of the stinking car, praying, probably for the last time. When they were herded off the train, Mozes Kor's father and older sisters disappeared into the crowd. She never saw them again.

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Living in the shadow of Auschwitz
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The southern Polish town of Oswiecim founded 8 centuries ago saw its destiny tragically transformed in 1940 when the Nazis renamed the town Auschwitz and set up the most notorious of the war-time death camps on its outskirts. Its tragic past is a burden, so how do the ordinary people of Oswiecim live in the shadow of Auschwitz? Danusia Szafraniec reports.

Today the town of Oswiecim is seen in the eyes of the world as Auschwitz, the hub of Adolf Hitler’s „final solution” which managed to wipe out Europe’s Jews. But its citizens say that there actually are two towns there: one alive and the other – a memorial. For many Oswiecim citizens living in a town with such a heavy past is not easy.

'This town is nothing more than a museum nowadays. There is nothing to look here for and your people are leaving the town in great numbers as there is no future for them here.'

Young people – just like this student – agree that their town is dying.

'Indeed, the town is not developing very quickly, especially as far as its industry is concerned. I think it is all due to the historical burden laid upon our town because the while world imagines Oswiecim as one big concentration camp which is not true.'

The living town has had its existence marred by numerous rows between the international Jewish community and the Roman catholic church as well as would-be developers. One row focused on a monastery run by Catholic nuns within the camp premises, which provoked outrage among the international Jewish community. After a decade of bickering the nuns were forced to leave the site. A shopping center that was supposed to be built in the former tannery where the Nazis stocked the belongings of killed Jews never got built following fierce protests. And finally, a discotheque almost opposite the entrance to the infamous camp was forced to shut its doors after it also caused an international uproar.
So as the world’s eyes are on Auschwitz as the most notorious Holocaust site, many of its inhabitants are forced to live right next door to the place that God forgot.

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As the world markscthe 60th anniversary of the Nazi camp's liberation by the Red Army, Anna has her own bitter memories of a time earlier during the Second World War, when in 1939 her home town of Lwow was overran by the Red Army, as Nazi Germany and Russia divided up Poland between themselves. Anna talks to Peter Gentle about how it felt being liberated by the Soviets in Auschwitz.

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On the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp, world leaders and Holocaust survivors converged on what came to be known as the place God forgot. Slawek Szefs files this report from Auschwitz.

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The Opole region in the south is observing the 60th anniversary of the March of The Dead – the tragic evacuation of Nazi German concentration camp prisoners in the final months of World War Two. The events are marked in Konradow on the Polish side and in Mikulovice across the Czech border. Thousands of exhausted and disease stricken inmates died along the route of this mass evacuation. Their abandoned bodies, often in hundreds, had been later buried by local inhabitants in nearby cemeteries. A special memorial service is being held in the evening in Konradow with the participation of some of the few survivors of the ordeal of 60 years ago.

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President decorates Red Army Auschwitz liberators

Cracow, Jan. 27: President Aleksander Kwasniewski decorated with high state distinctions five soldiers of the Red Army, who participated in the liberation of Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau. During the Forum "Let my people live" in Cracow the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland was given to Yakov Vinnichenko. Nikolai Chertkov and Genry Koptev- Gomolov received the Knight's Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Polish Republic.Anatoly Shapiro and Ivan Martinushkin received distinctions in absentia. The first was granted the Officer's Cross and the second the Knight's Cross of the order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.

Cracow, Jan. 27: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived on Thursday morning at the Cracow-based Juliusz Slowacki Theatre to participate in the commemorations of the 60th anniversary of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau liberation. Putin was due in Cracow on Wednesday but the date was put off for Thursday due to adverse weather conditions. The Russian president told the forum that "today, 60 years after the tragedy we perceive the Holocaust not only as the national tragedy of Jews but as the catastrophe of the entire humanity." "Nazis picked up Poland as the site of a total, mass extermination of people, above all people of Jewish nationality. The Polish soil turned into the epicentre of the Holocaust. It became the place of the bloody realisation of Nazi racist theories according to which other nations were subhumans (Untermenschen)," Putin said.

Cracow, Jan. 27: The Allies did nothing to stop the extermination of Jews; by bombing the camp in Auschwitz and railways leading to it they could prevent the continuation of the murder, Israeli President Moshe Katzav told the Forum "Let My People Live". "It is hard for us to forget that in the 20th century the world remained silent when the Jewish nation was being exterminated," Katzav said. He recalled that Palestine was closed for Jews fleeing Nazis."The Allies knew about the extermination of the European Jews and unfortunately failed to come forward with any initiative. They could save hundreds of thousands of Jews from gas chambers," the Israeli president said. He recalled anti-Semitism prevailing in Europe at that time and stressed the slaughter could have been prevented if the State of Israel had existed. The Israeli president called on the world's youth to protest against any case of racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia. "We appeal to the European Union: Please do not let Nazism take root in the European youth's minds."

Cracow, Jan. 27: I can promise that there will be no room for anti- Semitism, xenophobia and national disputes in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko told the "Let my people live" Forum. Yushchenko said that the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp was for him and his family a special and sacred place as his father had been sent there and received the camp number 11367. "Tens of thousands of soldiers were killed in this place, soldiers and comrades-in-arms of my father. This is the pain I can feel and this pain is alive today. This pain is very special for me as this is a healing pain," the Ukrainian president said and added that he wanted all his compatriots and all citizens of the world to share this pain with him. "As only this pain and memory can give us strength and wisdom", he added.

Cracow, Jan. 27: In the concentration camps in Europe a man committed one of the worst crimes one could even imagine, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney said Thursday during the "Let my people live" Forum in Cracow. Auschwitz is the biggest cemetery in the world where one cannot find any graves but only the ashes of countless human beings, he stressed. The U.S. Vice president stressed that on the day of the anniversary we should express gratitude to the liberators and to those who were fighting to free the continent from tyranny. Let us remember that these unspeakable atrocities did not happen in some far-off place without any civilization but in the heart of the civilized world, Cheney said. Warning against the Holocaust, Cheney stressed that the Holocaust took place in a concrete historical period but was not an isolated event. The tragedy of the camps shows that evil is real and must be called by its name and must be confronted, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney stressed and added that the tragedy reminds us that anti-Semitism starts with words but does not end with words. Let us oppose to intolerance and hatred before they are transformed into committed atrocities, he concluded.

Oswiecim, Jan. 27: French President Jacques Chirac opened a permanent exhibition devoted to people deported from France to and murdered in Auschwitz in the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum on Thursday. The French delegation was welcomed by former Auschwitz inmate Wladyslaw Bartoszewski in front of the gate which carries the infamous "Arbeit Macht Frei" inscription. The president was accompanied by Simone Veil, also former Auschwitz inmate. Chirac and Veil unveiled a plaque marking the date of opening the exhibition by the president on the wall of Block 20. The exhibition "Deported from Francji to KL Auschwitz" features the fate of six people: Pierre Masse, George Halpern, Jean Lemberg, Charlotte Delbo and the couple of Hersch and Sara Beznos. The personal experiences of the six serve as a background for presenting the situation of Jews in France from 1939, Nazi occupation, the French Resistance and support actions. The exhibitions features nearly 1,000 photos of Jewish children from France murdered in Birkenau.

Oswiecim, Jan. 27: A signal given by an approaching train inaugurated main ceremonies commemorating the 60th anniversary of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau liberation on Thursday afternoon. The commemorations were attended by delegation from over 40 countries including Presidents of Poland, Israel, Russia, France, Ukraine and Germany Aleksander Kwasniewski, Moshe Katzav, Vladimir Putin, Jacques Chirac, Viktor Yushchenko, Horst Koehler and U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney.The ceremonies took place on the premises of the former concentration camp in Birkenau at the foot of the International Monument to the Victims of Fascism near a railroad platform on which the Nazis conducted selections of prisoners. On behalf of Auschwitz-Birkenau prisoners speeches were delivered by Wladyslaw Bartoszewski (prisoner No. 4427), French citizen of Jewish origin Simone Veil (prisoner No. 78651) and Romani Rose who spoke on behalf of the Roma people. Next they signed the Charter of the International Education Centre about Auschwitz and the Holocaust. Papal Nuncio to Poland Archbishop Jozef Kowalczyk read out a message of John Paul II. Later official speeches were given by Presidents Kwasniewski, Putin and Katzav. Cantor Symcha Keller from Lodz played a shofar call bringing the ceremony to the end. Jews play the shofar only on special occasions. Prayers for Auschwitz victims were said in Hebrew, Latin and Polish.

Oswiecim, Jan. 27: When as eighteen-year old Pole I stood for the first time at the assembly square of Auschwitz I - as Schutzhaeftling number 4427 - among five thousand and a half other Poles it did not even come to my mind that I would outlive Hitler and survive World War Two, professor Wladyslaw Bartoszewski said. We, the Polish prisoners, were alone during the first fifteen months of the existence of this horrible place. The free world did not pay any interest in our sufferings and our deaths despite tremendous efforts by a secret resistance organization in the camp to sent the information to the outside world, Bartoszewski said speaking on behalf of former Auschwitz prisoners. "If Poles or Russians were sub-humans for Germans in Auschwitz- Birkenau, then Jews from France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Austria, countries of the then Yugoslavia, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia were treated not like sub-humans but like vermin," Bartoszewski said."None of the world countries reacted adequately to the news coming from Poland about the Auschwitz tragedy," Bartoszewski said."The Polish resistance movement kept on informing and warning the free world. In the last quarter of 1942 the governments of Great Britain and the United States were precisely informed what was going on in Auschwitz-Birkenau owing to a mission of Polish emissary Jan Karski as well as other reports," Bartoszewski said."The Polish foreign minister in London on December 10, 1942 sent a not to the governments of the United Nations appealing for "not only of condemning the crimes committed by the Germans and punishing the criminals, but also for finding means offering the hope that Germany might be effectively restrained from continuing to apply its methods of mass extermination". No effective measures were found and in fact no attempts were made to find them. And at that moment over a half of the future victims were still alive," Bartoszewski stressed. The only result of the Polish initiative was a short declaration of the 12 allied countries concerning the responsibility for the extermination of Jews published on December 17, 1942. In the declaration, which did not mention the name of Auschwitz- Birkenau, the governments of Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the Soviet Union, the Great Britain, the United States, Yugoslavia and the French National Committee, admitted that they were aware of the fate of Jews "in Poland, which has been made the principal Nazi slaughterhouse", and promised to punish those responsible for the crime. During my life I took part in hundreds of regional and international commemorations but I think that there will be never again a ceremony like today's one. We must ask ourselves and the entire world how much truth of the horrible experience of totalitarianism we managed to pass on to younger generations. I think that quite a lot but not enough. And being here and now we must take a decision - as the last will of prisoners who are passing away - concerning the work of the Centre of Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust. Graves inspire an ordinary man to reflection. But there are no graves here. So in this place where this unimaginable crime was committed this reflection must be transformed into special responsibility and lasting memory of what had happened. And let me conclude my address with the words from the Book of Job, which are significant both for Jews and Christians: "O, earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry find no resting place", Bartoszewski said.

Oswiecim, Jan. 27: "Where we are now gathered, no words can render the entire terrifying truth about the horrors committed in this place. But we must speak, remember, cry out: this was hell on Earth," President Aleksander Kwasniewski said during the main ceremony at the site of the former Nazi camp Auschwitz- Birkenau."Here, humiliation, fear, pain, suffering, death - they were the everyday. The monstrosity of this crime is overwhelming" the president said. "Nazi „death factories” were planned in cold blood. Disciplined butchers fervently did their job to make sure that the crematory stacks kept spilling out smoke. We still cannot forget that „people brought this fate upon people”. We can never accept this," the president stressed.

Oswiecim, Jan. 27: "Standing on this tormented soil we must firmly and unequivocally say that any attempts to rewrite history and place killers and their victims, liberators and occupiers on the equal footing are immoral and unacceptable," Russian President Vladimir Putin said during the main ceremony commemorating the 60th anniversary of liberating the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp."Today we pay tribute to the memory of all those who were mercilessly and in cold-blood killed by the fascist barbarians not only here in Oswiecim but elsewhere. We bow our heads before tens of millions of people from different countries of the world, who survived the hell of concentration camps, who were shot and tortured to death, who died of starvation and diseases. We bow our heads before all the victims of that inhumane war launched by the fascists," Putin said. "It is said that time heals. It does, indeed. But as we stand here in one of the most horrible concentration camps 60 years after its liberation everything that happened here still causes horror, indignation and shiver.It is impossible and unfathomable to comprehend that people are capable of such atrocities, that they may be prone to such a truly universal insanity. It is impossible to ever reconcile with the fact that it all really happened," the Russian President stressed. „Terrorism is not less dangerous or perfidious than fascism”, stressed Putin. It is all the same merciless - and already it claimed thousands of innocent lives.As there were no „good” and „bad” fascists there cannot be „good” and „bad” terrorists. Any double standards here are absolutely unacceptable and deadly dangerous for the civilization. Putin paid the tribute to bravery of of Soviet soldiers of whom 600,000 fell liberating Poland. "We will never forget that the Soviet Union paid a very steep price for its Great Victory. He also addressed the world leaders: "To those who remained here forever we are responsible for not letting this happen again. Never and toward anybody." He added that the Thursday's ceremony in fact opens 60-th anniversary of the great victory. The celebration in Moscow in May, where many of us will gather again, will become its culminating event, he said.

Oswiecim, Jan. 27: "The destruction was the work of a nation who produced renowned scientists and musicians. Many knew of the murder but were indifferent. The world knew about the extermination but remained silent," President of the State of Israel Moshe Katzav said. "We know that Europe was a land occupied by the German-Nazi regime. But we also remember that in European countries there was rabid anti-Semitism which left the Jews with no escape and without hope. Opposition and hesitation of the Allies to bomb the death camps and to destroy the railways carrying the Jews to them, claimed more victims from our people, and this too remains a mark on the forehead of humanity. I wish to honor the exceptional persons, members of the Polish people and other nations, Righteous Among the Nations, who felt the pain of the persecuted, who provided shelter and thereby risked their lives," Moshe Katzav said.

Oswiecim, Jan. 27: Auschwitz is not only a site of remembrance but also a warning in the face of today's crimes against the humankind, Romani Rose, the Chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma said. But there are no words in which to describe what our compatriots experienced here, Rose said and added that Auschwitz and names of other camps left a lasting mark on the collective memory of our minority and will also shape the awareness of our future generations.

Veil: 60 years ago world stood dumbstruck to discover greatest cemeteries of all times

Oswiecim, Jan. 27: Sixty years ago, the electrical fences around the Auschwitz Birkenau camps were fallen and the world stood dumbstruck to discover the greatest cemeteries of all times, former Auschwitz-Birkenau prisoner and President of the Foundation for the Memory of the Shoah and former President of the European parliament Simone Veil said. More than one and a half million of human beings were exterminated here, most of them sent to gas chambers right upon arrival, their only guilt being that they were born Jews, she stressed.

Horst Koehler visits Nazi Auschwitz camp

Oswiecim, Jan. 27: German President Horst Koehler on Thursday visited KL Auschwitz I (Stammlager) while attending commemorations of the 60th anniversary of the death camp liberation. Horst Koehler, accompanied by representatives of German Jews and Roma including Romani Rose went in the camp through the gate with the infamous "Arbeit Macht Frei" inscription, went along one of the alleys to the building of former crematorium I. From there the German president went to the premises of the former Nazi death camp of Birkenau, where the main ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of camp liberation will be held.

Jewish medals for presidents of Russia and Poland

Warsaw, Jan. 27: President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Poland's President Aleksander Kwasniewski were decorated with the Silver Star of David Medals awarded to them by Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar during the commemoration ceremonies at the site of Auschwitz-Birkenau on Thursday. Rabbi Lazar who addressed those gathered at the commemorations said he wanted to express gratitude of the Jewish community to both presidents. He said "Jews will never forget heroism and sacrifice of soldiers of the Red Army which suffered so great losses during liberation of this land and the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp." He expressed gratitude to President Kwasniewski "who has the courage to speak openly about the Holocaust on this earth and remind the world that this lesson should never be forgotten."

Warsaw, Jan. 28: According to Citizens Platform MP Bronislaw Komorowski and former Polish Ambassador to Germany Janusz Reiter suggestions appearing in some media of coresponsibility of Poles for the extermination of Jews at KL Auschwitz is as a sign of ignorance, manipulation an lack of historical knowledge. Thursday edition of New York Times wrote that the Auschwitz liberation "commemoration means different things to each nation...for Poland and other Central European countries it is both part of a gradual recognition of their complicity in the killing and an opportunity to draw closer to Europe..."Komorowski commenting for Radio Zet on Friday stressed that such "nonsense" statements about Poles may be an attempt to dump responsibility for the complete lack of reaction to defend the Jews dying at Auschwitz.He recalled that in principle only Poles acted to help Auschwitz inmates, only Poles aided those who escaped from the camp and added that Poland was the only country in the world where Germans imposed a death penalty for helping Jews. Ambassador Reiter speaking for Polish Radio Three said that using the words "Polish concentration camps" is a sign of "manipulation, stupidity and ignorance."

Cracow, Jan. 27: President Aleksander Kwasniewski and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin decided on the organization of a Polish-Russian economic forum which the two would attend. The forum is to be held in the first half of the year. "We agreed that there will be a meeting during the first half of the year, most likely in St. Petersburg," said Kwasniewski and added that both presidents want to attend it. "...this means that we will meet and we will talk," said the Polish president. Kwasniewski said he talked with Putin while the two presidents travelled from Cracow to Auschwitz to attend ceremonies marking the liberation of the camp. President Kwasniewski said his talks with Putin were dominated by economic issues, including the deliveries of Russian oil and by political issues. Kwasniewski said that Russia is interested in the delivery of oil to Poland and does not treat this as a political issue, but as a sign of normal economic cooperation. "Yukos deposits have been taken over by new companies, they too are ready to deliver (oil) to Poland. Russia is absolutely for the continuation of all this and for solving (problems) in the best spirit of Polish-Russian cooperation," Kwasniewski stressed. The two presidents met once again on late Thursday evening in Balice, outside Cracow. Before going into the meeting President Putin stressed: "We do not plan to put any limits on the deliveries of oil now or in the future." "We want to hold an economic forum, we hope for political contacts, we want our governments and our ministers to cooperate as best as it is possible..." said Kwasniewski adding that he also discussed with Putin the question of Polish food exports to Russia. According to Kwasniewski the two presidents also discussed the question of combatting terrorism and relations between the European Union and Russia.

Cracow, Jan.27: Prime Minister Marek Belka met U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney and a group of U.S. congressmen who attended the Auschwitz liberation ceremonies. When discusing international situation the politicians reviewed prospects of developments in Ukraine and agreed for the need of all-round support for Ukraine undergoing political and economic transformations. They also covered Polish-U.S. military cooperation and its importance for the modernisation of Polish armed forces. Belka once again pointed to Polish expectations concerning visa facilitations for Poles travelling to the USA.

Bratislava, Jan. 28: The outcome of Iraqi elections will affect Poland's further military activity in that country, Poland's defence minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski said in Bratislava. Polish and Slovak troops will support the election logistically but they will not be present in polling stations. Iraqi forces will be responsible for keeping order, he added. "In February, after the elections, together with representatives of 16 states in our division, we will asses the military situation. We already know that there will be fewer Polish soldiers in Iraq with more prepared for immediate transfer from Poland to Iraq," Szmajdzinski said. Szmajdzinski and his Slovak counterpart Yuray Lishka discussed military cooperation within the Visegrad Group, cooperation of Poland's and Slovakia's arms producting industries, and further operation of the multi-national division in Iraq.

Hausner for faster wage growth in 2005

Warsaw, Jan. 28: Deputy Prime Minister Jerzy Hausner supports the idea of faster wage growth in 2005 than that foreseen in the budget bill. "Together with the finance minister we are thinking about wage levels in 2005. If the finance ministry thinks that wages could grow faster, then I think this is a rational judgement and a rational signal, Hausner told. Finance minister Miroslaw Gronicki said earlier that the average annual wage growth level in 2005 might be raised from the projected 4.5 percent.

Oleksy: SLD for autumn general elections

Warsaw, Jan. 27: Most of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) will be for autumn general elections, SLD leader Jozef Oleksy said, commenting a Friday-scheduled debate on the election date between the party leadership and prime minister Marek Belka. Oleksy said final decisions on the ballot deadline would fall at a January 31 sitting of the SLD National Council. According to Oleksy a "vast majority" of SLD was for an autumn date. This, Oleksy added, was "surprising" as there had be no signs of such support during earlier debates on the matter. Asked if Belka would manage to convince SLD to an election in June, Oleksy said that Belka could meet up with "the same opposition I encountered when I tried", but admitted that the prime minister "knew how to be convincing". Oleksy confirmed SLD's plans to unite the Polish left for the elections, stressing that he especially hoped SLD renegate Social- democracy for Poland (SdPl) would decide to join a united leftwing bloc. We want to build a broad leftwing election front open for all, including the Freedom Union (UW), Oleksy stressed. Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski in a recent interview for PAP said he saw little chance for a leftwing coalition as divisions between individual parties were too deep.

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Kiev, Jan. 25: European integration was the topic of Polish deputy foreign minister Jan Truszczynski's talks in Kiev during a Tuesday visit in the Ukrainian capital. Truszczynski and his Ukrainian counterparts discussed ways in which Poland could aid Ukraine's EU strivings. The Ukrainian side also thanked Poland for its help in resolving a conflict around Ukraine's presidential elections. According to the Interfax-Ukraina news agency the talks also concerned the possible influence of the events in Ukraine on the country's relations with the EU and preparations to a January 31 meeting of EU foreign ministers.

Warsaw, Jan. 26: Polish-Finish relations and the need for the European Union to work out a common eastern policy are the main topics of talks between Polish Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz and his Finish counterpart Paavo Lipponen. Lipponen, accompanied by a delegation, has stayed in Poland since Tuesday at Cimoszewicz's invitation. On Thursday he will take part in commemorations of the 60th anniversary of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau liberation. According to Cimoszewicz, shortcoming in Polish-Finish relations are visible in economic cooperation "which could be closer." "We have long been counting on more Finish investments in Poland and on balancing out the trade exchange," he added.

During the meeting Cimoszewicz encouraged the intensification of actions promoting Poland in Finland and vice versa. "We live in close neighbourhood and yet societies knowledge about each other is poor," Cimoszewicz said. The two politicians thoroughly discussed EU relations with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Cimoszewicz said they "showed similar views as Poles and Fins know eastern European partners very well." Finish MPs, members of the delegations, were interested in Polish legislative procedures and the quality of the Polish law. "It turns out the Fins have less problems owing to a simple rule in force in Finland: no law questioned by experts is passed over there," Cimoszewicz said after the meeting.

Warsaw, Jan. 25: The year of 2004 will be remembered in Poland as, above all, the EU joining date, the year that crowned reforms implemented by the country over the past few years, Senate Speaker Longin Pastusiak told diplomats accredited to Poland at the traditional New Year's meeting. Pastusiak stressed that Poland's membership of the EU brought tangible effects in the form of economic animation and access to EU funds. He believes that Poland in the EU should support "initiatives promoting fundamental European values" such as democracy and respect for human rights. "Helping appease social and political tension in Ukraine we were guided precisely by this belief," he said. Addressing the diplomats Pastusiak pointed out to world threats that should be countered as terrorism and to crisis situations after elements hit the earth as tsunami. He also expressed the hope that the new year of 2005 will "bring peace to conflict ridden regions including Iraq, the Palestinian Authority and to war-torn African regions." Diplomatic Corps Dean Archbishop Jozef Kowalczyk declared that the chamber had diplomats' support as an institution building peace and making good-quality laws.

Warsaw, Jan. 25: Poland will join the Schengen group on Oct. 28, 2007, according to Pawel Dakowski, government commissioner responsible for preparations of state administration bodies to joining the Schengen 2 information system. "Due to IT considerations it is only possible to join the Schengen group on days when time changes from summer to winter or vice versa," he said Tuesday. "Oct. 28, 2007 is a date of time change in Poland." Before Poland joins the Schengen group the country must install a SIS II information system, adjust its law, and get a positive assessment from the EU of its eastern border safety, Dakowski said.

Warsaw, Jan. 25: The government on Tuesday adopted a strategy against corruption for 2005-2009, Interior and Administration Minister Ryszard Kalisz said. He explained that the strategy was the 2nd stage of actions aimed at corruption fighting as the 1st one centred on making and introducing anti-corruption laws and concluded at the end of 2004. Kalisz said Poland would soon ratify a U.N. Convention Against Corruption but he believed the Polish legislation had already been compatible with the convention. Practice can't catch up with good laws we have, he added. He stressed that the new strategy put bigger stress on creating "transparent and citizen-friendly" rules of public life and on social education against corruption. The minister did not want to elaborate on the new strategy telling journalists to browse a related document that was to come out still this week. He said the government was unable to evaluated the amount of means needed for the implementation but added the money would come from ministries' and local governments' own budgets, the EU and NGOs. Kalisz recalled that Transparency International rated Poland 67th among 145 countries as regards the intensity of corruption.

Strasbourg, Jan. 25: We must not put up with attempts at questioning or negating the Holocaust. This crime will forever be a burning wound in our common awareness, said the speaker of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Rene van der Linden at a commemorative ceremony devoted to the 60th anniversary of the Auschwitz camp liberation here Tuesday. "I would like to be able to say today that Europe is free from antisemitism, intolerance and hatred, from disregard for human life and dignity, but I know that this is not so," he also said. Former speaker of the Israeli Knesset Shevach Weiss said in his address he believed that the democratic Europe would be able to fight racism, fascism, xenophobia and cruelty, "with everything that resembles the evil of the past." "I believe this fight will end in success. We have no other choice," Weiss declared. The main ceremonies marking the anniversary will be held in Poland on Thursday.

New York, Jan. 25: Poland plays the role of a guardian of memory, not only because the biggest crime of the past century took place on the Polish soil, but also because we understand that memory of those events well serves the future, Professor Bronislaw Geremek has said.

Geremek, Poland's former foreign minister, headed a Polish delegation to the 28th special U.N. General Assembly held Monday to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. Geremek stressed that the calling of this session is an issue of extreme importance for Poland. "The most important issue here is to remind that this lesson (about Auschwitz) cannot be forgotten..." Professor Geremek said that memory of the Auschwitz drama also means firm rejection of stereotypes and ignorance often harming Poland. The usage of the term "Polish camps" is such a case. Geremek said he has already addressed this issue at the European Parliament. "I have done this with good result. A resolution which is to be passed by the European Parliament during its nearest session includes true expressions which do not change the truth about the past," concluded Geremek.

Warsaw, Jan. 25: A Museum of the History of Polish Jews is to be created in Warsaw by autumn of 2007. An agreement to this effect was signed by Warsaw Mayor Lech Kaczynski, Culture Minister Waldemar Dabrowski and President of the Association of Jewish Historical Institute Marian Turski on Tuesday. The museum will be a cultural institution presenting Jewish cultural heritage created in Poland during the over eight centuries, Minister Dabrowski said. It will be situated near the Memorial to Warsaw Ghetto Heroes and will house a main exhibition and temporary ones. Director of the Museum project Jerzy Halbersztadt told PAP that an international competition for the building design will be announced shortly. Many well-known architects, including Daniel Liebeskind and Hans Hollein, are to take part. The museum is to host about 250,000 to 500,000 visitors annually. Marian Turski recalled during the signing ceremony that the history of Polish Jews is an inseparable part of the history of Poland, and the museum will become an essential element of historical education in this country.

Warsaw, Jan. 25: At a time when Russian president Vladimir Putin pays homage to Auschwitz victims, people are killed and massive violations of human rights take place in Chechnya, says a statement from Amnesty International out Tuesday. Putin will come to Poland to attend Thursday's observances of the 60th anniversary of Auschwitz death camp liberation. "The five year old military conflict in the Republic of Chechnya has brought violations of international humanitarian law committed on a broad scale by both sides," the statement reads in part. The perpetrators of the violations largely go unpunished and the victims who seek justice encounter reprisals, it adds. Among the violations committed by the Russian federal troops and Chechen militias the AI lists "out of court executions", disappearances and tortures, rapes and murders as well attacks launched by armed opposition groups. "These can be regarded as war crimes," the statement says.

Warsaw, Jan. 25: The government on Tuesday adopted a draft law on subsidies for the construction of certain types of maritime ships in a move to protect jobs for 125,000 people employed by shipyards and its subsidiaries, deputy Economy and Labour Minister Jacek Piechota said. The document adopted by the government presents to-date results of restructuring programmes in the shipbuilding industry, Piechota explained. However, he said, the sector is still in dire straits and that is why the European Commission approved the state budget subsidies for it. Subsidies will be granted by the economy minister from the so called huge restructuring reserve, via Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego BGK. The ministry estimates that in 2005 subsidies will amount to 110 million zlotys, in 2006 to 150 million zlotys and in 2007 to 115 million zlotys.

Warsaw, Jan. 25: The Finance Ministry does not exclude that it may take advantage of bridge financing in form of bank credits to repay its Paris Club debt. In return it would launch a bond issue, Andrzej Ciopinski of the Finance Ministry told PAP . He added that Poland is waiting for declarations of respective members of the Paris Club on the earlier repayment deal and depending on their contents will decide on future foreign issues. Poland plans to repay its 12.3 billion euro debt to the Paris Club creditors in a single transaction.

Warsaw, Jan. 25: Three core inflation measures fell in December and two, including net inflation, remained unchanged. The net inflation kept the November level of 2.4 percent.

December's core inflation excluding the most volatile prices and fuel prices fell to 4.6 percent from 4.7 percent in November. December's core inflation excluding controlled prices remained at the November level of 4.6 percent. Inflation without the most volatile prices fell to 5.1 percent from 5.4 percent in November. December's 15 pct trimmed mean inflation fell to 3.1 percent from 3.2 percent. December's CPI calculated by the Central Statistical Office GUS was 4.4 percent against 4.5 percent in November.

Warsaw, Jan. 26: The Monetary Policy Council (RPP) left interest rates unchanged and maintained a restrictive bias in the monetary policy on Wednesday.

Warsaw, Jan. 25: Jerzy Urban, a spokesman for a communist government and currently editor-in-chief of the satirical Nie weekly was fined with 20,000 zlotys (6.4 thousand USD) by a Warsaw court on Tuesday for ridiculing Pope John Paul II as the head of the Holly See.

Warsaw, Jan. 25: The number of supporters of Marek Belka's government has grown to 25 percent from 17 percent since December, but opponents of the cabinet are still prevailing and account for 30 percent in January. In December, 28 percent were displeased with Belka's government, according to the CBOS January poll. Compared with December assessment of the government performance has improved: 32 percent of those polled expressed favourable opinions, 10 points up on December, and 45 percent were critical (down 2 points.) Also assessment of the government's economic policy has improved. 28 percent of Poles think that it creates chances for an improvement of the country's situation (5 points up) but 52 percent think the opposite (1 point down on December.) 32 percent of respondents are satisfied with the PM's (27 percent in December) while 42 percent remain critical (3 points down.)

posted by: Oborski at 17:27 | link | comments |

From Warsaw Voice

Presidents, prime ministers, parliamentarians, kings and dukes from 44 countries will attend ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Oświęcim Jan. 27.

The most prominent guests will include the presidents of: Russia-Vladimir Putin, France-Jacques Chirac, Germany-Horst Koehler, Israel-Moshe Katzav, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, European Commission President Manuel Barroso, European Parliament President Josep Borrell, Dutch Queen Beatrix, Belgian King Albert II and Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, representing the Vatican.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, whose father was a camp prisoner, will also attend. Last year Yushchenko supplied documents to the museum certifying that Andriy Yushchenko, a Soviet prisoner of war, wore number 11,367 in Auschwitz.

Commemorations of the camp's liberation, under the patronage of Polish President Aleksander Kwaśniewski, will be attended by an estimated 10,000 people, including at least 1,000 former prisoners. During the event former prisoners will sign the charter of an international center for education on Auschwitz and the Holocaust-an appeal that the tragedy of the Holocaust is never repeated. Official speakers during the ceremony will sign the charter first: former Polish Foreign Minister Władysław Bartoszewski, French intellectual Simone Weil and-on behalf of Romanies exterminated in Auschwitz-Romani Rose. The charter will be conveyed to national leaders worldwide.

The main ceremonies will start on the site of the former Birkenau camp. The sound of a train driving onto a loading ramp will signal the commencement of the celebrations.

Official statements will be delivered by the presidents of Poland, Israel and Russia. Ecumenical prayers will also be held. A special message from Pope John Paul II will be read. The ceremony will end with the lighting of candles and a performance by cantor Josef Malowany and a choir featuring a composition written by Krzysztof Knittel in honor of the occasion.

On the same day an international forum will take place in Cracow entitled "Let My People Live," organized by the Polish Ministry of Culture and the European Jewish Congress. During the forum, President Kwaśniewski will decorate five Red Army soldiers who participated in the liberation of the camp.

"Every generation must be on its guard, to make sure that such a thing never happens again," UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan wrote in a declaration before a special session of the UN General Assembly Jan. 19 dedicated to the anniversary of the liberation of Nazi concentration camps. Annan warned that "the evil that destroyed 6 million Jews and others in those camps is one that still threatens all of us today."

Never Forget
n The largest Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, was established on the basis of an order issued by SS Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler on April 27, 1940. After its expansion in 1941, the lager included the main camp Stammlager Auschwitz, the women's camp Birkenau, the Monowitz camp and more than 40 smaller camps.

According to incomplete documentation, about 1.5 million people were killed in the camp, 90 percent of them Jews. Auschwitz was also the site of methodical Nazi extermination of members of Polish underground organizations, social and political activists and intellectuals as well as Soviet prisoners-of-war. Many deaths can be traced to slave labor exploited by several German corporations; prisoners were decimated by hunger, beatings, torture and pseudomedical experiments conducted by German doctors led by the infamous Dr. Josef Mengele. There were also regular executions. From the spring of 1942, Zyklon B gas was used to kill prisoners, whose bodies were later incinerated.

In January 1945, the Nazis evacuated the camp, as a result of which thousands of prisoners died during the "March of Death." Jan. 27 Soviet troops entered the camp area, finding about 7,000 prisoners including several hundred children.

Citizens of many countries-including Poland, Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Soviet Union, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the United States and Yugoslavia-perished in the camp.

posted by: Oborski at 13:56 | link | comments |

The 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi Auschwitz death camp is being commemorated today. Between 1940 and 1945 over 1 and a half million people of numerous nationalities perished there. The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army on January 27th, 1945. Official delegations from 40 states are taking part in today’s commemorations as well as over two thousand survivors and young people from all over the world.

posted by: Oborski at 13:53 | link | comments |

posted by: Oborski at 04:10 | link | comments |

posted by: Oborski at 04:08 | link | comments |

Today we remember - or if we are too young we try to imagine.

Somehow we have to build a better world.

posted by: Oborski at 04:03 | link | comments |

Warsaw, Jan. 24: President Aleksander Kwasniewski signed a new minorities law permitting the official use of minority languages in communities where they are spoken by at least 20 percent of the population. The new law also allows minority-language versions of place and street names. To-date solutions in this respect have proven ineffective. There was no clear definition of ethnic minorities, neither did the legislation list how minorities are to exercise their rights", Kwasniewski said. According to minority representatives the new law had a symbolic character and would change little in minority life.

Warsaw, Jan. 24: Poland's support for Ukraine must now include moves which are visible for Ukrainians on a mass scale, Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld said adding he had in mind actions designed to make it easier for Ukrainians to cross the border or to work in Poland. According to Rotfeld, Ukraine needs material moves and not only spiritual and moral support. The Polish minister stressed the role Ukrainians had to play in transformations in their own country. Rotfeld announced that President Aleksander Kwasniewski will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The relations between Poland and Russia are good enough to hold a bilateral meeting during which it will be possible to speak in an open way, he stressed. President Putin is coming to Poland to attend the commemorations marking the 60th anniversary of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp liberation on January 27.

Warsaw, Jan. 24: Former inmates of Nazi concentration camps will sign a funding act of the International Education Centre about Auschwitz and the Holocaust during commemorations of the 60the anniversary of Auschwitz-Birkenau liberation. A related draft will be examined by the Council of Ministers. The founding act was adopted unanimously at the 9th Session of the International Auschwitz Council. The centre will be housed by the State Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau in the close vicinity of the former Nazi camp. That way it will be included in the system of guided tours, in the logic of demonstrating archival materials, using library and drawing on all type of the institution experience.

Bielsko-Biala, Jan. 24: An exhibition of works by Jewish painter Felix Nussbaum will open in the Oswiecim Culture Centre on January 27 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp liberation. Felix Nussbaum was murdered in Auschwitz in 1944. He was forty years old. The exhibition "Do not let my pictures die" has been prepared by the "Peace Towns" of Oswiecim in Poland and Osnabrueck in Germany in cooperation with Hannover. The exhibition will be open until February 17. Felix Nussbaum, born in Osnabrueck in 1904, studied fine and applied art in Hamburg and Berlin in the 1920s. At the end of the decade, and at the beginning of the 1930s, he had already enjoyed some success with his exhibitions in Berlin. His family and self portraits, as well as his paintings of towns and landscapes which appeared around this time were influenced by the works of Vincent Van Gogh and Henri Rousseau. In 1931, Nussbaum achieved his artistic breakthrough with the painting "The crazy place". In 1932, in recognition of his work, Nussbaum was awarded a Villa-Massimo scholarship in Rome. The seizure of power by the National Socialists in 1933 delayed his return to Germany. From this time onward, together with his wife-to-be Felka Platek, Nussbaum travelled through Italy, France and Belgium. In 1937 the couple took a flat in Brussels. After German army entered Belgium in 1940, Nussbaum was arrested and interned in the camp Saint Cyprien in southern France. He escaped from barracks in Bordeaux and in 1942 he disappeared with his wife in Brussels. While in hiding, every painting he created dealt with the fate of the Jews and gave him hope that he would survive. Nussbaum's best known paintings are "Self portrait with Jewish identity card" and "Triumph of Death", his last work. In 1944, Nussbaum and his wife were arrested, deported to Auschwitz and killed. The Felix Nussbaum Collection in Osnabrueck was started in 1970. The largest special exhibition of one hundered of Nussbaum's paintings took place in the Osnabruek Museum of Cultural History in 1990. His paintings were shown in Paris and Barcelona as part of the 1994 exhibition "La ville, art et architecture en Europe 1870 - 1933", at the Venice Biennal in 1995 and the exhibition "Art an Power - Europe under the Dictators" at the Hayward Gallery in London in 1995.

Warsaw, Jan. 24: Polish Television will be the only producer of a tv broadcast of the main ceremonies of the observances of the 60th anniversary of Auschwitz-Birkenau camp liberation. Seventy public tv stations affiliated to the European Broadcasters Union as well as BBC, Reuters, Rai have already declared their will to cooperate. TVP will begin its broadcast of the central ceremonies on January 27 with "Let my People Live" International Forum organised by the European Jewish Congress and held in the Slowacki Theatre in Cracow. A special programme composed of addresses, prayers and a concert will be aired from the site of Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. There will be also a programme on the history of the camp. A live transmission will be available through the Internet (itvp.pl) to the Internet users all over the world. Apart from live broadcasts of the central ceremonies, TVP will present documentaries, feature films and other programs connected with the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp liberation anniversary.

Warsaw, Jan. 24: The funeral of the late Jan Nowak-Jezioranski to be held at Warsaw's Powazki cemetery on January 26. A book of condolences will be displayed at Warsaw's Townhall and at the Royal Castle's courtyard where the coffin will be laid out in state before being carried in procession to St. John's Cathedral for the funeral mass. The main funeral ceremonies at the cemetery, which will start at noon, will be attended by President Aleksander Kwasniewski who will deliver a speech. The funeral mass and the following ceremonies will be broadcast live nationwide by public TV Channel 1. At the initiative of the Jewish Warsaw congregation prayers for the deceased will be held at Warsaw's synagogue. Jan Nowak Jezioranski, a wartime courier for the Polish anti-Nazi resistance, a journalist and long-time head of the Polish section of Radio Free Europe died in Warsaw last week at the age of 92.

Brussels, Jan. 24: The rate of unemployment will go up to 19.4-19.5 pc in January, from 19.1 pc recorded in December, 2004, according to deputy PM Jerzy Hausner. "I will be glad (..) if my prediction proves true. This will mean progress compared to last year," Hausner told. In December there were 2,999,600 unemployed people, 5.5 pc fewer than in December of 2003. Unemployment declined steadily last year. Its rate was 20.6 pc in January, 2004, and the number of jobless reached 3.3 m at the time.

Bialystok, Jan. 24: Law and Justice (PiS) head Jaroslaw Kaczynski said that combining the forthcoming parliamentary and presidential elections with the EU constitution referendum would amount to cheating on Poles. He also said that asking Poles whether they were against the EU constitution or for it was "an abuse", since the Poles did not know the document and the consequences of its adoption. He added that an average politician also did not know the contents of the document. Asked about the delegalisation of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) planned by PiS, Kaczynski said a motion to this effect was being drafted and would be filed in a matter of weeks. PiS leader also voiced concern that a massive declassifying of communist-era personal files kept by the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) could jeopardize the process of vetting public figures under the existing vetting law.

Warsaw, Jan. 24: The new year has brought a slight improvement in social moods. The number of positive opinion about general situation in Poland has gone up by 4 points since December to 30 percent in January. At the same time negative opinions decreased by 4 points to 58 percent, according to recent studies of the Public Opinion Survey Centre CBOS. CBOS estimates that general situation in the country is considered definitely as bad, yet worth noting is the fact that the percentage of positive opinions has grown for the first time in five months. As regards the economic situation CBOS noted above all a drop of critical opinions to 46 percent this January from 50 percent last December. According to CBOS such law level of negative opinions has been noted for the first time since 1999. At the same time 13 percent of respondents claim the economic situation is good. CBOS says that better assessment of the economic situation is accompanied by higher assessment of the situation in work establishments as 44 percent of vocationally active respondents believe the situation of their workplaces is good. Assessment of general living standards and financial situation of families has not changed and the percentage of those satisfied (26 percent) is only slightly higher that that of displeased respondents (22 pct.) The poll was conducted between January 7 and 10 on a representative sample of 1089 group of adult Poles.

posted by: Oborski at 00:57 | link | comments |

During the times of state-sponsored anti-Semitism in communist Poland, the country's few remaining Jews preferred to keep their identities well hidden, to the extent that they often didn't even tell their children they were Jewish. Malgorzata only discovered she was a Jew when she was a teenager. She is now working for Beit, a Jewish organisation in Warsaw. Bogdan Zaryn talks to Malgorzata about her rediscovered Jewish roots.

posted by: Oborski at 00:52 | link | comments |

Ecumenical Servce opens Ceremonies in Auschwitz

An ecumenical service in the intention of the victims of the Auschwitz concentration camp opened the celebrations commemorating the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the camp. The service is attended by catholic priests, rabbis and the camp survivors. Representatives of many nations have read the psalm 122 Prayer for peace .
Meanwhile guests arrive at the nearby southern city of Krakow to attend the Thursday ceremonies. Official delegations from 40 states are to take part in the commemorations as well as over two thousand survivors and young people from all over the world. Israeli president Moshe Kacav has already arrived in Krakow. Ukraine’s president Victor Yushchenko is arriving this afternoon, US deputy head of state Dick Cheney, while Russia’s Vladimir Putin is expected to arrive this evening. The Russian head of state is to meet with president Aleksander Kwasniewski. The politicians are to discuss political and economic issues.

posted by: Oborski at 13:40 | link | comments |

Poland Bids Farewell to Jan Nowak Jezioranski

Poland bid farewell to Jan Nowak Jezioranski the legendary courier from Warsaw who died last Friday at the age of 92.
Early this morning Varsovains came to pay tribute to the late founder of Radio Free Europe and one of the legends of the fight for free, democratic Poland. Flowers were laid at his coffin which was set up in the courtyard of the Warsaw Royal castle. Later the coffin was transported to St.John’s cathedral and a mass was said .At noon burial ceremonies started at Warsaw’s oldest Powazki cemetery. Jan Nowak Jezioranski was be laid in his family grave.
“Despite the forced 45 years of emigration Jezioranski never left Poland” said Aleksander Kwasniewski in his speech at the Warsaw cathedral. “Poland was his obsession, longing and a great challenge.. Jezioranski devoted his life to fight for a free and democratic country” said the Polish head of state. During the mass a letter of John Paull II was read. The Pope wrote about the courage, truth and faith which characterized the life of Jan Nowak Jezioranski. The Pontiff wrote of his admiration for Jezioranski’s faith and love for his homeland.

posted by: Oborski at 13:38 | link | comments |

A Burnley man made a 2,000-mile trip to Poland because he couldn’t find an NHS dentist. Brian Pasiewicz, 56, is now planning to fly to Krakow every six months as he says it’s cheaper than going private in Britain.

He told the Daily Express that he had been without a dentist for three to four years after his local practice went private. “So I traced relatives in Poland and eventually a cousin, whom I had never met, arranged a dentist for me,” he said.

He paid £150 for a return flight to Krakow from Manchester and then another £130 for 12 fillings, some caps and having his teeth polished. “It would have cost me about £2,000 to get the same treatment privately in Britain. I am going again in April to have some more done. I need two or three more fillings. I’ve already booked the flight.”

posted by: Oborski at 21:25 | link | comments |

The discussion in the European Parliament turned controversial when the issue of creation of Nazi Auschwitz concentration camp was tackled. The first draft of the resolution mentioned “death camp in Poland” – the term was changed at the insistence of Bronislaw Geremek. Another Polish eurodeputy Boguslaw Sonik demanded a clear statement that the camp was set up by Germans but the motion was strongly opposed by leader of German socialists Martin Schulz. Finally the resolution speaks about “Hitler nazi death camp” – it will adopted on Thursday, the 60th anniversary of liberation of the Auschwitz camp.

posted by: Oborski at 16:12 | link | comments (2) |

Warsaw, Jan. 21: Poland has suffered a great loss, gone is an outstanding person and patriot, Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski said commenting death of Jan Nowak-Jezioranski, former head of Radio Free Europe's Polish section and legendary wartime courier between occupied Poland and London. Jezioranski died on January, 20 in Warsaw aged 92. Kwasniewski said that Jezioranski was living proof that patriotism and faith in democracy and independence could go hand in hand with friendliness, openness and tolerance. Jan Nowak-Jezioranski was an outstanding Pole with a place in history's pantheon. I would wish his person to be an example for future generations, Kwasniewski said. According to PM Marek Belka Nowak-Jezioranski will remain "a gallion figure" for Poles. He was deeply respected by Poles. We will miss him, Belka said in the Sejm. He was a great patriot and human, a prince of the second republic, former president and Solidarity symbol Lech Walesa said in Rome. U.S. Ambassador in Poland Victor Ashe in a special letter today called Nowak-Jezioranski "a great Polish patriot and a great American citizen". It is with great sadness that I mark the passing of a truly great Polish patriot, as well as a great American citizen, Jan Nowak-Jezioranski. His courage during the Second World War and his staunch resistance to Soviet domination of his beloved Poland after the war could be the stuff of legend were it not altogether true, Ashe wrote.

Warsaw, Jan. 21: President Aleksander Kwasniewski said he would discuss a break in Russian crude oil deliveries to Poland during President Vladimir Putin's visit to Poland. The president added that PKN Orlen, which processes the oil and sells it on the market had asked him for raising the issue in talks with Putin. The president said he would not feel at panic as the mater can be solved. In December 2002 PKN Orlen reached a contract on crude oil deliveries with Swiss Petroval company, that held Russian Yukos Oil Corporation's assurance. Petroval pledged to deliver oil to PKN Orlen until 2009, with the option to prolong it for three successive years. In line with the agreement Petroval was to ensure deliveries at the level of 3 million tons annually on the average with the option to increase deliveries to 3.6 million tons annually as of 2004 and additional 1.6 million tons as of 2006. Yukos has recently reported he will be unable to honour all its long-term contracts for crude oil deliveries for the Russian government has seized the concern's main company extracting the oil. The declaration has prompted all its foreign recipients, including PKN Orlen, to seek for alternative sources of the raw material.

Kiev, Jan. 23: Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has a great chance to use the enthusiasm present for many weeks in Kiev and all over Ukraine for the good of the economic development and democracy, President Aleksander Kwasniewski said. The Polish president attended a ceremony in Kiev during which Viktor Yushchenko was sworn in as president of Ukraine. According to President Kwasniewski, ceremony marked the end of a very significant stage in Ukraine's history. "Ukraine was a state and from today Ukrainians are becoming a nation that is aware of its goals, he stressed. And of course many things are just starting. And they are difficult, as for instance the division of Ukraine. And the Ukrainian economy as well as plans to include Ukraine in the European structures require true efforts, the Polish president said.

Warsaw, Jan. 21: We will be doing our best to win such EU budget for the years 2007-2013 which be favourable and good for Poland, Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld told the Sejm presenting the tasks of the Polish foreign policy in 2005. It is our goal to ensure maximum outlays on the cohesion policy and agriculture in the new EU member countries. The new budget should make it possible to speed up the process of liquidating differences in the development of the EU states, Rotfeld said. Being a NATO and EU member Poland will be aiming at a new opening in the relations between the West and Ukraine, Rotfeld stressed and added that Poland's goal was to elevate the EU relations with Ukraine to the level of Strategic Partnership. Rotfeld declared that Poland would provide necessary help to new Ukrainian President Vikotr Yushchenko and the Ukrainian government and would share experience in developing and consolidating democratic and pro-European transformations.

Warsaw, Jan. 21: Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld believes that a meeting of Poland's and Russia's presidents scheduled for January 26 will be an occasion to "clear up certain misunderstandings" and to return to normal relations based on partnership. Russia's president Vladimir Putin will take part in the commemorations of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp on January 27. Putin will come to Cracow on January 26 and will meet Kwasniewski then. Answering questions from deputies after Sejm's debate on foreign policy in 2005, Rotfeld said that Poland should not "sustain anti-Russian moods, russophobia, but on the other hand we cannot talk with Russia from a position of a country that is denied equal treatment."

Warsaw, Jan. 21: Deputy PM Jerzy Hausner believes that year-on-year inflation will fall to the target figure set by the Monetary Policy Council (RPP) of 2.5 percent in the 3Q or 4Q this year. Hausner's opinion is shared by Miroslaw Pietrewicz, member of the RPP. Pietrewicz said inflation is likely to quickly fall after the 1Q. According to Pietrewicz the RPP inflationary target may be reached at the end of this year, in the 3Q or 4Q. The central bank (NBP) inflationary goal is 2.5 percent +/- 1 percentage point. According to data of the Central Statistical Office GUS in December prices of commodities and consumption services rose 4.4 percent from December 2003 and 0.1 percent on November 2004.

Warsaw, Jan. 21: The Sejm debated Poland's foreign policy in 2005, with a referendum on EU Constitutional Treaty being the subject of much controversy. During the debate, Democratic Left Alliance leader Jozef Oleksy came out in favour of holding the referendum on the Treaty together with Poland's presidential elections. Leader of the Social-Democracy of the Republic of Poland Marek Borowski was trying to convince those gathered that the Constitutional Treaty should be passed. Borowski called on politicians and NGOs to take efforts for the referendum and ratification of the Treaty to take place in 2005. Citizen's Platform leader Donald Tusk said that the referendum should be held possibly late to enable a broad discussion on its effects. He believed that Poland's political position in Europe would weaken after the Constitutional Treaty took effect. Kazimierz Ujazdowski of the Law and Justice maintained that the Constitutional Treaty was unfavourable for Poland and risky for the EU. Waldemar Pawlak of the Polish Peasant Party criticised the Constitutional Treaty as giving Poland to little say in EU decision making process. He said that Poles should decide in the referendum whether Poland would not lose too much of its sovereignty. Janusz Dobrosz of the League of Polish Families believed that ratification of the Constitutional Treaty meant a "deadly threat" for Poland and was incompatible with the Polish Constitution.

Diwanijah, Jan. 23: A plaque with the names of 16 Polish soldiers who were killed in Iraq was unveiled in the Echo Base in Diwanijah. After the mission of Polish troops is completed the commemorative plaque will be moved to the Field Cathedral in Warsaw, commander of the Polish-run international division general Andrzej Ekiert said.

Warsaw, Jan. 21: Polish soldiers did not damage archeological monuments of the ancient city of Babylon, Iraq's deputy defence minister Ziad Cattan said in Warsaw. "Neither Polish nor American troops inflicted damage to archeological monuments in Babylon," Cattan said. On the contrary Polish and U.S. troops protected the priceless world culture heritage from plunder and smuggling, he stressed. The Iraqi minister emphasised that Polish soldiers showed deep understanding for Iraq's tradition and problems. In mid-January the British Museum charged the Poland-led multinational division with causing damage to the ancient city of Babylon.

Warsaw, Jan. 21: A contract worth some 20 million USD for deliveries to Iraq of machine guns, ammunition and an armoured personnel carrier between Bumar and the Iraqi defence ministry was signed in Warsaw. Both sides reported that next month another contract worth some 40 million USD for the delivery, to Iraq, of a communication system made by Polish Radmor company will be signed.

Warsaw, Jan. 21: January's sentiment indicator in industrial processing rose to plus 9 from plus 7 in December, the Central Statistical Office (GUS) said. Twenty five percent of the surveyed firms said their economic situation improved (against December's 26 pct) while 16 percent said otherwise (against 19 percent). GUS said that the situation as regards the order portfolio was better than in December, a result of rise of domestic orders. Production growth is slightly faster than in December. Companies have no difficulties in paying their financial liabilities. Financial situation of companies is expected to improve a little, the GUS said.

posted by: Oborski at 15:58 | link | comments |

Kasia Kowalska entered the chart this week straight at 4 with her new song Prowadz mnie/Lead me.

3. Stacja Warszawa/Station - Warsaw by Lady Pank remains the third most popular song!

2. Bohema/I'm Flying by Wilki has finally been deposed after a month spent on Top.

1. Sen sie spelnil/The Dream has Come true by Kombi is a successful come back of the kings of electronic sounds of the 1980s. Sen sie spelnil is our new No 1!

posted by: Oborski at 21:29 | link | comments |

National Holocaust Memorial Day will be marked by a Noon Service at the Wyre Forest Holocaust Memorial, by the War Memorial, outside Kidderminster’s Church of St Mary and All Saints on Sunday 30^th January.

Cllr Mike Oborski, who Chairs the Wyre Forest Holocaust Memorial Committee, said "We do hope that as many people as possible will come along. This is a brief but always very moving and important event."

"As in previous years we would ask everyone to come along and to bring a single flower to lay at the memorial".

"This year sees the 60^th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp towards the end of the Second World War and it is Auschwitz which is the theme for remembrance on this year’s National Holocaust Memorial Day."

Wyre Forest District Council Chief Executive Walter Delin will read the National Declaration for Holocaust Memorial Day and keynote speakers will be Cllr Oborski and local Member of Parliament Dr Richard Taylor.

Prayers and readings will be led by Rev Owain Bell from St Mary and All Saints CE Church, Rev Douglas Lamb from St Ambrose RC Church, Rev Mary Austin from Trinity Methodist Church, Father Edward Stachurski from the towns Polish Catholic Church of Our Lady of Ostra Brama and Dr Baron Mendes Da Costa representing the local Jewish Community.

Everyone attending is invited to refreshments at the Polish Ex-Servicemens Club in St Georges Terrace after the service.

posted by: Oborski at 20:55 | link | comments |

From Warsaw Voice

An aging Europe needs immigrants as its population shrinks and personnel shortages are acute in many professions.

Researchers are calling for rational migration management. The British message is clear: "yes" to genuine, skilled workers, "no" to welfare seekers.

Will other European Union countries cancel transition periods for Polish labor? Polish authorities hope so since, contrary to public fears in the "the old 15" countries, these markets have not been flooded by job-seeking immigrants from the East since May 1, 2004. Fears concerned job competition from the 10 new member states and a rush on social benefits on the EU labor market.

Only a few countries-Great Britain, Ireland and Sweden-opened their labor markets to Poles immediately after accession. Other countries introduced transition periods of up to seven years. Experiences in the former group of states, presented during the conference Impact of EU Enlargement on the EU Labor Market, indicate that these fears were unfounded since local labor markets have not suffered.

Charles Graham Crawford, British ambassador to Poland, points out that the past six months have shown that Poland is not a desert nor has the UK been flooded. Moreover, the presence of a new group of workers is beneficial to the British economy, since some sector suffer from labor shortages.

Between May 1 and Sept. 30, around 91,000 people applied to register under the British Workers Registration Scheme; 55 percent of the applicants were Polish. During this period accession nationals contributed approximately Ł120 million to UK GDP in tax and national insurance.

Figures compiled by the TUC union federation indicate that the last wave of migration targeted rural and small-town regions to a greater extent than previous waves.

British authorities prepared carefully for the market opening. A press campaign was launched and bilingual booklets were issued with information on the rules governing the British labor market. An additional print run of the booklets was necessary in light of the large interest among Poles. More than 15 presentations were held throughout Poland concerning the rules binding on the British labor market. A telephone hotline was also opened. Many Poles visited the "Living and Working in the UK" website of the British embassy.

The opening of the British labor market to workers from the new EU countries was not intended to be a "free for all." One of Britain's primary goals, in addition to finding workers to fill labor shortages, namely in agriculture and public services, especially in small localities, was to reduce "the gray zone." After May 1, Poles working illegally in Britain-frequently exploited by their employers, without social insurance and underpaid-were able to legalize their stay through registration.

From May to October, some 1,600 Poles applied for a residence permit in Sweden, in comparison with 800 applicants a year earlier. Growth is visible but these are not huge figures in absolute terms. Poles want to work mainly in agriculture and construction. However, the main barrier in Sweden is the language.

Polish doctors are increasingly interested in working abroad, which may prove disadvantageous to Poland in the future. Europe needs anesthesiologists, psychiatrists, ophthalmologists, geriatricians, orthopedists, radiologists and nurses.

Ireland has also welcomed immigrants. Between May 1 and Oct. 31, nearly 30,000 people from new EU countries registered with the Irish Labor Office. Registration is essential for obtaining taxpayer status and a work permit. Approximately 10,000 of them are Poles. Some have already worked there illegally and are only now legalizing their stay. According to Irish expert Pauline Conroy, some might have relocated from Germany, where access to the construction market for Poles is increasingly restricted. Conroy added that workers can claim the same social benefits as Irish workers. Some immigrants work below their qualifications. For example, skilled carpenters are working as day laborers.

Political considerations are not the only ones which determine the attitude of individual EU governments to economic immigration; the situation on the local labor market is also important. In countries with a shortage of labor in some professions, barriers to the inflow of foreign workers are being removed. However, in some countries such as Germany, these barriers still exist because the public fears a new wave of immigrants. Politicians exploit these moods.

However, if the impact of immigration on the British, Irish and Swedish labor markets proves advantageous, some other EU countries may follow in their footsteps, observes Janusz Reiter, president of the Polish Center for International Relations

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Colombo, Jan. 19: PM Marek Belka paid a short visit to Sri Lanka during his return trip from Hanoi to Warsaw to meet Sri Lankan authorities of the tsunami-hit regions. The Polish PM met with President of Sri Lanka Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. The meeting was held at an air base near the town of Hambantota in the south-eastern region of the island. Over 30,000 people have been reported dead in Sri Lanka and over 175,000 people have been reported dead around southern Asia and as far away as Somalia on Africa's eastern coast from an earthquake and massive tsunami that smashed coastlines on December 26.

Warsaw, Jan. 19: New relations with Ukraine, EU budget for 2007-2013 favourable for Poland and a new approach to Poland's involvement in Iraq are some of the main guidelines of the Polish foreign policy for 2005. The key guidelines will be presented by Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld in the Sejm on January, 21. His statement main lines were released by deputy Foreign Minister Jakub Wolski. Wolski explained that priority had also been given to "fostering privileged nature of our relations with the United States" and to the idea of Polish-German future relations free from past burdens. The foreign ministry is also to approach Poland's role in Europe and its foreign policy.

Warsaw, Jan. 19: Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz said that if he received a draft resolution on the dissolution of the Sejm he would put it to a vote on May 5. I do not know the result but I will vote for cutting short the current term of office, Cimoszewicz told. According to Cimoszewicz, if parliamentary elections were held in autumn it would be good if they were held together with presidential elections. This is a question of costs. (...) One should also remember that election turnout is going down when there are too many votings, he stressed.

Cracow, Jan. 19: Thirty posters devoted to the Auschwitz Nazi death-camp are on show at the Centre of Jewish Culture in Cracow. The Auschwitz Remembrance exhibition opened to mark the 60th anniversary of the concentration camp liberation, to be observed on January 27. The posters, which come from the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Oswiecim, were made by young people from schools of fine arts for a competition marking the 55th anniversary of the Auschwitz liberation five years ago. Barbed wire, camp posts, the Star of David and camp numbers are the chief motifs of the posters whose majority is black and white. "It is a real challenge for all of us, including artists, to speak of this subject," director of the Centre of Jewish Culture Joachim Russek told adding that the remembrance of Auschwitz depends on date of birth, historical conscience and cultural and civilizational distance. The exhibition will be on show until mid-February.

Warsaw, Jan. 19: Polish translation of the European constitution contains cardinal factual errors which may not only delay the ratification of the treaty but also puts ratification chances in jeopardy. The treaty was due to be deliberated by the Sejm early in February. Now this will have to be delayed by at least three to four months until a correct Polish version is worked out. This decreases chances for a constitutional referendum to be held together with presidential elections in autumn. Some political groupings claim that this is the only date at which at least 50 percent of those eligible will take part in the referendum, a condition for the vote to be valid.

Katowice, Jan. 19: Polish-Czech 2004 turnover reached 6 billion USD, 50 per cent higher on the 2003 level. On the rise is also the number of mutual investments and Polish and Czech companies entering neighbouring markets, Milan Peprnik, Czech Commercial Consul in Katowice told. Poland jumped from seventh to fourth place on the list of Czech's top trade partners. Peprnik said that both countries' joining the EU was no doubt one of the reasons of such growth. According to the consulate data Czech exports to Poland grew by the end of November by 48.6 pc. to 3 billion 111 million USD, imports from Poland went up by 51.3 pc to 2 billion 841 million USD. Total turnover after 11 month reached the value of 5 billion 952 million USD. Peprnik stressed that this data does not include the developing cross-border cooperation. Currently both sides are working on the setting up of two economic zones resembling economic euroregions to serve the exchange of know-how and promotion of branch projects.

Warsaw, Jan. 19: Canada has decided to support Poland in her attempt to make an earlier repayment of a 12.32 billion euro debt towards Paris Club creditors, spokesman for the Canadian Finance Ministry John Embury has announced. According to Bloomberg, Canada agreed to Poland's plan although previously it has been unofficially included in a group of states opposing earlier repayment. Poland owes Canada 1 billion 309 million euros.

Warsaw, Jan. 19: The European Commission opened a formal probe into the compatibility with EC state aid rules of a series of public authority measures for the restructuring of Warsaw FSO car maker. The commission has reservations to a sum of 100 million euros in aid which, according to the EC, is to be granted to FSO. The Commission has doubts whether a restructuring plan for FSO is compatible with EU state aid rules. Jonathan Todd, spokesman for the competition commissioner, said that according to the Commission's preliminarily assessment, majority of aid measures, estimated by the EC at 135 million euros, have not been granted yet and the EC must check this. Certain other aid measures (worth about 35 million euros) were actually granted before accession, according to the Commission's preliminary assessment, and so will not be examined by the Commission, Todd said.

Warsaw, Jan. 19: Shares in Opoczno SA, Poland's leading ceramic tile maker, are to be sold at the Warsaw Stock Exchange most likely in mid-2005 in line with a decision of its main shareholder Credit Suisse First Boston Ceramic Partners consortium, Opoczno representatives told. It will be one of the biggest private offers in the history of the Warsaw Stock Exchange, Zbigniew Prokopowicz, president of Opoczno SA supervisory board said. The consortium is willing to sell the entire batch of 99 percent of shares worth an estimated 645.2 million USD. Shareholders want the company to go public before PZU and PGNiG. Company CEO Slawomir Frackowiak said that in 2005 the company plans to increase sales revenues by some 20 pct and net profit by 15 pct.

Warsaw, Jan. 19: Low-rate air companies operating in Poland declare they will launch new air connections and increase the number flights on existing connections. However, air carriers warn final decisions will depend on customers' interest. SkyEurope Airlines plans to launch summer connections with Copenhagen (6 times a week from Warsaw), Manchester (3 flights a week from Warsaw and 3 from Cracow), Nice (3 flights from Warsaw and 3 from Cracow) and Barcelona (3 flights a week from Cracow). Wizz Air announced his fleet will go up from 6 to 10-11 planes. Germanwings does not plan new flights from Polish airports but Centralwings, belonging to LOT Polish carrier will open its services as of Febraury 1. First passengers will leave from Warsaw and Cracow to Gatwick airport near London. EasyJet declares that new routes will be launched in line with market expectations.

Warsaw, Jan. 19: In 2004 Poland's homicide, theft and robbery rates went down against the previous year but there was a rise in muggery and rowdyism, the Polish police informed in an annual crime report. In the 2nd half of the year crime detectability was highest in the provinces Lubuskie, Mazowieckie and Opolskie and lowest in Silesia, Swietokrzyskie and Lodz. 48,636 robberies were recorded countrywide in 2004, down on 2003's 51,688. Also down were burglaries (from 294,654 to 266,591) and car thefts (from 54,292 to 51,150). There were also less rapes (from 2,300 to 2,100) and killings (from 1,039 to 980).

Cracow, Jan. 19: Heart valves have successfully been implanted via intravenal method for the first time ever on three patients of Cracow's John Paul 2 hospital, journalists were told at a press conference. The sole implanting procedure took less than one minute. The method allows for cutting short the surgery and the time of heart action stoppage to less than 10 minutes. Also, reduced is the risk of patients' suffering post-surgery side-effects. According to doctors, the new biological valve called 3F Therapeutics, worked out by a U.S. team led by James Cox and Tino Quijano, is a breakthrough step in cardiosurgery. The Cracow hospital is one of 12 medical centres in Europe and 6 in the United States taking part in a research project of a Lake Forest Centre in California.

Warsaw, Jan. 19: Tourist traffic to Poland will rise about 5 percent annually in coming years, according to the Tourism Institute. Institute director Krzysztof Lopacinski told that 16.4 million tourists are expected in Poland in 2007 (14.3 mn in 2004), most tourists are expected from Germany, other EU countries and North America. Lopacinski said the tourist boom was part of a global high on the tourist market but warned that no major influx of visitors to Poland was to be expected due to the country's poor infrastructure. We still offer insufficient leisure options. Local leisure attractions are what draws tourists most, he stressed. Lopacinski said Poland's regions mainly lacked on restaurants, cafes and local entertainment.

Warsaw, Jan. 19: If parliamentary elections were held in January the Citizens' Platform PO would get a 30-percent support and thus the biggest number of seats, according to the Pentor Political Outlook Barometer. The report shows that Samoobrona would be supported by 14 percent of the electorate, followed by Law and Justice PiS party (12 percent.) The Democratic Left Alliance - Union of Labour SLD-UP coalition with 10 percent of the vote would come fourth, followed by the League of Polish Families LPR (9 pct) and the Polish Peasant Part PSL (6 pct.) The Social-democracy of Poland SdPl scored 4 percent in January, not enough to get to parliament. Compared to a December poll the PO gained 4 points, the SLD-UP coalition 2 points and Samoobrona 1 point. The LPR lost 5 points, while PiS, PSL and SdPl 1 points each. The poll was conducted on January 8 and 9 on a representative sample of 1,000 persons.

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The Polish edition of NEWSWEEK devotes its cover story to a man who will most probably be Poland’s next prime minister. The leader of the neo-conservative Citizens Platform, Jan Rokita wants to screen the sources of property of politicians, appoint special prosecutors to investigate the cases bordering on politics and business and to declassify all secret files produced by the communist intelligence. NEWSWEEK predicts that the leftist politicians, whose popularity has fallen to an all-time low, will spare no effort in the pre-election period to discredit Rokita. According to the weekly, the newly-formed parliamentary committee to verify the privitization process for the insurance company PZU is to deal a heavy blow to Rokita, who is said to have been in close contact with one of the men implicated in the PZU scandal.

Communist secret files, which I have just mentioned, are a top story in WPROST. Four weeks after the media brought to light documents suggesting that the spokesperson for Poland’s first Solidarity-led government Malgorzata Niezabitowska was an informer for the communist security services, every day brings fresh evidence that the unopened files will for long remain a hovering presence in political life. The lifting of the veil on police archives will be like a bomb explosion – warn those who want to bury them for ever. WPROST argues that it is better to engineer a controlled explosion instead of sitting idly by, waiting for successive explosions, that is leaks of classified documents. Professor Kieres, head of the National Rememberance Institute which is the custodian of the vast records of Poland’s communist past, told the weekly that the milk has already been spilled and there is no return from opening the files.

The weekly SOLIDARNOSC of the Solidarity Union also thinks that the avalanche will not be stopped. The reason is very simple: no one can forbid ex-dissidents who had already been given access to their files to reveal the names of those who spied on them.

The SOLIDARNOSC Weekly also sets the scene for the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the former Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz. It was indeed the liberation of the camp, and not of its prisoners, as on the eve of the expected liberation the Germans exacuated some 58 thousand inmates, mainly Poles and Jews, in what came to be called the ‘death marches’.

In its regular History feature, WPROST focuses on the Enigma machine, the Polish contribution to the Battle of Britain and to eventual Allied victory. By 1940, the British had broken the code of the German ‘Enigma’ enciphering machine and were able to read Nazi radio traffic. This was only made possible by a pre-war feat of Polish military intelligence, assisted by a group of` brilliant young mathematicians: they had worked out the Enigma system, built a replica and passed all its results to the Allies. A prominent military historian writes in WPROST that Poles were able to intercept Soviet messages already during the 1920 Polish-Bolshevik War for the country’s independence. The weekly quotes a German diplomat as saying that had the Enigma code not been broken by Poles, World War Two could have lasted much longer. The German people, the diplomat said, owe Poles a debt of gratitude for assistance in liberating them from under Nazi dictatorship.

Under the headline, A Champion Who Lost His Life, POLITYKA has an obituary of Jerzy Pawlowski, one of the best fencers of all time, who was an officer in the Polish army and offered his services to the CIA during the cold war. Sentenced to 25 years in jail, he was freed after 10 years and was to be exchanged for spies for the eastern bloc in an operation on a bridge dividing Berlin. Pawlowski refused to cross the bridge and take up a new life in the West. He stayed in Poland, devoting most of his time to painting and wood-carving.

Finally, back to NEWSWEEK. It salutes the over 60 year-olds on Grandmothers’ and Grandfathers’ Days which are marked here on January 21 and 22. In fifty years from now, the number of people over sixty will triple in the world. A demographic revolution, which has already started, will affect everything, from politics and the taxation system to apartment design. NEWSWEEK quotes a public opinion survey which shows that the majority of young Poles highly respect their grandparents for their moral values, their knowledge of history and for giving the young a sense of security.

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Berlin, Jan.18: President Aleksander Kwasniewski said he was glad that FRG president Horst Koehler will attend ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi concentration camp. Asked by Handlesblatt newspaper why Koehler will not make an address, Kwasniewski said the course of this year's ceremonies had been drawn in accordance with the established tradition. Kwasniewski positively assessed the process of reconciliation under way between former World War Two enemies. He added: "However, reconciliation cannot be imposed. It is a multilayer process that requires patience," he said in the interview with Handelsblatt. The president also spoke against treating certain World War Two subjects taboo, like for instance allied bombings of German cities or displacement of Germans from Poland after the war. He warned, however, against distorting the history of the war by putting such subjects centerstage and forgetting who had started the war.

Warsaw, Jan. 18: President Aleksander Kwasniewski received a delegation of the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions (OPZZ). The sides discussed plans of legislative steps, including a deputies draft amendment to the law on minimum wage and the amendment to the law on pensions. The list of discussed topics included OPZZ plans and tasks for this year, the alliance's involvement in election campaigns and in the planned referendum on the EU Constitutional Treaty. Kwasniewski stressed the need of existence of the left-wing in Poland and the necessity of cooperation of various groupings of this political option.

Warsaw, Jan. 18: Waldemar Dubaniowski will be the new head of president Aleksander Kwasniewski's office and Jerzy Bahr will take over the National Security Office (BBN), presidential secretary Dariusz Szymczycha told. Dubaniowski will replace Marek Ungier, Bahr's post was previously held by Marek Siwiec. Dubaniowski is currently CEO at the Exatel telcom company. Bahr, 61, is a sociologist and professional diplomat. A foreign ministry employee since the 1970s, he was 1st secretary at the Polish embassy in Bucharest in 1976-80. In 1991-92 he was general consul in Kaliningrad, since 1994 he headed the foreign ministry's Europe II section. Since 1996 Bahr has held ambassador posts in Ukraine and Lithuania and is generally considered an expert in east European affairs.

Hanoi, Jan. 18: After focusing on European issues for the past 15 years Poland returns to Asia, Middle and Far East, PM Marek Belka told summing up his visits to Japan, Singapore and Vietnam. He added that Poland presented new offers, including offers for the defence industry, which had also been welcomed by Malaysia, the Philippines or India. The PM believes Poland should focus on extraction and ship-building sectors that were flourishing and should be supported by Polish export credits. Economic cooperation was discussed at the Polish-Vietnam Business Forum attended by some 50 representatives of both countries business circles. In 2004 Polish-Vietnamese trade exchange rose by 20 percent from 2003 and reached 220 million USD. Participants in the forum stressed that the scale of economic relations fell short of both countries' potentials. Belka termed the climate of the visit to Vietnam as really very good. He added that country's fast economic growth and interest displayed by Vietnamese firms in Poland make it possible for Polish exports to triple in coming years. The PM said he was also very pleased with a perfect climate of his talk with Japanese PM Junichiro Koizumi and with a consent by Keidanren, the influential federation of economic organisations, to prolong the stay of a Japanese investment expert in PAIiIZ. The PM said Poland expected Japanese investments in Poland at the level of several hundred million of USD. Speaking about Singapore the PM said economic contacts with that country were developing smoothly which was mirrored by a growing number of investments, including those in the state treasury bonds. A Singapore PM is expected in Poland this year.

Hanoi, Jan.18: PM Marek Belka will pay a short visit to Sri Lanka during his return trip from Hanoi to Warsaw. Belka will meet Sri Lankan authorities in the south-eastern part of the island that suffered the greatest losses from tsunami waves in December. The objective of the several-hour stay in Sri Lanka will be to gather information on what is most needed to effectively help the victims of the calamity. The information will be passed on to Polish humanitarian aid groups that help the populations of the stricken areas. Poles have collected several million dollars in donations to tsunami victims in Asia, and the government plans rendering logistical assistance to the affected countries. A look at the situation on the spot will also help work out the Polish position in debates under way in the EU on assistance for Asian countries.

Warsaw, Jan. 18: Defence minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski received Poland-visiting Japanese defence viceminister Takemasa Moriya. The talks focused on both countries' efforts in the fight against terrorism and the Iraq stabilization mission. Both politicians agreed that a successful government election in Iraq would do much to improve the situation in the country. Speaking about European security, Szmajdzinski reminded that Poland supported further NATO and EU enlargement and expressed hope for military cooperation with Japan in future.

Warsaw, Jan. 18: Deputy PM and Economy Minister Jerzy Hausner believes that industrial production rose by over 10 percent in December 2004. I expect December's industrial production to grow by over 10 percent year-on-year, Hausner said adding that investments were also going up. The Central Statistical Office (GUS) will publish data on industrial production on January 20. Economists expect industrial production to grow 12.6 pct in December 2004. According to the results of a poll conducted by PAP, December's industrial production went up by 9.0-15.5 percent. November's industrial production went up 11.3 percent year-on-year.

Brussels, Jan. 18: Poland still has a chance that the EU Council will adopt a favourable stand on how to treat budget transfers to OFE pension funds when calculating budget deficits, finance minister Miroslaw Gronicki told after meeting of 25 EU ministers. Asked if there was still a chance that OFE transfers from the budget would be categorized in line with current Polish practice, Gronicki said: "I hope so, and there are a few more countries which do so." "We still have a big chance (for the EU to decide) that pension system reforms be treated exceptionally," he added. Three countries: Poland, Slovakia and Hungary wrote letters on the issue to the EU finance ministers. Moreover, Britain, Sweden, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy favoured granting special treatment to such reforms, Gronicki claimed. If the EU decides in line with Poland's request, it will facilitate meeting the Maastricht budget deficit criterion (below 3 pc of the GDP) and thus shorten the period necessary to prepare for the euro zone accession.

Brussels, Jan. 18: According to Finance Minister Miroslaw Gronicki year-on-year inflation in January 2005 will grow to 4.6-4.7 percent. We expect inflation in the first quarter of 2005 to be slightly higher than it was in the 4th quarter of 2004 and we uphold our forecast for mid-2005 inflation to fall to below 2 percent, he added. Y/y inflation in October and November 2004 was 4.5 percent and fell in December to 4.4 percent. Economists expect inflation in January and March to grow to 4.7 percent to fall in June to 2.6 percent and to remain at this level by the end of the year.

Warsaw, Jan. 18: The cabinet adopted an annex to the agreement on offset investments signed with Lockheed Martin in April, 2003 at its meeting. The annex is meant to prevent divergent interpretations of the agreement, according to a deputy minister of economy Krzysztof Krystowski. The annex puts to greater detail the definitions of certain terms used in the agreement to avoid divergent interpretations by the sides. The annex also stipulates that the value of technology transfers made as part of offset projects will be determined by renowned experts whose names will be appended to the agreement. Finally, the annex introduces changes to individual offset projects.

Warsaw, Jan. 18: Thirty five out of 40 regions of the EU expected to develop the fastest are in new member states, including 14 Polish provinces. The most competitive Polish province, the Mazowieckie province, is 18th on a list of regions with biggest chances for fast development. In 2000-2006, Mazowieckie is to achieve 66 per cent of the growth rate to be recorded by the best developing European region - Budapest. The development potential of the Mazowieckie province is 143 per cent of the EU average. Slightly lower are Wielkopolskie province (21st place), Lodzkie (24th), Lubuskie (26th) and Malopolskie (27th). The weakest Polish province, Warminsko- Mazurskie despite being placed 48th, still is seen by authors of the report as an emerging region. According to experts of the Centre for Economic and Business Research CEBR, authors of the report that EU structural funds will play a vital role in maintaining a high rate of development. Poland expects to receive over 70 billion euros from Brussels to the year 2013. This should radically improve the state of infrastructure.

Warsaw, January 18: Real estate investments in Poland grew to a record-high 1.33 bn euros last year, according to a report published by Knight Frank real estate consultants. "It is estimated that overall investments in various sectors of the real estate market exceeded 2.95 bn euros by the end of 2004," the report says. The largest investments were made in the commercial sector: 895 m euros, of which 700 m was the purchase by Apollo Real Estate Advisors/Rida Development of the USA of properties leased by Metro AG. Sixteen deals were closed in the office space sector of the market and were valued at 360 m euros. Warehousing accounted for the bulk of the remaining 78 m euros in real estate investments last year. German institutional property funds were the major players in the Polish market. Warsaw continued to be the busiest real estate market in Poland as far as office space projects were concerned. The available modern office space resources were estimated at 2.1 m square metres.

Warsaw, Jan.18: Over 1.3 million USD were collected on the 4th Papal Day held last October for an educational foundation run by the catholic Church, head of the foundation archbishop Tadeusz Goclowski said. The money will be spent on scholarships for poor youth from rural areas and small towns. The number of scholarships could be increased to 1,300 from 1,200 last year, Goclowski added. The Papal Day is "a day of gratitude, of ties with the Holy Father and of solidarity with people in need," the archbishop explained.

Warsaw, Jan 18: Popular Polish ethnic groups with Milo Kurtis, the initiator, among them will perform in Warsaw in a charity concert for aid for Asian tsunami victims. The proceeds will be conveyed to the Polish Humanitarian Action (PAH.) Justyna Stepien of the PAH told the organisation wants to use the proceeds from the concert for an immediate sanitary and medical aid in Sri Lanka where the PAH currently on a reconnaissance mission. "We also want to help reconstruct a public utility building, like a school or a hospital, she added. Milo Kurtis who comes from Greece has been cooperating with the PAH for several years now. On June 20 each year he organises a concert to mark the International Day of Refugee and encourages his friends to take part in it, Stepien recalled.

Warsaw, Jan. 18: Sales and technical staff were the most frequently employed professionals in 2004, a report by the Pracuj.pl webportal revealed. Job offers for sales personnel and technicians made respectively 16.3 and 12.2 percent of all employment openings last year. According to the report job offers for marketing, PR, IT, R&D and logistic staff rose respectively 150, 135, 100 and 94 percent against 2003. Job offers for lawyers and internet staff went down respectively 55 and 29 percent. Most specialized staff were sought in heavy and light industry.

Warsaw, Jan. 18: Ninety-five percent of Poles in a CBOS poll said they knew about women trafficking. 93 percent said foreign job offers, a popular trafficker ploy to attract women, were not to be trusted. 23 percent claimed to know women who had answered similar offers. 96 percent said they first learnt about women trafficking from the tv, 78 percent from the press and 60 percent from the radio. 46 percent said they found out about it in discussions with friends. 37 percent had heard about the La Strada organisation. CBOS ran the survey from December 9 to 17 on a random group of 894 adult Poles.

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From Warsaw Voice

"Sometimes during the debates in the European Parliament he howls and hits the table with his fist."
-Andrzej Szejna, a European deputy from the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), on the behavior of European deputy Bohdan Pęk from the League of Polish Families (LPR), who is renowned for his eccentricity

"He bites and is aggressive as always; this is his style."
-Józef Oleksy, former Sejm Speaker from the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), on former SLD Prime Minister Leszek Miller and his critical remarks on current party leaders

"It's easier to climb Mount Everest on your hands than pass a good law in the Sejm."
-Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of Law and Justice (PiS), on the deputies' incompetence in legal matters

"Some of the people I talked to can even quote him from memory. I don't know if that results from his popularity or whether they really believe in what my husband says."
-Nelly Rokita on her husband Jan, a leader of the Civic Platform (PO)

"The office staff wanted to give me some water, but I didn't need it. For me, that's nothing difficult: during World War II, I was in a similar situation many times when I was a liaison carrying documents for underground organizations."
-Helena P., a 78-year-old resident of Szczecin, who at the City Office in a flash ate a court protocol from the court case against her related to residence registration

"Even if one of us is looking for work, this is not the kind of job where you go to the interview wearing a tie."
-A homeless person from a shelter in Łódź about completely useless gifts stored in the facility's warehouse, such as several hundred ties

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Warsaw, Jan. 14: President Aleksander Kwasniewski admitted that the decree granting a defence minister the right to issue an order to shoot down a terrorist-controlled aircraft was a very dramatic solution. I think that many states will adopt such regulations for situations posing the highest threat to security when it is obvious that a plane is controlled by terrorists planning to destroy something very significant, the president told. The government decree specifying procedures necessary to shoot down terrorist-controlled aircraft came in force in Poland. Under the new law decisions to shoot down such machines will lie with the defence minister. The decree is based on a 2004 amendment to Poland's border control laws.Kwasniewski for January 30 elections in Iraq

Warsaw, Jan. 14: President Aleksander Kwasniewski is firmly in favour of going ahead with Iraqi elections on January 30. He told that resignation from this date would be a form of encouragement for terrorists and a certain form of their victory. According to the president it is possible, thanks to an enormous effort on the part of stabilization forces and the Iraqi people, "to stage at least good elections, that is such which would allow to form a government with a more or less good mandate for this first stage." Referring to a decision of the Ukrainian president to withdraw the Ukrainian contingent from Iraq, Kwasniewski said that "everyone wants to withdraw from Iraq. (...) We are also talking about pulling out, however the way and dates of withdrawal must be rational."

Warsaw, Jan. 14: President Aleksander Kwasniewski thinks that the June date of parliamentary elections is "acceptable," while the first round of presidential elections should take place together with a referendum on the EU Constitutional Treaty. Kwasniewski speaking for Polish Radio One said general elections could be held on June 19 or 26. The president noted that the question of the date of parliamentary elections is in the hands of MPs as they have to first decide to cut short the present term of parliament. President Kwasniewski was sceptical about the possibility of holding general elections, the first round of presidential elections and the referendum on one day.

Tokyo, Jan. 14: During his discussions in Tokyo PM Marek Belka presented Poland as a fast growing market, the biggest and most dynamic among the ten new EU member states, full of new chances for Japanese investors. In similar words Poland was characterised by head of the Japanese-Polish Economic Committee Tetsuo Sekija, who opened a Polish-Japanese economic seminar in Tokyo. Poland has a strategic position, cheap and qualified workforce, Sekija stressed. We encourage Japanese investors to increase their involvement in Poland, Marek Belka told. He added he also counted on tighter political cooperation. Poland also sees chances for dialogue with Japan within the Europe-Asia Forum. The two countries support UN reform. Recently a new field for cooperation opened in Ukraine, where Poland and Japan put forward a new initiative in education. The talks of the Polish PM with his Japanese counterpart Junichiro Koizumi focused on bilateral relations and international situation. The Japanese PM said that Poland's EU entry opened new chances of bilateral cooperation. Also discussed were the consequences of the Asian tsunami disaster. The Polish PM was received by Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

Hanoi, Jan. 16: A Polish delegation headed by PM Marek Belka spent, the first day of its visit to Vietnam, in the seaside locality of Ha Long in the Quang Ninh province. The Polish PM met with head of the People's Committee of the Quang Ninh province, Vu Nguy Nhiem. In attendance were representatives of shipyard and coal corporations. The delegation went on a cruise on the famous Ha Long Bay, which is ranked as one of the wonders of the world, because of a spectacular seascape of limestone rocks. On January, 17 Marek Belka will hold talks with Vietnam's PM Phan Van Khai, President Tran Duc Luong and Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Van An and Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nong Duc Manhm. During the three-day visit in Vietnam the Polish PM will also take part in a Poland-Vietnam Business Forum and meet Vietnamese graduates of Polish universities. During the visit an agreement on cooperation in agriculture, on development of rural areas and agricultural markets as well as an agreement on cooperation in education and sport in 2005-2008 will be signed. The Polish PM spent also several hours in Singapore where he met Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong for talks on bilateral relations and some problems of international situation. At a press conference after the meeting the two PM’s stressed new chances for cooperation between Poland and Singopore after Poland's joining the EU and the Europe-Asia ASEN Forum. Also raised was the issue of boosting economic relations and increasing of Singaporean investments in Poland.

Vilnius, Jan. 14: Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz and his Lithuanian counterpart Arturas Paulauskas discussed the setting up of a Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian Parliamentary assembly and problems of Poles living in Lithuania. Similar bilateral assemblies are functioning in all the three countries. Cimoszewicz said that their heads should discuss the idea of setting up of a trilateral assembly. "Without doubts Poland and Lithuania should continue to lead a very active policy of supporting all positive political transformations in Ukraine. If parliaments may join this (policy) in such form than of course it is a very good idea," said Cimoszewicz. According to him Poland and Lithuania should convince all their partners in Europe that "good neighbourly relations with our eastern neighbours are important for the entire Europe, not only for Poland or Lithuania."

Gdansk, Jan. 14: We have good faith in Ukraine's declaration, that it won't repeat the Spanish scenario, Polish defence minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski said commenting Ukraine's recent decision to withdraw its 1,600-strong force from Iraq's Polish-controlled south-central stabilization zone. Spanish PM Jose Luis Zapatero announced Spain's withdrawal from the Iraq operation without warning on April 18 of last year, one day after taking office. Szmajdzinski said he hoped Ukraine's pullout from Iraq would be consulted with other allies and better planned. We are waiting until after the new president is sworn in and a new Ukrainian government appointed. From what we hear the whole operation will be consulted with the allies, which, as I understand, means us too, Szmajdzinski said. Ukrainian president elect Viktor Yushchenko has promised that Ukraine's withdrawal from Iraq will be one of his priorities after taking office. 17 Ukrainians have died in Iraq since the operation began in August 2003.

Warsaw, Jan. 16: Defence ministry spokesman Colonel Piotr Pertek rejected charges by the British Museum that Poland-led multinational division damaged the ancient city of Babylon. "Neither Polish nor any other soldiers from the Poland-led multinational force ever performed any tasks that would ruin the monuments, cause devastation or any other harm," he said. Polish troops consulted Iraqi authorities on all work done at the military camp in Babylon, Patek added. A report released by the British National Museum said that troops, including the multinational division led by Poland that stationed in Babylon till mid-December were responsible for inflicting damage to the ruins of Babylon. The colonel recalled that the Polish troops took over responsibility for Babylon in September 2003 from U.S. soldiers and moved out of Babylon to Diwaniyah on in December 2004, handing care of the site to Iraqi archeologists. Patek announced that the Polish culture ministry will soon release a report, prepared in cooperation with the defence ministry, and showing the situation in Babylon at the time when the multinational division took over control of it.

Warsaw, Jan. 14: Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski will receive a commemorative medal "Promoting Latvia's participation in NATO" during a ceremony at the Latvian Embassy in Warsaw on January, 17. The commemorative medal "Promoting Latvia's participation in NATO" has been awarded to Latvian and foreign officials, staff of the Defence and Foreign ministries, soldiers of the National Armed Forces, foreign military personnel, representatives of NGOs and mass media. The medal was established on 19 March 2004 when Latvia became a NATO member and since that time it has been awarded as a token of acknowledgement for contribution to the Latvian defence system and facilitation of Latvia's accession to NATO.

Bielsko-Biala, Jan. 14: A telebeam link enabled schoolyouth and teachers in Dallas, Texas, to watch a Polish programme about the Auschwitz concentration camp. Featured was a short documentary about the camp as well as fragments of its premises today, including the infamous Central Sauna where new inmates were admitted and segregated. Also recounted were true stories from camp life showing the sufferings of the prisoners and their inhuman treatment by the Nazis. The telebeam link was provided by the Holocaust Museum in Washington.

Vatican City, Warsaw, Jan. 16: Pope John Paul II will definitely not come to Poland in 2005 said father Pawel Ptasznik, director of Polish section of the Vatican State Secretariat and one of the Pope's closest aides thus confirming earlier statement to this effect by the Vatican City spokesman, Joaquin Navarro-Valls. Father Ptasznik made this official confirmation for the Polish Radio programme thus denying any earlier speculations about the lingering possibility of the Pope's visit still this year. A communique released by the press office of the Holy See earlier in the week that there were no plans for the Pope's Polish visit whatsoever was clear, Father Ptasznik explained.

Cracow, Jan. 14: The European Parliament's decision to launch EU membership consultations with Ukraine signified "acceptance of a reality that cannot be denied", Italy's Poland-visiting European minister Rocco Buttiglione said. In a resolution the European Parliament recommended the EU to prepare an EU-membership scheme for Ukraine. Asked if the EP's move would cause friction between the EU and Russia, Buttiglione admitted that this "could be problematic". Russia fears it will be isolated. We must underscore that Russia is Europe too. We must also think about how to integrate Russia with Europe, he said. Buttiglione, winding up a 3-day visit in Poland, also gave a lecture on democracy at Cracow's renowned Jagiellonian University in which he warned against "democracy without values" and totalitarianism as a major threat to 21st-century morality. He also stressed that Europe was reshaping and Europeans would have to decide themselves what form it was to have. Europe's future will depend on the struggle between valueless and value-based democracy and it is up to us which side prevails, Buttiglione said.

Gdansk, Jan. 16: About 100 artists took part in the European premiere of the musical tale "Lulie the Iceberg" by American composer Jeffrey Stock in Gdansk. The premiere was dedicated to the teenage Polish polar explorer, handicapped Jas Mela. Mela, the 16-year old secondary school student of Malbork, northern Poland, is the youngest man in history and the first handicapped to reach the two poles. He did so in a single year, accompanied by the experienced polar explorer Marek Kaminski in April, 2004 when they ventured to the North Pole, and in the recent expedition to the South Pole successfully completed on January 31, 2004. Stock's composition, with narration, of Lulie, an Arctic iceberg that breaks away from its "native" glacier, was inspired by the tale written by the Japanese Princess Hisako Takamado in 1998, and adapted for the stage. It describes an expedition of a young iceberg to the South Pole. The world premiere of "Lulie" took place in New York in 1998. The Gdansk premiere was accompanied by illustrations to the tale by Japanese artist Warbe Aska of Toronto, Canada, known as designer of UNICEF postcards.

Gdansk, Jan. 14: New air connections from the Lech Walesa Airport in Gdansk to Oslo and Stockholm will be launched at the end of March, Dominika Juniewicz from the Gdansk Airport press office said. The Gdansk-Oslo connection will be serviced by Air Lithuania with planes flying to Oslo five times a week. Flights to Stockholm will be serviced by Hungarian cheap carrier Wizz Air with flights to take place three times a week.

Warsaw, Jan. 14: Twenty-six percent of Poles in a CBOS survey said they were content with their country's democratic system, 63 percent claimed the opposite. Democracy critics have been in the majority in Poland since the early 1990s, CBOS said. 34 percent said democracy was superior to all other government forms, 14 percent that non-democratic government was sometimes necessary, 40 percent said they didn't care what government they lived under. Most democracy supporters were Citizens Platform (PO) and Law and Justice (PiS) voters. In a similar poll in May 2004, 21 percent were for and 68 percent against democracy. CBOS ran the poll from November 5-8 2004 on a random group of 988 adult Poles.

Warsaw, Jan. 14: Winner in a January election would be the opposing Citizens Platform (PO) with 26 percent support followed by Law and Justice (PiS) with 18 percent and the League of Polish Families (LPR) with 12, the CBOS rating institution announced. Samoobrona would have 11 percent, the Polish Peasant Party (PSL) 7 percent, the now-ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) and the Social-democracy for Poland (SdPl) 6 percent each. The Freedom Union (UW), SLD's coalition partner Union of Labour (UP) and the Polish Pensioner Party (KPEiR) would land below the parliamentary threshold. CBOS ran the survey on January 7-10 on a random group of 1,089 adult Poles.

posted by: Oborski at 15:36 | link | comments |

Auschwitz Liberation Anniversary Expected To Draw Thousands

Some 10,000 guests from around the world are expected to attend January 27 ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp located in southern Poland – a representative of the Polish president office in Warsaw informed. Among the guests will be the leaders from 40 countries, at least 1000 Holocaust survivors and 1500 journalists. Israeli president Moshe Katsav, Russian president Vladimir Putin, French president Jacques Chirac, US vice-president Dock Cheney and German president Horst Koehler are among the heads of state due to attend the ceremonies which Polish officials have promised will be open to the public despite heavy security. A number of remembrance events will precede the afternoon state ceremonies hosted by president Aleksander Kwasniewski

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Polish Army Denies Causing Damage To Babylon

A Polish defense ministry official dismissed accusations that US and Polish troops have caused major damage to the ancient ruins of Babylon in Iraq, as alleged by a British Museum report. “Neither Polish soldiers or soldiers in the multinational division under Polish command carried out any work which have intentionally damaged monuments in the camp on the site of Babylon” the ministry’s spokesman, colonel Piotr Pertek said. However, he acknowledged that “wherever troops are stationed., where roads are used by heavy military vehicles, where helicopters land, it is not possible to avoid some damage”. John Curtis, curator of the museums’ Ancient Near East department has accused the US-led forces which have used the old city as a base since invading Iraq in 2003 of having caused “substantial damage” and compromising the site for future scientific research. Since Polish forces took over possession of Camp Babylon Polish archeologists have been continuously watching over to ensure that the Babylon monuments are not damaged.

posted by: Oborski at 11:36 | link | comments |

Cllr Mike Oborski (Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland in Kidderminster)

The nature and quantity of the work of this Consulate has changed totally in the last 12 months.

All our previous work (Polish Community, commercial, tourism, cultural, casework etc., etc.) continues as before. In addition there were many special events in 2004 to marks Poland’s entry to EU.

The transformation and doubling of our work load stems directly from the unexpected influx of young Poles into the West Midlands region of UK following Polish accession to EU. Poles are arriving in substantial numbers in all major cities across the region AND also in smaller numbers in smaller towns and even villages.

The issues are often complex and always time consuming. Very recent examples are:-

There is one point which I would like to emphasise. Everything possible should be done to encourage Poles coming to work in UK to bring BOTH passport and Polish ID Card with them to UK because:-

I would estimate that 60% of the cases with which I have dealt—relating to young Poles coming to UK since May 2004—would have not arisen or would have been considerably eased or alleviated had the person(s) concerned brought BOTH passport and Polish ID Card to UK.

I am of the opinion that our current work load will continue or increase for the foreseeable future. The new young Polish population in this region is fluid—constantly changing and moving and so there will be a constant stream of vulnerable newcomers even if overall numbers do not now vary significantly. Furthermore this population, although sizeable, is widely dispersed so mitigating against the emergence, except in the very largest regional cities, of any formal or informal mutual support mechanisms within this population.

I would like to express my thanks to Dr Trafas and his staff at the Consulate General in London for their unfailing support, efficiency, kindness, and good humour.

Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland in Kidderminster for the West Midlands

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U.S.-led Forces Damaged Ancient Babylon - Report

U.S.-led forces, using Iraq's ancient city of Babylon as a military base, have caused "substantial damage" to one of the world's most renowned archaeological treasures, a British Museum report said. The report, quoted in Saturday's Guardian newspaper, said U.S. and Polish military vehicles had crushed 2,600-year-old pavements in the city, a cradle of civilisation and home to one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Archaeological fragments were used to fill sand bags, it added. U.S. military commanders set up a base in Babylon in April 2003, just after the invasion to topple Saddam Hussein, and handed it over to a Polish-led force five months later. "This is tantamount to establishing a military camp around the Great Pyramid in Egypt or around Stonehenge in Britain," the report reads. The camp will be formally handed over to the Iraqi culture ministry today.

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British Princes to Learn Lesson On Holocaust

Prince William has been ordered to join his younger brother Harry on a private visit to Auschwitz, a newspaper reported, as a scandal over Nazi regalia engulfed the two young royals. Harry, 20, provoked outrage this week when photos of him wearing a swastika at a costume party appeared in the Sun newspaper. But William, 22, second in line to the throne, was at the same party and even, according to the paper, went along to help his brother choose the Nazi outfit.
Now their father, Prince Charles, wants the pair to make a private visit to the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz in Poland to atone for the mistake, according to the Sun.
A spokesman for Charles declined to comment on the report. But royal sources refused to rule out the possibility of a trip, saying only that the pair would not join a British
delegation at Jan. 27 events to commemorate 60 years since the liberation of Auschwitz. The Sun reported the princes would visit the camp in the near future with a Jewish charity. The royal sources said while no such visit was being planned
at present, any trip to Auschwitz would be private.

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Man Threatening To Explode Brokerage Offices Surrenders

A Polish man who threatened to blow up a building in central Warsaw gave himself up after hours of negotiations that began early on Friday, police informed.
Television news channel TVN 24 reported the unnamed man had warned he would blow up the offices of a stock brokerage of Poland's Millennium bank unless he was allowed to talk to a well-known Polish television journalist. Police said the man wanted to tell Ryszard Cebula about how a forger had stolen his life savings.
"It seems he didn't want to harm anyone and just wanted to find a way of expressing the fact he felt cheated by the banking system," a police spokeswoman said, adding she could not say yet whether the man had any explosives.

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Warsaw, Jan. 12: It is not excluded that Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski and Ukrainian President-elect Viktor Yushchenko will travel together to Davos for the World Economic Forum at the end of January, Oleh Rybachuk, Yushchenko's closest aide said. Rybachuk recalled that Yushchenko is scheduled to visit Poland to take part in ceremonies marking the 60th anniversay of the liberation of the Nazi Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp to take place on January 27. After the ceremonies the two leaders may leave together for Davos. Referring to the situation in Iraq, Rybachuk assured that the Ukrainian contingent will not make "Spanish style" exit from Iraq. There will be consultations with our allies, instead of one-sided steps said Rybachuk. Commenting on his country's relations with Russia, Rybachuk said Ukraine will propose Russia pragmatic cooperation.

Warsaw, Jan. 12: PM Marek Belka appointed Marek Chalas deputy minister for infrastructure, the Government Information Centre announced. Chalas (b.1949) graduated from mathematics and sociology faculties at Lodz Uniwersity. A businessman, he is member of the Lodz Business Club. Married, with two children.

Warsaw, Jan. 12: Common support for the process of reforms taking place in Ukraine was discussed at the meeting in Warsaw of foreign ministers of six states cooperating within the Regional Partnership (RP.) At a press conference the foreign ministers of Poland, Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovenia agreed that Ukraine should be supported in such areas as development of market economy, striving for WTO membership and liberalisation of the visa regime. The ministers also discussed the EU plan for Ukraine. Polish Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld observed that the plan does not take into account change in the situation in that country. The Regional Partnership states will favour the working out of a document which the EU will present to Ukraine in nearest future. Rotfeld said the document will open new vistas for Ukraine. The ministers also discussed EU neighbourhood policy and contacts with Belarus in this context. Rotfeld said situation in Belarus arouses concern in the whole of Europe, and above all in Poland. Changes in Belarus should be supported by all of us. Poland will certainly support them at the non-governmental organisation level and any other form, Rotfeld declared. The RP ministers stressed the necessity to support strivings of the west Balkan countries to EuroAtlantic integration and welcomed the decision to start accession negotiations with Croatia in March, 2005. The ministers pointed to other areas of cooperation in reacting to humanitarian catastrophes and natural disasters, like the one that has just hit South-East Asia. The Warsaw meeting was the fifth in the series of regional consultations of the RP foreign ministers.

Warsaw, Jan. 12: The recent publicity around EP chairman Josep Borrell's criticism of Poland was mainly media-driven and it is the media that owe an apology in the affair, Polish foreign minister Adam Rotfeld said commenting public reactions to the statements. On December 21 during a speech at Madrid's prestigious Foro Nueva Economia Foundation Borrell allegedly accused Poland of having "closer ties to Ukraine than the EU", criticised Poland's Iraq operation and complained about anti-European moods in the country. Among others he stated that "Turkey is no threat to the EU's integrity considering it accepted Britain and Poland". In a letter to Rotfeld Borrell wrote that his words had been quoted out of context and misinterpreted, he also voiced surprise at the Polish press's treatment of the issue. According to Rotfeld the whole affair was blown out of proportion by the media. There is no reason for either side to roll out any guns, he said.

Warsaw, Jan. 12: French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier is starting a one-day working visit to Poland to discuss with his Polish counterpart Adam Rotfeld questions linked to the European integration process, transatlantic relations, eastern policy and situation in the Middle East. Bilateral relations, including France's presence in Poland and preparations for a visit by Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski in France scheduled for February 28 as well as a Chirac-Kwasniewski meeting on January 27 during commemorations of the 60th anniversary of the Auschwitz-Birkenau nazi death camp liberation will also figure on the agenda of the talks.

Warsaw, Jan. 12: Italian Minister for Europe Rocco Buttiglione on a visit to Poland at the invitation of his Polish counterpart Minister Jaroslaw Pietras will discuss in Warsaw the future EU budget, the Constitutional Treaty and the Lisbon Strategy. This is a matter of an opening of a political character. We have good contacts with Italians but we would like to give them a political stamp, Pietras told. For him this is all the more important that on many points, eg. the future EU budget, Polish and Italian stands are different.

Wroclaw, Jan. 12: A group of 160 soldiers of the 4th shift of the Polish stabilisation troops left for Iraq. Major-General Waldemar Skrzypaczak, the new commander of the International Division of Stabilisation Forces in Iraq departed with the soldiers. Skrzypczak said that he was only afraid of terrorist attacks in Iraq. "But I hope we will return in the same line-up that we are departing," he stressed. He added that the 4th shift of the Polish stabilisation troops was best prepared because "it was built on the experience and wisdom of predecessors." There will be 1,700 soldiers in the 4th shift of the Polish stabilisation troops. They will be leaving to Iraq until mid-February.

Divaniyah, Jan. 12: The province Wasit will be excluded from the Polish-commanded stabilization zone in south-central Iraq after Ukraine's withdrawal from Iraq, Polish general Waldemar Skrzypczak said in Camp Echo in Divaniyah. 1,300 Ukrainians are currently serving in the 5,500-strong south-central stabilization force controlling the Iraqi provinces Babil, al-Kaddisiyah and Wasit. Outgoing Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma ordained the preparation of a pullout plan for Iraq-stationed Ukrainian troops. Kuchma said all Ukrainian forces should be out of Iraq by midyear.

Warsaw, Jan. 12: The Social Democracy of Poland (SdPl) wants a referendum of the EU Constitution to be held together with early parliamentary elections, SdPl leader Marek Borowski said. Borowski told that SdPl wanted to cut short the current term of office of Polish Parliament and that elections should be held on June 19 or 26. The SdPl leader appealed to all parties to agree to hold the EU Constitution referendum on the same date. If it is not possible SdPl will ask the president and Senate to announce the referendum together with the June elections, Borowski said. He also said that a referendum proposed by the Citizens' Platform on amendments to the Constitution could be also held at the same time (PO is calling for liquidating the Senate, cutting by half the number of deputies, setting up single mandate constituencies in general elections and liquidating parliamentary immunity). Borowski stressed that putting off the moment when Poles are to present their opinion on the EU Treaty was harmful as it was "pushing Poland to the second line" in the EU. We should be in the first line if we want to play a significant role in union, he added.

Warsaw, Jan. 12: "Some 10 thousand guests are expected to arrive in Oswiecim on January 27 to attend ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. Among them kings, presidents, PM’s and heads of parliaments from some 40 countries. "Specialists from Israel arrived in Cracow yesterday for a reconaissance. Earlier Cracow was visited by representatives of the security services from other countries, including Russia" the Gazety Krakowska reported. The daily went on to say that the Russian president will arrive in a special plane, will be driven in his own limousine, and will be under protection of Russian services. France's president Jacques Chirac will come only for one day. No details have been released as yet about a dinner to be attended by world leaders.

Szczecin, Jan. 12: Data and personal exchange and joint operations are foreseen under cooperation plan for Polish and Russian border guards. A schedule of future projects signed in Szczecin by Poland's and Russia's border guard commanders forsees exchanges of liaison officers, mutual visits by patrol vessels and joint safety operations in the Polish-Russian border area. The schedule covers 2005 and 2006.

Warsaw, Jan. 12: Poland could develop into a major service provider for the EU, mainly thanks to its cheap labour, according to former General Electric CEO Jack Welch who attended the Forum 500 business conference in Warsaw. Launched for the first time on Forum 500 will group Poland's top company executives in debates on pressing economic issues. Welch, one of the world's best managers, was a special guest at the meeting. According to Welch Poland's main strength on the EU service market was its cheap and well-skilled labour force and closeness to the EU countries.

Wroclaw, Jan. 12: Eugenio Barba, the founder of the famous Odin Teatret of Denmark will take part in the 14th session of the International School of Theatre Anthropology (ISTA) to be held in Wroclaw and Krzyzowa, southwest Poland, in early April. ISTA has its seat in Holstebro in Denmark. Its international core is composed of practitioners and theoreticians engaged in the study of anthropology of the theatre. The Polish programme is prepared in cooperation with the Centre for Study of Jerzy Grotowski’s Work and for Cultural and Theatrical Research in Wroclaw. The Polish session may be attended by actors, dancers, choreographers, theoreticians and theatre critics from all over the world.

Warsaw, Jan. 12: Health Minister Marek Balicki was the most influential person in Poland's health service in 2004 according to a poll conducted by Puls Medycyny bi-weekly. "I'm happy that finally it is the head of the Health Ministry who is the most influential person," Balicki told. Renowned heart surgeon, Professor Zbigniew Religa was named second most influential person. Deputy PM Jerzy Hausner closed the top three. The poll was carried among doctors, pharmacologists, members of health-related social organizations. Meanwhile, 61 per cent of Poles taking part in a CBOS poll said they were dissatisfied with the level of health service.

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Strasbourg, Jan. 11: European Parliament President Josep Borrell wants the Polish authorities to acknowledge that he never spoke critical words about Poland. Borrell uttered his expectations during his talks with PAP and TVP reporters. Borrell has been sharply criticised recently over his alleged critical remarks about Poland during a press conference in Madrid on Dec. 10.

Warsaw, Jan. 11: The vote of the resolution to cut short the Sejm term might be held on May 5. The resolution, if adopted, would open the way to announce early elections, which could take place on June 19, Cimoszewicz said after his meeting with PM Marek Belka. Earlier Cimoszewicz said that the second half of June would not be a bad date for general elections. In an interview for Radio Bialystok he spoke in favour of cutting short the present term of parliament and early spring elections. The speaker recalled that Poland is organising a summit of the Council of Europe in Warsaw in May - "potentially the most important political development in Europe in the entire 2005." Cimoszewicz added that "we would compromise ourselves...if we call off the summit or organise the elections directly near (the summit's) date, as in such situation a number of politicians ... would not decide to come to Warsaw to avoid getting involved in any way in the election campaign."

Warsaw, Jan. 11: General Bronislaw Kwiatkowski will be responsible for training at the NATO command centre for the new Iraqi Army but not the centre's commander, defence minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski explained. Kwiatkowski will assume his duties at the start of February for the period of three months. The NATO centre will be supervised by a U.S. general. Kwiatkowski, 54, was the commander of the 6th landing-assault brigade for 4 years, since April 2004 was working in the Training Centre of NATO Joint Forces in Bydgoszcz and next was deputy commander of multinational force in Iraq. Before leaving for Iraq the general will undergo a two-week training in Naples.

Warsaw, Jan. 11: General Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, former commander of the multinational centre-south division in Iraq has been decorated with the U.S. Bronze Star Medal. General Tyszkiewicz, currently deputy commander of land forces, was decorated by U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe during a ceremony held in Warsaw. The Defence Ministry wrote in a press release.

Warsaw, Jan. 11: The number of Poles missing after December 26th quake and tsunami disaster in South-East Asia has gone down from 12 to 10, the Foreign Ministry reported. "We managed to get in touch with a man who was not answering his cellular phone. He is all right. A missing woman who was travelling in Asia returned to Poland," Ministry's spokesman Aleksander Checko said in a communique. The Ministry continues to be in touch with families of all missing Poles, the communique said.

Warsaw, Jan. 11: A special parliamentary commission to deal with corruption around the PKN Orlen oil concern will question PM Marek Belka, the PM will probably appear before the commission this March. I'm a bit short for time. This is not fear on my part but a feeling I'll be wasting time, which is something I haven't too much of, Belka told journalists asked if he feared the commission. Belka is to be questioned in connection with his 2002 negotiations with Orlen shareholder Bank of New York as Polish finance minister. Commission chairman Jozef Gruszka said that the commission will present a report on to-date investigations into the illegal 2002 arrest of Orlen CEO Andrzej Modrzejewski next week.

Warsaw, Jan. 11: Poland has sold 3 bn euros' worth of 15-year Eurobonds with demand at 5.5 billion, finance minister Miroslaw Gronicki told. We sold 3 billion euros' worth of Eurobonds. Demand was at 5.5 billion, Gronicki said. Securities were rated at 27 base points above average swap quotations. Poland originally planned to sell 1.5 bn euros' worth of Eurobonds.

Warsaw, Jan. 11: Treasury Minister Jacek Socha said that his ministry could select privatisation advisor for the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) by the end of the week. The Polish operation of Rothschild investment bank and a consortium of McKinsey & Company Poland, CDM Pekao brokerage and Ernst & Young Audit have submitted bids for the job. According to Socha, sale of the company to a strategic investor would go more smoothly than a floatation of the WSE on its own floor. Unofficial sources say the two scenarios could be combined.

Warsaw, Jan. 11: Poland's poorest will receive 44.1 mn USD worth of food products under an EU-financed poverty relief programme, head of the programme-coordinating Agricultural Market Agency (ARR) Roman Wenerski informed. This will be the second EU poverty programme in Poland. Under the scheme ARR, which also ran Poland's first food aid scheme, will distribute tranches of cost-free food products to selected companies, which will pass them on to charity organisations.

Warsaw, Jan. 11: Russia has raised its pork import quotas to 467.4 thousand tons from 450 thousand tons in 2004, the Product.ru portal informed Tuesday. The Import quotas for EU pork have been set at 236 thousand tons, the quota for U.S. meat is 53.8 thousand, and from other countries at 176.6 thousand tons. Earlier this month Russia decided to distribute 25 percent of the quotas among importers in proportion to the quantity of pork they provide. As of September 1, 2004 Polish meat exporters to Russia need special certification for their products.

Cracow, Jan. 11: Almost 2.8 thousand policemen will look after the security during observances of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi concentration camp to be held on January 27. The ceremonies are to be attended by 37 heads of states, including over 20 presidents. Head of the Malopolska province police Andrzej Wozniak said that local police force will be reinforced by some 800 policemen from other provinces.

Warsaw, Jan. 11: Students of the German Transform Schauspielschule theatrical school operating as part of the Polish-German Studio Theatre in Berlin will come to Warsaw with the production of Tadeusz Rozewicz's "White Marriage" in Warsaw's Theatre Academy Collegium Nobilium students' stage. "White Marriage" is part of the project "Rozewicz: Warsaw-Berlin". Last October students of the Theatre Academy of Warsaw presented Rozewicz's "The Files" in Berlin. The project is sponsored by the Berlin senate and the Polish-German Cooperation Foundation. Rozewicz's play was directed by Janina Szarek, former actress of a Wroclaw Theatre now for some 20 years in Germany. Currently she is the artistic director of Berlin's Studio company.

Warsaw, Jan. 11: Achim Freyer, the German painter, stage director and designer will conduct workshops "Warten auf Traume" (Waiting for Dreams) in Warsaw's Grand Theatre National Opera between January 22 and 25. The Polish audience will also have an opportunity to take part in the rehearsals of the Freyer-Ensemble founded by Achim Freyer in 1988. The group is composed of actors, acrobats, musicians, dancers and stage designers. Achim Freyer is considered the most versatile artists in the contemporary theatre. His production in the musical theatre made his name most famous. "The Magic Flute" in Hamburgische Staatsoper in 1982 was acclaimed as the production of the century and "Turandot" and "Persefona" in Teatro La Fenice brought him the prize of the Italian critics for the best production of the year. His most recent production of Hector Berlioz's "The Damnation of Faust" prepared for the Los Angeles Opera in cooproduction with Warsaw's Grand Theatre met with enthusiastic reception of critics and audience in Los Angeles (2003) and Warsaw (2004).

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Wprost presents economic forecasts for the period between 2005 and 2015, saying that Poles will benefit from the global boom because Polish businesses and the Polish economy are a part of it. Last year, Poland’s GDP grew by 5.7 percent, the weekly recalls. The number of entrepreneurs who have recently joined the Polish millionaires club has been the biggest since the mid-90s. The fast economic growth creates good prospects for the reduction of unemployment within the next few years. Poles are more and more confident about the future, with the number of those satisfied with their achievements reaching 45 percent. Now, what could jeopardize Poland’s growth? According to Wprost the main danger is connected with the complex legal system and red tape. If this is coupled with more and more hidden taxes, Polish firms may start moving their operations to countries such as Ukraine and China, which are cheaper. Poland’s further development hinges on the realization of structural reforms, says Wprost.

The English language Warsaw Business Journal, on its part, predicts that Poland’s economic growth will be slower than last year, accompanied by weaker exports and enlivened investments. The most optimistic predictions concern unemployment. The WBJ agrees with Wprost that the jobless rate should be reduced considerably. It quotes deputy economy minister Piotr Kulpa who believes that it should fall to 14 percent by the end of the year from the current level of 19 percent. The weekly adds, however, that some analysts regard the 14 percent figure as pre-election hype.

Newsweek alarms that ten thousand Polish women are sold to disorderly houses abroad annually. Ironically, many have not been kidnapped at all. They did it on their own accord. When the Central Investigation Bureau busted a gang in south-eastern Poland selling women to red light districts in Hong Kong and western Europe, a wave of grief gripped the local community, says Newsweek. Women who queued in line to be exported by crime gangs to work as prostitutes abroad and lost this chance were deeply disappointed. This does not change the fact that women trafficking, with or without consent, is a crime – specialists says. Stana Buchowska from the La Strada organization describes it as hideous exploitation of women’s ignorance and poverty.

Polityka recalls that a year has passed since Poland introduced new legislation on sexual harassment. And it says that we have a truly European law but practice lags behind. A good example is the situation in the small town of Bielawa, where a woman who was raped by her manager and his colleagues at work is being ostracized for having informed prosecutors. The woman consented to the erotic pressure of the men for more than a year, fearing that she would lose her job. Now, she is out of work, while her oppressors are still employed and walk in the glory of unjustly sentenced. But things are changing, says Polityka. Andrzej Rogowski, a lawyer specializing in sexual harassment cases, says that he has more and more clients. Women find it easier to overcome various barriers. Legal regulations are clear. Judges are sent to courses, to make sure that none of them fails to regard groping, for instance, as an act which has no sexual connotations, as it happened in the past.

Solidarnosc, the weekly of the Solidarity trade union, welcomes changes in the law on drivers, aimed at hitting out at palm greasing and emphasizing practical skills. But it has second thoughts about letting 16 year old to acquire driving licenses. It points out that most accidents are caused by young drivers and that over 80 percent of fatalities in such accidents are also young people aged between 18 and 24.

posted by: Oborski at 16:50 | link | comments |

Music from Poland in Herefordshire

The Warsaw Village Band, winners of BBC Radio 3 Best Newcomer Award for World Music, will give a concert at Hellens, Much Marcle on Saturday 5th February, as part of the Arts Alive Rural Touring Programe.

The Warsaw Village Band, one of Poland’s outstanding new bands, was founded in 1997 by six young musicians wishing to preserve traditional Polish music. While travelling the Polish countryside, they rediscovered lost forms of traditional music, and performing in a style described as ‘hardcore folk’ or ‘bio techno’, they treasure the memories of their ethnic roots, connecting tradition to new modern aesthetics.

The Warsaw Village Band creates a unique and fascinating sound, playing folk dances, ballads, and rural traditionals. They use traditional instruments handed down through the generations, such as the ‘white voice’, a special singing style, used by the shepherds of old. They also rediscovered the ‘suka’, an ancient Polish fiddle, played with fingernails.

With the Warsaw Village Band you will hear stringed instruments sounding like French horns, furious drums, trance, improvisation, and elements of roots music. Above all, you can hear the enthusiasm and passion of six young musicians aged between 16 and 25 years. They say that music is the soul’s best food - rhythm and fun –you will dance!”

Tickets are £10, for reservations call The Courtyard Box Office
on 0870 1122 330.

For more information call Mr Nicholas Stephens, administrator of Hellens
tel: 01531 660 504

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120 thousand volunteers have spread around Poland to collect funds in the annual charity action called Grand Orchestra of Charity Aid. The money raised this year will be spent on the purchase of medical equipment for the treatment of infants and babies in Polish hospitals. Moreover, this time a quarter million euros will be donated the infant ward of a hospital in Sri Lanka destroyed by the tsunami waves. Throughout its 12-year-long history the Grand Orchestra of Charity Aid has collected 53 million 616 thousand dollars.

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From our man in Kyiv
Listen

Jarek Junko, our own correspondent in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv reports on the hopes ordinary Ukrainian citizens attach to the apparent election victory of democratic candidate Viktor Yuschchenko.

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Radio Polonia

After the tsunami hit the coasts of many Asian countries on Boxing Day, an unprecedented wave of worldwide aid has followed to the region in its wake. But what has the Polish contribution been like?

The Wroclaw Police force announced on Monday that it has sent a team of forensic experts to help identify bodies that have been washed ashore after tidal waves crashed onto beeches off the Indian Ocean last week. The team, who are experts in DNA identification, say that they will be in Thailand for around ten days.

This is just the latest in a host of initiatives sent from Poland to help the tsunami disaster victims. Last Saturday, a Polish ship loaded with 16 tonnes of medicine and medical equipment left for Sumatra in Indonesia. On its way back the plane will bring home 230 Poles currently in Malaysia. This has been the second aid shipment from Poland for tsunami victims. It has been financed by the state budget and charity organizations, namely, the Polish Red Cross, the Polish Medical Mission, the Polish Humanitarian Action and Caritas Polska.

This comes after the Polish government announced that it will be sending 1 million zlotys worth of aid to the region.

Now, 1 million zlotys is not a massive amount of money - it’s only about 450,000 dollars in fact. Compare that to the colossal 500 million dollars sent by Japan (an amount which could virtually pay off Poland’s national debt) and it’s peanuts, really. It works out at about 10 cents per person. But then again, Poland is not a rich country. In fact, of all the countries that entered the EU last year, Poland is second poorest; only Latvia has less income per capita.

But since many have been playing the ‘who has sent more to the Tsunami victims game’ in the media recently, lets compare the Polish donation to the other countries in the region.

The Czech government has coughed up around 500,000 dollars and has, among other things, sent a planeload to drinking water to Sri Lanka. The Hungarian government, which originally pledged a similar amount to Poland has now tripled that sum and is sending around 1 and a half million dollars worth of aid. The government in Budapest also expects that Hungarian NGOs will also be sending anything from 1 to 2 million dollars.

All countries in the region have people still unaccounted for. Hungary still has 20 people missing. From Poland, one person has been confirmed dead but there are up to 35 people still unaccounted for.

Many from this region died or are missing after being on vacation on Phuket Island in Thailand at the time the wave broke over the beeches. – Last Friday, 82 tourists from Russia, Ukraine and Latvia were evacuated from the island.

The media is full of Polish survival stories. For instance, Marta, who is a rock climber, was holidaying on the Thai, Phi Phi island when the water came in. She managed to escape by scrambling up to higher ground on a hillside. She told a journalist that, „One-minute it was like being in paradise, and then a few minutes later, it was like being on hell.”

A lot of news coverage has been spent on the lucky escape of the Czech super model, Petra Nemkova. She was in Thailand when water crashed through her hotel block, dragged her out through a window and then submerged her under a sea of debris. She eventually fought her way out and clung to a tree until she was rescued. She has agreed to pose from her hospital bed for a series of photos for an American magazine and raise 200,000 dollars for the disaster relief fund.

Unfortunately, her boyfriend is one of the many still missing.

But to end of a happier note, the season of philanthropy is not just a one way process in Poland. A medical team of 50 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, started complex surgery early on Monday to separate a pair of Polish conjoined infant girls who share a lower spine and intestines. The twins, 13-month-old Daria and Olga Kolacz, have undergone medical tests for the past 20 days to confirm that a safe separation was possible. The cost of the operation is financed by a Saudi Crown Prince. Crown Prince Abdullah offered to pay medical and travel expenses (amounting to 1 and half million dollars) for the twins and their mother after being informed of the case by a Saudi doctor, who learned about the twins from an Internet discussion forum.

posted by: Oborski at 16:50 | link | comments |

President Bush To Host President Kwasniewski In Washington

President G. W. Bush will host Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski at the White House February 9 for a meeting and lunch, the White House has announced. “Poland is a close friend and ally of America, and continues to play a vital role in bringing freedom and democracy to Iraq. President Kwasniewski has demonstrated his commitment to these same ideals through his recent involvement in helping further Ukraine's democratic process” - the White House said in a statement. President Bush and President Kwasniewski will discuss a range of issues, including ways to strengthen cooperation between the United States and Europe.

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Poland Hopes To End Its Military Presence In Iraq in 2005

Poland still hopes to withdraw its troops from Iraq at the end of this year, but the staunch US ally could prolong the mission if the international community asks it to do so, the country's new foreign minister Adam Rotfeld said. Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski and other top officials first indicated in early October that Poland intended to bring its troops home at the end of 2005, citing hopes that elections scheduled this month will help bring stability to the country. Adam Rotfeld, who was sworn in as the foreign minister on Wednesday, told Poland's private Radio Zet he believes that intention can be fulfilled. "I would say that the involvement of our troops in Iraq in its current form will end," Rotfeld said. Poland has 2 400 soldiers in Iraq as part of an international security force and leads the contingent overseeing an area south of Baghdad. It plans to reduce the number of Polish soldiers in Iraq to 1 700 next month

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No Privileges For MPs Behind Bars

Following a string of scandals involving members of parliament in Poland, legislators in Warsaw voted to lift parliamentary rights and obligations for MPs under arrest.
The move prevents MPs under arrest on suspicion of criminal activity will no longer be able to vote or work in parliament, run a constituency bureau or meet with constituents. They will also be stripped of their parliamentary salaries. Parliamentarians passed the amendment in response to a request by jailed colleague and former Democratic Left Alliance member Andrzej Peczak to be allowed to participate in the workings of parliament. In November, the Polish parliament approved the detention and temporary arrest of Peczak based on charges by prosecutors in the central Polish city of Lodz of accepting bribes totalling nearly
300,000 zloty (96,300 dollars) from two businessmen in return for details on privatisation procedures. Peczak claims he is innocent of any wrongdoing

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Warsaw, Jan.5: Adam Daniel Rotfeld was appointed new foreign minister at a ceremony at the presidential palace. Rotfeld was deputy foreign minister under Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, who was elected Sejm speaker. President Aleksander Kwasniewski said Rotfeld was a worthy successor to Cimoszewicz, man of exceptional values, great brains and knowledge, great political and diplomatic talents, extensive international connections and very warm in personal contacts. Rotfeld said he would continue the policies pursued by Cimoszewicz in the last three years. The priorities he listed were: best possible use of Poland's EU membership, cultivating good relations with the USA, eastern policy, i.e. supporting Ukraine and mending relations with Russia, and cooperation with developing countries. Kwasniewski also said he would try to persuade Cimoszewicz not to withdraw from politics after the end of the Sejm's present term. "I see him as one of the possible presidential candidates of the left wing, but it is a decision for him to make," Kwasniewski said.

Warsaw, Jan. 5: Effective work is the only way to rebuild the Sejm's prestige, newly-appointed Sejm speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz told . There will be no trickery here, Cimoszewicz said. According to the new speaker the Sejm's tarnished public image could improve if it spent its remaining time on constructive work and less political jousting. Asked about his plans Cimoszewicz said the priority tasks were completing the Sejm's unfinished legislative work, setting a parliamentary work schedule and launching consultations on the introduction of new debate rules with MPs.

Warsaw, Brussels, Jan. 5: President Aleksander Kwasniewski said that he had received a phone call from the president of the EU parliament Josep Borrell Wednesday who declared he had not criticised Poland in public for its role in Iraq and in Ukraine. "Borrell phoned me today impressed by the press coverage he got here and explained that it was a misunderstanding and he would call a press conference today with Polish newsmen to clarify the situation," Kwasniewski told newsmen in the presidential palace. "He also expressed respect for Poland and for me personally for our involvement in Ukraine. I accepted his words and asked him to repeat all that in public," the president said. According to the Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper, Borrell "criticised Poland for its role in Iraq and Ukraine" in the course of a conference held in Madrid Dec.21. Kwasniewski told newsmen that Borrell claimed "it was a misunderstanding, that he did not make any such statement. I think there is no point in continuing this issue and the fact Borrell did phone and apologized is in itself a positive thing. Let us look at it that way," Kwasniewski said. "Mr Borrell told me he was surprised by the way of reporting on what he had said," Polish EU commissioner Danuta Huebner said . "I think he sees it as distorting his words and intentions." Borrell assured Huebner he would meet Polish EuroMPs soon and try to clear up the matter. Borrell said his statements carried by the Polish press on Wednesday were untrue or taken out of context, according to Marek Siwiec, Polish EuroMP who met Borrell Wednesday asking for an explanation to media reports.

Tripoli, Jan.5: Preliminary plans of Polish-Libyan cooperation have assumed "concrete shape", said prime minister Marek Belka when summing up Wednesday the first day of his visit to Libya. A bilateral agreement on cooperation in non-proliferation of mass destruction weapons was signed here this evening. Belka emphasized that Poland was the first country to sign such an agreement with Libya. Poland made concrete offers to Libya, including assistance in repositioning chemical plants from military production to civilian one and assistance in destroying stockpiles of chemical weapons. Belka said the Polish oil industry had chances of entering the Libyan market by taking part in another round of tenders for oilfield licences. There were also prospects of cooperation in the defense industry, Belka remarked. In particular, Polish firms could repair and modernize military gear such as Mi-2 helicopters bought in Poland many years ago.

Warsaw, Jan. 5: President Aleksander Kwasniewski received visiting deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Namhong . During the meeting sides discussed international affairs and the state of bilateral cooperation between Poland and Cambodia, the presidential press office wrote in a communique issued following the meeting.

President Kwasniewski declared Poland's active participation in EU's Asian policy. The sides also discussed the situation in the tsunami hit areas. President Kwasniewski and Minister Namhong reviewed the state of bilateral political and economic ties as well as cultural and scientific cooperation.

Wroclaw, Jan. 6: A group of 169 soldiers, mainly from the 11th Lubuska Armoured Division from Zagan, western Poland, left for Iraq on Thursday. The group includes 56 Lithuanian troops. Present at the farewell ceremony were Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski and Chief of Staff general Czeslaw Piatas. "You are going to Iraq at the time which is of fundamental significance for the changes taking place in that country. Plans provide for the first democratic elections which will be decisive to the future of Iraq. This will be a real test for the Iraqi security forces. You will be only monitoring the situation," Szmajdzinski told the Iraq-departing soldiers of the 4th shift of Polish Iraq stabilization troops and wished them good luck. The minister admitted that the situation in Iraq was difficult. He also said that the 4th shift of Polish Iraq stabilization troops will not be the last one. There will be also the 5th shift. But I think that its tasks will be different, he added. The main tasks of the 4th shift are to ensure security, continue aid programmes and train Iraqi security forces.

Warsaw, Jan. 5: The number of Poles missing after December 26th quake and tsunami disaster in South-East Asia has gone down to 21, the Foreign Ministry announced. The ministry said that the nine Poles have been found by the ministry in close cooperation with Poland's national police headquarters. Meanwhile, Poland's Ambassador to Thailand Bogdan Goralczyk reported that four Polish forensic experts had already left for the island of Phuket where they would collect DNA samples from bodies of foreigners. The ambassador said that there was still hope that more Poles would be found alive.

Warsaw, Jan. 5: Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah who sponsored the operation of separation of conjoined Polish twin girls, visited the little patients recovering in a clinic in the Saudi capital Riyadh. The Prince termed the successful operation as "a message of humanism of Islam and Saudi Arabia to the friendly Polish people and the world." "When the Prince entered the room one of the girls, Olga extended her little hand to him," Adam Kulach, Poland's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia told . He added that the Prince was deeply moved and showed concern for the health and moods of the Polish twin girls.

Warsaw, Jan. 5: Poland plans to pay off up to 12.3 billion euros it owes to the Paris Club creditors, the finance ministry said .The actual scale of repayment was still not known: it hinged on the readiness of individual creditors to accept early repayment. "The whole operation of early repayment will be financed from foreign bond issues staged gradually over the next 12 to 18 months," the ministry said. "Financing to the tune of 6 bn euros has already been secured." Poland's debt to the Paris Club now stands at 12.3 bn euros. This year's planned instalment is 2.1 bn euros. The planned early repayment of the entire debt was meant to improve public debt to GDP ration and influence Poland's ratings, the ministry added.

Warsaw, Jan.5: Inflation will start falling in April, 2005, according to a member of the Monetary Policy Council (RPP) Dariusz Filar. In an interview he also said that inflationary expectations would react to that fall in May or June, making it possible to change RPP's bias in monetary policy. The present bias is restrictive. Asked if another hike in interest rates was still possible, Filar replied: "Very significant pay rises would have to materialize this year in order for a hike to happen, rises much above current inflation." Filar believes that the so-called natural interest rate in Poland was about 4 pc or slightly above 4 pc and this meant that there was not much room for possible interest rate cuts. "Assuming that inflation goes down to 2.5 pc the room for cuts is not great, it is moderate," he said. The present basic NBP rate is not less than 6.5 pc and RPP's inflation target is 2.5 pc. Filar believes that the recent fall in the zloty exchange rate was but a correction in the appreciation trend. He confirmed earlier NBP predictions of GDP growth this year of 4.5 to 5.5 pc.

Warsaw, Jan. 6: The Grand Christmas Aid Orchestra, a charity organisation set up on March 2, 1993, will hold another fund- raising project on Sunday, January 9. Fairs, concerts and auctions will be held all over Poland and abroad, including Athens, Berlin, Los Angeles, Detroit, New York, Chicago, Brussels, Cairo, Vienna, Stockholm and the Polish military base in Iraq. The funds raised by the charity are spent on medical equipment for infants and babies, including incubators, emergency ambulances, electrocardiographs and equipment for victims of car accidents, children with heart failures, cardiac and kidney patients. So far the foundation has bought nearly 16,000 medical apparatuses for hospitals and medical centres all over Poland. Last year the Grand Christmas Aid Orchestra raised 27,244,441 zlotys (ca. 9 million USD) during its twelfth fund-raising nationwide project on January 11, 2004. During the twelve years of its work the charity organisation raised over 53 million USD.

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You can find the London based Polish language weekly COOLTURS here - in full archived as pdf files! Latest online edition is number 41 (31st December 2004).

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From Warsaw Voice

Polish London is made up of two emigrant worlds. One includes wartime and postwar emigrants who are gathered around the Polish Social and Cultural Center (POSK). They have worked hard for many years to achieve a British old-age pension, or have a regular job and position in British society. The other world includes recent economic emigrants -usually young people who emigrated in search of work or adventure, or, quite often, to study; and the youngest wave, which have taken advantage of Poland's integration with the European Union and the opening up of the British job market for Poles in May 2004.

On the British job market, from May until August 2004 nearly 91,000 immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe were registered. Poles constitute 56 percent of this total. Many are well-educated, speak English well and are normally able to find jobs in their profession relatively quickly.

"After the borders opened, an IT specialist and a graduate of a marketing college came to London," says Grzegorz Maůkiewicz, editor-in-chief of Dziennik Polski, which has been published in Great Britain for more than 60 years. "They decided to look for a job in their professions. After a few job interviews, the woman became a marketing specialist in a language school in Greenwich, and her colleague became the administrator of the IT network in the same school."

Dziennik Polski's main readers include representatives of the "old" wartime emigration, who had to work hard in Britain, and since they did not know the language, often took unskilled jobs in factories and mines, railway, construction sites, bars and households. One of these is Marzena Schejbal, today president of the London branch of the Former Home Army Soldiers Circle. Before she was married, Schejbal was a babysitter for a Russian aristocrat who lived in London. Lech Piotrowski ran a renovation-construction company and renovated around 600 houses in London over many years. Wala Sawicka, today a curator at the Sikorski Institute, used to work in the Polish Section of BBC Radio, and Jerzy Jarosz, today, a cultural event manager, was a baker and hosted music programs at the same radio section.

In 2004, the Poles who arrived in Britain can speak basic English, but often take jobs similar to those manned by their predecessors 40 years ago. The Department for Work and Pensions reports that after May, the job market increased mainly due to young people (45 percent of them 18-24, and 39 percent 25-34), who accepted jobs as process operatives (16 percent), kitchen and catering assistants (7 percent), wait staff (7 percent), domestic staff, warehouse operators, sales assistants or bar staff.

At the O'Neills Pub, young Polish emigrants dance to Polish music and the latest hits. The bar is staffed by Poles-Piotr from Biaůobrzegi, Iza from Koszalin, Agnieszka from Gdańsk and manager Ola Wysoczańska from Poznań. The music is provided by DJ Robert and DJ Wojtek.

Young Poles also find work at magazines and on Internet radio in London. "Every week we publish a 64-page magazine for and about young emigrants," says Danka Michalska, editor-in-chief of Cooltura weekly. Together with her editorial office colleague, Robert Czekalski, Michalska has organized charity events in London as part of Jerzy Owsiak's Great Christmas Aid Orchestra campaign. They have raised Ł40,000 for the purchase of medical equipment for children's hospitals in Poland.

Goniec Polski is a free biweekly color magazine for Poles. "Our magazine has an advisory-information character," says its founder Artur Kozak. In both magazines, the editors, IT specialists, and marketing staff are young and fluent in both Polish and English.

"The youth who come to Poland are well-educated; they only lack practical skills," says Andrzej Furmaniak, president of the Association of Polish Technicians in Great Britain, which has launched an assistance program for young engineers from Poland looking for work in Britain. The program is helping fill the 600,000 openings on the British labor market for truck and bus drivers to engineers and doctors.

"We also receive inquiries from experienced Polish managers and finance specialists since Poles are greatly trusted here," says Michaů Úmigielski from PSA WORK4YOU, a London-based Polish company that is part of the oldest Polish company in Britain, PSA Transport Ltd. "Since May, we've been extremely busy," seconds Karolina Bebak.

Home Secretary David Blunkett says that "workers from the new EU countries are legalizing their status in the economy, filling gaps in a range of industries and contributing to UK productivity. They have contributed approximately Ł120 million to UK GDP and paid approximately Ł20 million in tax and national insurance." More than half of these individuals are Polish. Today, they are perceived not as intruders, but as active participants in the economic life of Great Britain.

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From Warsaw Voice

"I told the court secretary that I wouldn't leave the building if they don't arrest me, but she said I couldn't go to jail only because I wanted to."
-Mariusz Z., sentenced to two and a half years in prison for assault and robbery, on the difficulty with getting behind bars caused by sloppy filing

"If I were to meet only honest people, I'd have lots of free time."
-President Aleksander Kwaśniewski

"Some of the deputies act if they were sitting on a Soviet tribunal... In communist times, I was feeling a lot better in prison than [now] in the company of people from the committee."
-Andrzej Celiński, a deputy from the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), a member of the special Sejm investigation committee examining the PKN Orlen affair

"The problem is that when everybody on the political left is destroyed, they [the right] will be left with no enemy and so will start to fight among themselves. That will be a new chance for the left."
-Krzysztof Martens, SLD leader in Podkarpacie province, on the right's current attacks on all leftist groupings and activists

"It's as if you were rummaging in a nice gold Swiss watch with a rusty fork."
-Zygmunt Wrzodak, a League of Polish Families (LPR) deputy, on the government plans of privatization of the biggest Polish retail bank PKO BP

"Only a few years ago, homosexual behavior was described as deviant. We don't know how far the evolution of opinions will go, and whether pedophilia, necrophilia and zoophilia won't be considered 'lifestyles' soon."
-Przemysław Alexandrowicz, head of the Poznań City Council, on the fears concerning "promotion of deviation" during the Equality March planned by the gay and lesbian community in Poznań

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From Warsaw Voice

At its Third Convention, the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) Dec. 19 elected present Sejm Speaker Józef Oleksy the new party chair. Three days later, the Vetting Court found him guilty of presenting a false statement. Oleksy's political future has been called into question.

Dec. 29 Oleksy made an emotional statement before Polish Television cameras at prime time. He again assured that he had not violated the vetting act, stressing that he was a victim of a political witch-hunt like nine years ago, when, on the basis of false charges of spying for Russia, he had been forced to resign from the position of prime minister.

Oleksy declared he was ready to resign from the post of Sejm speaker, however, only when continuity of the position was secured, in other words when a candidate appeared who stood a chance to win the support of a parliamentary majority. The candidate, according to Oleksy, has to come from the ranks of the SLD as still the largest caucus in the Polish parliament, one commanding 156 seats.

"I announce my readiness to step down from the function of Sejm speaker. However, this should take place in a situation when a specific candidate has been selected for my successor, one enjoying the support of a majority and representing the Democratic Left Alliance. Responsibility requires that Sejm leadership be secured as the present speaker takes leave," stated Oleksy.

A few days earlier, following the end of the SLD National Executive Council session, SLD deputy leader Katarzyna Piekarska assured that SLD activists would do everything for a new speaker to be elected as soon as possible. The party council authorized Oleksy, the SLD head Krzysztof Janik and SLD General Secretary Marek Dyduch to conduct consultations in this matter, both in the party and with the opposition.

The whole affair broke Dec. 22, when the Vetting Court ruled that Oleksy had concealed his cooperation with the special services of the communist Polish People's Republic (PRL). It was recognized that in the years 1970-78 he was a secret and conscious agent of the Polish Army Intelligence Service (AWO). In a verbal justification of the ruling, Judge Rafał Kaniok said that in 1969 the AWO had indicated that Oleksy, then a research worker with the SGPiS-now the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH)-was a candidate for secret agent. Oleksy consented to a training course in "special reconnoitring units of the Polish Army" and committed himself to keeping those contacts secret. In the years 1970-74, he had dozens of meetings with AWO officers who supervised him.

An individual recognized by the court as a "vetting liar" cannot fulfill public functions, including being a parliamentarian, for 10 years. The judgment is not final and it can be appealed in the Appellate Vetting Court, which was immediately announced by Oleksy as his intention. The whole procedure including an expected appeal to the Supreme Court may continue for many months to come.

The case of Oleksy is one of the longest lasting vetting proceedings, already in progress for five years. The court has ruled for the second time, at the motion of Public Interest Commissioner Bogusław Nizieński, that Oleksy concealed in his vetting statement that he had been a secret and conscious collaborator of the former communist Polish security services.

"This is a farce. Everything that has been said here is the political victory of Bogusław Nizieński. If this is administration of justice, then my idea of it is different," said Oleksy in court, adding that the verdict was political and had been "commissioned." Oleksy admitted that he had completed the training course referred to in the court which, however, had been an element of his mandatory military service and exclusively concerned the possibility of action in the case of an outbreak of war. Oleksy strongly emphasized that he had never done anybody any harm with his "secret agent" activity, so equating him with informers and denunciators was profoundly unjust.

Nizieński retorted that "in the Third Republic of Poland, unlike the time of People's Poland, courts do not pass political verdicts," adding that the court judgment came in consequence of many years' work of the Public Interest Commissioner and his team. Already ending his term, Nizieński announced that his successor would continue to fight to uphold the judgment in the courts.

On the same day, Sejm deputy speakers appealed to Oleksy to resign as Sejm speaker in connection with the court adjudication. Donald Tusk of the Civic Platform (PO) said that the Vetting Court verdict "is a sufficient reason for the speaker to resign from the function he fulfills." Tusk stressed that the remaining deputy speakers-Józef Zych of the Polish Peasants' Party (PSL), Kazimierz Ujazdowski of Law and Justice (PiS) and Tomasz Nałęcz of the Polish Social Democracy (SDPL)-"agreed on the matter."

An unofficial list of SLD candidates for the new Sejm speaker features first of all the incumbent Minister of Foreign Affairs Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz. Notably, however, not long ago Cimoszewicz announced his intention to withdraw from politics following the next parliamentary elections, so there's some doubt as to whether he would wish to accept this function for the last few months of the parliament's existence in the current composition. Other names mentioned include Minister of Internal Affairs Ryszard Kalisz and parliamentary deputy Katarzyna Piekarska.

It is still not known in what way Oleksy's problems will affect the situation in the SLD. After his election as the party leader Dec. 19, his rival for the post Krzysztof Janik immediately appointed a "Social Democratic platform," not formally defined as an intra-party opposition, but in fact considered to be one.

Observers also point to President Aleksander Kwaśniewski's clear disapproval of the election of Oleksy; despite invitation, Kwaśniewski did not appear at the SLD Convention, which was regarded as a slap in the face to the new party leader. Oleksy himself in later statements did not rule out a breakdown of the SLD in the coming months, while making it clear that he remained an optimist on this matter.

posted by: Oborski at 15:02 | link | comments |

Warsaw, Jan. 5: The Sejm on Wednesday morning recalled Jozef Oleksy from the post of Sejm Speaker. 379 deputies voted for recalling Oleksy, 17 were against and 48 abstained. The Sejm elected Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz a new Sejm Speaker. There were 223 votes for appointing Cimoszewicz. The absolute majority required to appoint a new Speaker was 223. Another candidate for the post, Jozef Zych, got 219 votes. During its three-day sitting the Sejm will decide if to hear a government report on renegotiations concerning the gas treaty with Russia. The daily agenda includes also Senate amendments to the law on national and ethnic minorities and a report on the work of the National Health Fund in 2003.

Tripoli, Jan. 5: Prime Minister Marek Belka's visit to Libya is to help launch economic contacts of Polish firms with Libya. Belka is accompanied on his visit to Tripoli by representatives of Polish firms, including fuel companies, who will discuss cooperation with Libyan partners. Head of the National Economic Chamber Andrzej Arendarski will sign a cooperation agreement with the Libyan industrial and trade chamber. The deal is to pave the way to operations in Libya of Poland's medium-sized and small firms. Despite a tradition of economic cooperation of the 1980s when Libya was Poland's chief trade partner in Africa, the present cooperation is poor. Last year's trade turnover was USD 9.5 million, compared to for instance USD 220 million in 1988.

Warsaw, Jan. 4: Deputy Sejm Speaker Jozef Zych met with deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia Hor Namphong.

We highly assess todate bilateral relations and we hope they will further develop, Zych said after the meeting. Minister Hor Namphong thanked Poland for its aid to Cambodia after the collapse of the Red Khmer regime and stressed his country was interested in consolidating bilateral economic and political contacts. On Wednesday Hor Namphong will meet with Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz. The two ministers will hold a press conference. Later in the day the minister will be received by President Aleksander Kwasniewski.

Zagan/Bygdoszcz, Jan. 4: The 4th shift of Polish Iraq stabilization troops will be equipped with new gear and weaponry to meet the new conditions in Iraq, Polish military chief of staff Czeslaw Piatas said at a farewell ceremony for Iraq- departing soldiers from the 11th Lubusz Armoured Division in west Poland. Piatas said that the Polish Iraq force has also received new armoured vehicles and 6 heavy combat helicopters, bringing its total chopper fleet to 16.

We have also improved nightwork conditions, the troops will also get modern minesweeping gear, Piatas said. The present shift of Iraq troops numbers 1,700 soldiers, 700 will remain in Poland in reserve. Poland currently has 2,500 troops in Iraq. Also departing to Iraq is a 200-strong unit from the 1st Pomeranian Logistic Brigade in Bydgoszcz whose task will be maintaining order during the country's approaching elections. Your mission is pure and noble - you are to create conditions enabling the Iraqi population to elect their authorities in peace. It is no secret that this is no easy mission, defence minister Janusz Zemke told the troops during a farewell ceremony Tuesday. Commenting planned depletions of Poland's Iraq force, Zemke said the force will be cut down to 1,700 troops after the Iraqi election and not before mid-February. Until that time the force will number 2,500 men, Zemke said. The first soldiers from the previous Iraq shift have left Camp Echo in Divaniyah for Kuwait, from where they will fly to Poland.

Warsaw, Jan. 5: The number of Poles missing after December 26th quake and tsunami disaster in Thailand has gone down to 29 from 36, Polish Ambassador in Thailand Bogdan Goralczyk said on Wednesday. Goralczyk added that four Polish forensic experts had already left for the island of Phuket where they would collect DNA samples from bodies of foreigners. The ambassador said that there was still hope that more Poles would be located alive and added that so far the authorities had confirmed that only one Polish citizen had been dead. The death toll from the Asian tsunami, triggered by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake off Indonesia, stood Wednesday at 145,073 people.

Warsaw, Jan. 4: To-date public collections in Poland have yielded around 4 million zlotys (1.3 mn USD) and 13 tons of aid articles for Asia's tsunami victims, prime minister Marek Belka said . Belka said the disaster victims were most in need of financial aid and that the Polish government has already channelled 1 million zlotys to the region. He added that if necessary more funds could be mobilized from a special government pool. For many years we were recipients of international aid. This is slowly changing and as OECD and EU members we must take upon ourselves the task of helping countries in true poverty and touched by disasters, Belka said.

Warsaw, Jan. 4: The government passed a document regulating Poland's energy policy until 2025. Among others the act defines energy safety as a country's capability of securing fuels and energy at reasonable prices and by environment-friendly means, deputy economy minister Jacek Piechota informed . The document also sets Poland's energy priorities as meeting EU and Maastricht gas emission and renewable energy requirements, raising effectiveness in the energy sector and freeing the energy market. Piechota said Poland's energy market will be totally free as of July 1 2007.

Warsaw, Jan. 4: According to a November macroeconomic report of the Economy Ministry, GDP went up 5.7 percent in 2004, against a 3.8-percent growth in 2003. The Central Statistical Office (GUS) said that in the first three quarters of 2004 Poland's GDP was up 5.9 pct. Gross value added in the national economy rose 5.5 pct in the three quarters of 2004, mainly thanks to a high growth in industry (11.4 percent). The report stressed that November's production data show that the zloty appreciation did not result in a lower growth rate of exports. In November 2004 industrial production went up by 11.3 percent year-on-year. According to experts, prices of goods and services are not going up very fast now (...) So one should stress that there are no signs of negative influence of inflation on pay rises, the report said.

Warsaw, Jan. 4: Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski in a special letter Tuesday thanked Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah for his personal help in yesterday's successful separation of Polish Siamese twins in a Saudi clinic. The spine-connected girls, 15-month-old Daria and Olga Kolacz, were separated Monday in an 18-hour operation in the King Abdul Aziz National Guard Hospital in the Saudi capital Riyadh. I wish to express my admiration of the medical skill displayed by doctors at the (...) hospital. Daria, Olga and their family will preserve in their grateful memory this noble and selfless help. The operation was followed step by step by entire Poland, Kwasniewski wrote in the letter. The operation ended Monday at 23.30hrs Polish time. Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah covered all medical and travel expenses for the twins and their mother after being informed of the case by a Saudi doctor, who learned about the twins from an Internet discussion forum.

Warsaw, Jan. 4: The Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) put forward a motion with the Sejm speaker to set up a parliamentary committee to investigate the privatisation of the PZU insurer, head of the SLD parliamentary caucus Krzysztof Janik said. Janik believes that the work of parliamentary investigators would not overlap with that of the Sejm committee for constitutional accountability which has conducted an inquiry into PZU privatisation for nearly two years now. Janik said that the constitutional accountability committee focuses on the responsibility of the minister, whereas the new committee will seek to clarify all the accompanying circumstances and the role of various persons whose constitutional accountability is out of the question, such as former PZU head Wladyslaw Jamrozy, former PZU Life head Grzegorz Wieczerzak or former Solidarity Election Action leader Marian Krzaklewski. He added that the job of the accountability committee is to establish guilt or innocence while the inquiry committee will focus on "showing mechanisms." Meanwhile deputy Sejm Speaker and head of the constitutional accountability committee Jozef Zych said that the committee's report would be ready in March. According to Janusz Dobrosz of the League of Polish Families, the committee found that not only former treasury minister Emil Wasacz was guilty of irregularities in connection with the privatisation of PZU, TP SA telecoms company and Domy Towarowe "Centrum" department stores but also former treasury minister Aldona Kamela- Sowinska. Also on Tuesday the Warsaw District Public Prosecutors' Office said it would resume the investigation into the sale of 30 percent of PZU that was discontinued in March 2002. Monday's Rzeczpospolita daily wrote about irregularities accompanying the privatisation of PZU in 1999-2001. The paper cited a statement by former Eureko (PZU's buyer) president Joao Talone for an international arbitration court made in 2003. Talone revealed many unknown facts and described irregularities he had witnessed.

Berlin, Dec. 4: President Horst Koehler of Germany will take part in the central ceremonies at the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp site on January 27. He will be accompanied by a group of survivors from Germany, Poland and Holland. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder will deliver a speech at the ceremony opening the events in Germany marking the 60th anniversary of liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp on January 25, the International Auschwitz Committee (MKO) announced on Tuesday. The ceremony will take place in Deutsches Theater in Berlin. A speech will also be delivered by Israel Singer, Secretary General of the World Jewish Congress (WJC.)

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Warsaw, Jan. 3: President Aleksander Kwasniewski told Radio Three he hoped Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz would decide to run for Sejm speaker. This is a very difficult decision and these few days were necessary for him but I am convinced that Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz will assume this necessary and significant task, the president said. Under way in the Sejm is a meeting concerning Cimoszewicz's candidature for Sejm speaker. Present are Sejm Speaker Jozef Oleksy, Krzysztof Janik and Jerzy Szmajdzinski. The Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday morning that Minister Cimoszewicz would make a statement after 1800 hrs.

Warsaw, Jan. 2: Another plane with 16 tons of medicines, sanitary supplies, blankets and sleeping bags for Indonesian victims of December 26's earthquake and tsunami disaster in southern Asia left Poland for the island of Sumatra on Saturday. On its way back the plane will bring home 230 Poles currently in Malaysia. This has been the second aid shipment from Poland for tsunami victims. It has been financed by the state budget and charity organizations, namely, the Polish Red Cross, the Polish Medical Mission, the Polish Humanitarian Action and Caritas Polska.

Warsaw, Jan. 2: The number of Poles missing after December 26's quake and tsunami disaster in southern Asian has dropped to 39, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday. A few days ago the number of missing Poles was sixty three but some people have reported to the authorities and there is still hope that more will be located alive, the ministry said. Two Polish police experts are to fly to Thailand Monday to help identify the bodies of the victims.

More than 123,000 died in Asian and African nations. The United Nations says the death toll may rise to 150,000.

Warsaw, Jan. 3: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia Hor Namphong will pay an official visit to Poland on January 4-6 at the invitation from Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, the Foreign Ministry reported on Monday. On Wednesday, January 5, the two foreign ministers will chair plenary talks of the two delegations. The talks will focus on bilateral economic cooperation and Polish aid for Cambodia. Planned is also a press conference of the two ministers. The programme of the visit provides also for a meeting with President Aleksander Kwasniewski and visits to the Sejm and Senate.

Warsaw, Jan. 2: Prime Minister Marek Belka will pay an official visit to Libya on January 4-6, the Government Information Centre reported. Belka is to hold talks with his Libyan counterpart Prime Minister Shukri Mohammed Ghanem to discuss development of bilateral relations and economic cooperation. The two sides are scheduled to discuss the construction of a nitric acid plant in Libya, training of Libyan specialists and cooperation in industrial chemistry. On January 11-19 the Polish prime minister will pay official visits to Japan, Singapore and Vietnam. During his visit to Japan the Polish PM will meet with his Japanese counterpart Junichiro Koizumi. Planned is also a meeting with Toyota concern officials. Prime Minister Belka will take part in an economic seminar organized by the Polish Agency of Information and Foreign Investments (PAIiIZ) and the Polish- Japanese Economic Committee. In Singapore PM Belka will meet with his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong to discuss economic cooperation. During his visit to Vietnam Prime Minister Belka will meet with Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and will attend a meeting with Vietnamese businessmen.

Warsaw, Jan. 3: President Aleksander Kwasniewski said Monday that he hoped he would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during the observances marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp on January 27. Asked whether it would be possible to improve relations with Russia after he went to Ukraine to help mediate after last month's disputed presidential runoff, the Polish president expressed the hope that this would be possible. On December 23 President Putin criticized President Kwasniewski for his statement for the Polityka weekly, in which the Polish president was quoted as saying that for every superpower Russia without Ukraine was a better solution than Russia with Ukraine.

President Kwasniewski stressed in his interview for Radio Three that it was not Poland alone that helped mediate in Ukraine and recalled that all meetings were also attended by EU's Javier Solana and Lithuanian president Valdas Adamkus.

Warsaw, Jan. 2: Extremely challenging foreign missions and progress in modernizing the national armed forces were the major events of the bygone year, deputy defence minister Janusz Zemke said summing up the year. Zemke said Polish soldiers had proven themselves in missions of a scale unprecedented in previous years, including broadscale humanitarian aid. Without help from the army and without the army's transportation means it would have been impossible to send aid to Iran, Sudan or the tsunami victims in Asia, Zemke said. Zemke also stressed that today over one half of Poland's armed forces were highly-skilled professional troops and that the army was also modernizing technologically. The army is one of the very few units able to reacts promptly and effectively in face of disaster, he said.

Warsaw, Jan. 2: Privatisation revenues in 2005 may be higher that the planned 5.7 bn zlotys even by a few bn zlotys if shares in PZU SA insurer are sold, Treasury Minister Jacek Socha told Radio PiN. 5.7 bn zlotys is envisaged in the 2005 budget and it is less than in 2004 but we will not be selling such a big firm as PKO BP bank, Socha said and added that if PZU was sold it could be much more. In 2004 gross privatisation revenues totalled around 10.5 bn zlotys, against the plan of 8.8 bn zlotys. The PKO BP bank privatisation gave the treasury around 7.6 billion zlotys.

Warsaw, Jan. 2: Explorer Marek Kaminski, TV cameraman Wojciech Ostrowski and Jas Mela, a handicapped 16-year-old who accompanied Kaminski on a North Pole trip last April, reached the South Pole on Friday after a nearly 200-kilometer trek, achieving their goal of making it to both ends of the Earth within a calendar year. Mela set the first record in April by becoming the youngest and most severely handicapped person to reach the North Pole. Mela lost an arm and a leg in an accidental electrocution two years ago. Kaminski is a member of the New York-based Explorers Club and president of its Polish section. Kaminski reached both ends of the globe in a solo trip in 1995.

Riyadh, Jan. 3: A medical team of 50 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, started complex surgery early Monday to separate a pair of Polish conjoined infant girls who share a lower spine and intestines. The 10-stage operation is expected to last for about 15 hours. The twins, 13-month-old Daria and Olga Kolacz, have undergone medical tests for the past 20 days at King Abdul-Aziz Medical City for the National Guard in Riyadh to confirm that a safe separation was possible. The cost of the operation is financed by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz al Saud. Crown Prince Abdullah offered to pay medical and travel expenses for the twins and their mother after being informed of the case by a Saudi doctor, who learned about the twins from an Internet discussion forum.

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Kaminski: At the Pole Today!

Kaminski team sent some live pictures yesterday, along with a short, concise and great headline: At the Pole Tomorrow!! According to that report, the three skiers should reach the southernmost point on Earth today, ready to hit New Year: Double celebration and double congratulations for young Jasiek (Janek) Mela, Marek Kaminski and cameraman Wojciech Ostrowski. The team has skied the two last degrees to SP.

Jasiek Mela suffered an electric shock of 15,000 volts. He lost a leg and an arm, but he didn’t lose hope. After one and half years of rehabilitation and preparations, this past April, 14 year old Jasiek skied the last degree to the North Pole. Next stage was the South Pole. Marek Kaminski, the expedition leader, (and the first person to have done both Poles back to back and unsupported) is helping him to fulfill his dreams.

posted by: Oborski at 00:57 | link | comments |

Best city website online may well be Gdynia. View in Polish or English. Superb!

"Cześć!"

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PM about elections date

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Participation of the President of the Republic of Poland in the ceremony to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp(2005-01-27)

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President decorates Red Army Auschwitz liberators

Horst Koehler visits Nazi Auschwitz camp

Jewish medals for presidents of Russia and Poland

Hausner for faster wage growth in 2005

Oleksy: SLD for autumn general elections

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Participation of the President of the Republic of Poland in the ceremony to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp
(2005-01-27)