Polish Consulate...

The prime ministers of Poland and Spain have once again spoken in favour of the compromise reached in Nice in 2000. After the first intergovernmental Polish-Spanish consultations in Madrid both Leszek Miller and Jose Maria Aznar reiterated that there is no point in rejecting the provisions of the Nice Treaty before they are put in practice. The EU parliamentary voting procedures agreed upon in Nice guarantee Poland and Spain 27 parliamentary mandates each compared, for instance, to Germany’s 29 votes which has a population size of both countries combined. The European Convention’s proposals written in the Constitutional Treaty are unacceptable since they do not reflect the actual division of power in the EU, agreed the prime ministers of Poland and Spain in Madrid today.

Visit of Russian Foreign Minister...

A three-day official visit to Poland by Russia’s foreign minster Igor Ivanov begins tomorrow. Both Russian and Polish heads of diplomacy will co-chair the third session of the Committee for the Strategy of Polish-Russian Cooperation. When in Warsaw minister Ivanov intends to raise the issue of bilateral economic relations and potential location of NATO bases in Poland. The moment Poland joins the European Union its bilateral agreements with other countries lose power. Poland would like new contracts to be concluded by the European Union and Russia instantly. An anonymous official at the Russian foreign ministry was quoted as saying that Moscow will not agree to this proposal and will demand bilateral nagotiations between Warsaw and Moscow. Minister Igor Ivanov will be received by his Polish opposite number, the president and prime minister.

Future of farming...

‘Young farmers should not count on the production of their households as their only source of income after Poland’s entry into the European Union’, such is the conclusion of a conference organised in Warsaw by the delegation of the European Commission to Poland.
Students of farm schools who met with agricultural experts have been advised to look for alternative sources of income already now, 5 months before Poland’s planned accession date. Suggested ideas include agro-tourism, environment-friendly production or trade. The Schuman Foundation, co-organiser of the conference, will hold a competition for young farmers, ‘How to reform my father’s farm’.

Locations for car factory...

Poland and Slovakia are two potential locations of a new Hunday’s car factory. Originally four countries had been considered by the Korean concern as venues for its passenger car manufacturing plant but the locations in Hungary and the Czech Republic were rejected. Now the negotiations are entering the most difficult phase, their final result is expected to be announced in mid-December.

Unpopular Government...

As many as 87 per cent of Poles express negative opinions about the government’s operation. Only 8 per cent think otherwise. Similarly, almost 8 in 10 people in Poland disapprove of prime minister Leszek Miller’s actions. President Alexander Kwasniewski seems to be the only top politician to enjoy society’s support as 63 per cent of respondents said in a recent public opinion poll that the head of state performs his duties well.

Drunk on duty...

A drunk 47-year-old gyneacologist has been detained while on duty in Sieradz, central Poland. One of his patients reported to the police that she could sense alcohol while she was being examined. The doctor turned out to have 1.86 per mill of alcohol in the air he exhaled. He may be charged with endangering patients’ health.

Now – the weather – it’s been a fair day across Poland, except north-western parts of the country. It was pretty sunny and warm in Warsaw, the temperatures ranged from 9 degrees Centigrade in the north-east to 15 in the south-east. Tomorrow it will be relatively warm, with temperatures of up to 15 degrees Centigrade.

posted by: Oborski at 13:37 | link | comments |

In the early hours of 26th November 1939 - exactly 64 years ago today - M/S Pilsudski hit German mines and sank.

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

Good advice from "Warsaw Voice" for foreigners thinking of taking up residence in Poland...

Poland is an attractive country for foreign professionals, but taking a job and settling here requires professional help too. Without such help you may encounter some problems.

1. Choose one passport. If you have dual or multiple citizenship, settle all formalities with one passport.

2. Extend the passport. Work permits are issued for a maximum period of one year, but not beyond the passport's expiration date.

3. Remember the visa. Make sure whether citizens of your country are free from the visa obligation and if not, apply for a visa.

4. Find your diploma or certificate documenting your graduation from an institution of higher education or high school. Without the document, you may face problems getting a work permit.

5. Only bring things, such as furniture or equipment, that you will take back with you. Do not throw them away. You will have to pay a duty for everything you leave in Poland.

6. Register your car and change your driver's license. Remember, if your country has no agreement with Poland on an automatic exchange of licenses, then you are obliged to have an international driving license.

7. Do not rent a house or apartment without assistance. Consult an expert regarding the location, price and lease contract or entrust the matter to us.

8. Get yourself ready for different relations at the workplace. Your Polish employees might isolate you in order to appear more valuable in your eyes.

9. Keep your documents safe, especially those which are difficult to replace. Do not leave them in the car, a cloakroom, or your jacket.

10. Find a professional adviser who will handle all the formalities of your stay in Poland and act as your caretaker.

posted by: Oborski at 18:32 | link | comments |

"These days many residents can't afford coal, so we decided to help them out. The initiative is a success, because we can see whole families going to the forest to collect kindling."
-A representative of the City Council of Kalisz Pomorski, where the local forest administration pays zl.5 for one cubic meter of collected dry twigs

"Now criminals can establish special foundations or associations in order to bribe the police. For example, they can create an Association of Polish Thieves."
-Eugeniusz K³opotek, a deputy from the Polish Peasants' Party (PSL), protesting a law adopted by the Sejm which allows for sponsorship of the police by such institutions as banks, foundations and private companies

"I have the impression that this report was copied from the literature that the League of Polish Families (LPR) distributed before the EU [accession] referendum in Poland."
-Roman Giertych, leader of the LPR, the most Euroskeptic party in the Sejm, about the negative assessment of Poland's preparations to join the EU expressed in this year's European Commission report

"They have a genuine democracy, a system of public conferences. And there's no opposition, not like in our country."
-Waldemar Borczyk, a deputy from Samoobrona, on the advantages of the political system in Libya, which he will soon visit together with a delegation from the Polish parliament

"In Polish, you can curse brilliantly, while in German, there are only four such words."
-Steffen Möller, a German actor living in Poland, on his linguistic experience

"How about separating politics from the ways of satisfying one's sexual nature?"
-Rightist columnist Maciej Rybiñski on the news of establishment of a new party that will include gays and lesbians among others

posted by: Oborski at 18:13 | link | comments |

Prime minister Leszek Miller has left for Madrid for talks with Spanish government head Jose Maria Aznar on the future EU constitution. Both countries have been supporting the provisions of the December 2000 Nice Treaty on Union parliamentary voting procedures. They guarantee Poland and Spain 27 parliamentary mandates each compared, for instance, to Germany’s 29 votes which has a population size of both countries combined. Premier Miller is accompanied on his Spanish trip by ministers of foreign and European affairs, the interior, defence and culture.

Estonian foreign minister Kristina Ojuland has spent Monday in Warsaw. During the one day visit she has met her Polish opposite number Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz and House speaker Marek Borowski. The main issues raised during their talks have been the EU Intergovernmental Conference and the shape of the Union’s future constitution. Tallin is ready to support Poland’s stand on the Nice Treaty concerning EU parliamentary representation, while expecting Warsaw to back Estonian demands for a tough Brussels stance to represent EU candidate countries in its negotiations with Moscow. Estonia’s political quarters have expressed concern over recent EU statements on possible revoking of visa requirements for Russians, reminding that as of May next year Poland and Estonia are to become the Union’s border states.

The Central Statistical Office has published data on unemployment for October. The figures show a 17.4 rate with the number of jobless declining by a further 0.1% compared to the previous month. By end October the number of registered work seekers in Poland stood at 3 million 58 thousand. Of those, 85.6% had lost their rights to unemployment benefits.
Evaluating the country’s economic performance, the Central Statistical Office has reported a 30% increase in exports compared to the same period last year. Inflation has gone up only slightly, still much below this year’s prognosis and is considerably lower than in EU countries. Large company investments increased by 1% , mostly in export linked sectors.

Customs officers of the southern border region have started another series of protests. They have been contesting the manner in which they and their colleagues from the western borderland are being transferred to checkpoints in the east. They claim that the relocated officers are not recieving adequate compensation for costs of moving their families to new quarters. They also want reinstatement of those who have been dismissed from the service on grounds of insubordination for criticizing the program. The action of transfers is part of a wide scale reorganization of Poland’s border personnel involving pushing the future EU border eastward after official enlargement in 2004.

Police near Zagan in the western Lubuskie province have detained a group of illegal Pakistani immigrants. Spokesman for the local police department said the twelve men were found locked inside a truck. They will be transferred to Border Guard custody awaiting deportation procedures.

And finally a brief glance at the weather map of Poland........ The northern coastal regions of the country , as well as the northeastern Mazury lakeland have experienced cloud and rain. Elsewhere, it’s been mostly sunny with noontime mercury highs ranging from 9 centigrade in the Mazurian province to a quite warmish 15 degrees Celcius in southern Malopolska. Winds weak to moderate, southerly, strong in the Tatra mountain areas down south.

posted by: Oborski at 16:56 | link | comments |

"Rising '44 - The Battle for Warsaw" by Norman Davies (Macmillan) is absolutely essential reading! It is vivid, illuminating, thought provoking and revealing and beautifully written!

posted by: Oborski at 16:26 | link | comments |

The presidents of Poland and Lithuania – Aleksander Kwasniewski and Rolandas Paksas have discussed Lithuania’s political crisis sparked off by the secret service, which had accussed some of Paksas’s aides of having links with the Russian mafia. President Kwasniewski was assured by president Paksas that Lithuania will maintain its stability and will continue to realize its main policy goals – membership in NATO and the European Union as well as strategic partnership with Poland.
President Paksas, who made a stop-over in Warsaw on his way back from Iraq, denied any wrongdoing and said that he did not violate the presidential oath and the constutional laws.

Poland’s prime minister Leszek Miller and his Hungarian opposite number Peter Medgyessy have said that their countries are strategic partners and that this should not change after Poland and Hungary enter the European Union in May 2004.
Premier Medgyessy told a press conference after talks in Warsaw that Hungary views with understanding Poland’s determination to defend the voting system in the EU Council outlined in the Nice Treaty. The system gives Poland 27 votes, only two less than to Germany and France, which want to depart from Nice.
Prime minister Miller thanked Hungary for sending its troops to the Polish stabilization zone in Iraq.
Earlier today, the Hungarian and Polish oil and fuel giants MOL and PKN Orlen signed a letter of intent on bilateral cooperation. Its terms are to be negotiated in the coming months.
The letter is the first step towards a fusion of the two concerns, which may be accomplished within three years. This would result in the emergence of the biggest oil and fuel company in this part of Europe, which would find it easier to compete on the EU market and expand to other markets.

Prime ministers from the Central European Initiative countries are meeting at an annual summit in Warsaw, which is focussing on the situation in the region as well as the organization’s tasks after next year’s European Union enlargement. According to the National Coordinator of the CEI summit Jozef Wiejacz, its participants will stress the need for cooperation aimed at supporting those member countries which will not enter the EU in May 2004. A plenary debate, chaired by prime minister Leszek Miller is scheduled for tomorrow.

An explosive charge has gone off next to a Polish military convoy, which was on its way from Baghdad to Camp Babylon.No soldier suffered in the blast. The charge was on the roadside and was probably detonated through a remote control device.
This has been another incident involving a Polish convoy. So far, one Polish soldier was killed in Iraq.

Poland’s Main Statistical Office has informed that in October industrial production rose by over 12 percent on the year to year basis. This was another month which saw industrial output increase, exceeding even the most optimistic forecasts. The increase was recorded mainly by firms producing for exports.

The International Monetary Fund has said that the state of Poland’s budget, especially the growing public debt, poses the biggest threat to economic growth. Head of the IMF mission in Poland, Susan Schadler, believes that Poland has no choice but to carry out reforms and that the current economic revival will facilitate this. Schadler hopes that the plan of improving public finances, masterminded by vice-premier Hausner, will be consistently implemented.

Cheap flights from Poland to Britain will be available as of mid-December. The service – between the southern city of Katowice and London – will be operated by Air Polonia. Its president Tomasz Sudo³ says that the flights will cost 55 zlotys, about 15 US dollars plus standard airport fees. At the beginning, Air Polonia will fly to London three times a week.

posted by: Oborski at 21:57 | link | comments |

Polish foreign minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz has conferred in London with his British counterpart Jack Straw. At a joint press conference, Mr Straw said Britain understood Warsaw’s reservations on the draft of a European constitution, adding that if no compromise is found the provisions agreed upon in Nice should remain in force.

Under the weighted voting system contained in the Nice treaty, Poland, with a population of almost 40 million, has 27 votes, two less than the EU’s Big Four of Germany, Britain, France and Italy.
The British and Polish foreign ministers expressed the hope that Italy, as chairman of the intergovernmental conference, would present a compromise formula on all controversial matters.

Thousands of Polish health care workers have protested in Warsaw demanding urgent state aid to save their heavily indebted sector from what they said was a possible collapse. Health unions say many of Poland’s 700 hospitals have stopped paying bills and are postponing operations after years of botched reforms left public hospitals drowning in debts.

Over one thousand taxi drivers have blocked the Warsaw city centre for the fifth time this year in protest against measures requiring them to install fiscal cash registers. The new meters, to be installed at the drivers’ own expense, are designed to make it easier to check their income for tax purposes once value-added tax is introduced on their services. According to the taxi drivers fiscal cash registers are not obligatory in all EU countries.

Polish coal miners have concluded a 24-hour warning strike against government plans for job cuts in the heavily-indebted state sector. Some 35 thousand miners in 15 collieries took part in the protest. Union officials said they would give the government and mine managements three weeks to begin talks aimed at dropping plans to close four mines. Otherwise, miners grouped in the Solidarity union have threatened a general strike. Government officials say the restructuring programme will not be altered.
Poland’s coal sector has already experienced deep job cuts over the last decade with a 62 per cent reduction in employment, from 388 thousand to 146 thousand jobs.

A leader of the ruling Democratic Left Alliance SLD has expressed the hope that the party’s national executive would approve a package of spending cuts contained in next year’s austere budget. Interviewed by Polish Radio, Marek Dyduch admitted that the package has met with critical comment from both the party’s rank-and-file members and activists. He said that up to 40 percent of the party’s 150 thousand members may not pass muster in the current verification procedure within the party.

A court in Starachowice has sentenced two former members of Poland’s ruling party to one year in prison for fraud and bribery. The two local councilmen are at the core of the so called Starachowice scandal. Earlier this year allegations surfaced that the then deputy interior minister Zbigniew Sobotka had tipped off a parliamentary deputy from the town of Starachowice about police plans for a raid on a local gang dealing in stolen cars. The MP is alleged to have tipped off two councilmen about the raid. They were reported to be working with the car mafia.
They were released from custody and would not be going immediately to jail as the verdict was still subject to appeal. Sobotka is now awaiting trial on charges of leaking classified information, obstruction of justice and endangering policemen’s lives. Poland’s national police chief was also forced to resign. Both have denied any wrongdoing.

Poland is counting on winning substantial military contracts to re-equip the Iraqi army. Deputy defence minister Janusz Zemke said in an interview that the potentially lucrative deals should be awarded to countries with the largest military presence in Iraq. Poland has about 2,500 troops in Iraq, and has been leading an international force of almost 10 thousand soldiers in the central-southern part of the country.

The economy minister Jerzy Hausner has said that Poland should consider pegging its national currency, the zloty, to the euro, as it prepares to join the European Union in six months’ time. ‘To link the rate of the zloty to the euro seems justified from an economic and technical point of view because that will make it easier for Poland to adopt the euro’, Hausner told reporters. According to the government, Poland will adopt the euro currency in 2008 or 2009. The central bank says the government should give priority to forging a credible plan to reform public finances in order to get Poland into shape for the euro.

posted by: Oborski at 18:54 | link | comments |

Successor to the Belgian crown, Prince Philip and his wife princess Mathylda have begun a several day visit to Poland during which they will be touring Warsaw, Poznan, Lodz and Kielce. While in the capital, prince Philip is to confer with Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski, prime minister Leszek Miller as well as the finance and economy ministers Andrzej Raczko and Jerzy Hausner, respectively. Princess Mathylda will be accompanied by First Lady Jolanta Kwasniewska during numerous meetings with children in care centers.

Israeli Ambasador to Poland, Szewach Weiss has received a special prize for his contribution to the Polish Culture today durign a special ceremony at the Polish Culture Ministry. The prize has been given to Mr. Weiss for his special achievements on the field of understanding between Jews and Poles as well as for cherishing mutual heritage and traditions and it is a special honour granted to both Polish citizens and foreigners.

Prime minister Leszek Miller has reiterated in an interview for Polish Radio Poland’s intention of championing for the adherance to the provisions of the Nice Treaty during today’s scheduled meeting of EU foreign ministers. Miller pointed to the fact that Poland is not alone in this striving. He called the Nice compromise on EU parliamentary representation an acceptable solution for all countries of the future enlarged Union, irrespective of their population size. The Polish premier also recalled the treaty had been ratified by the entire group of 15 EU member countries. Polish Foreign Minister W³odzimierz Cimoszewicz will take join the meeting in Brussels tomorrow where he is also scheduled to meet with US secretary of State Colin Powell.

Miners who are unhappy with the Sejm's acceptance of a bill to restructure the sector started their warning strike today at 6 a.m. The law in question foresees bringing the sector out of debt, while ensuring social support for miners, but rules out the possibility of integrating mines as a way to avoid their liquidation. The unionists are demanding that their employers schedule further discussions with the government. They are also planning to picket in front of the Regional Administration Office in Katowice. Despite these threats, miners are losing faith in the positive outcome of government discussions, saying that the warning strike could pave the way for a general strike. In a referendum last December on whether miners were for a nation-wide general strike, 95% supported the cause to protest the liquidation of mines.

Consumer price inflation index in Poland rose to higher-than-expected 1.3% in October, according to figures released by Poland's Central Statistical Office (GUS). The headline figure was from 0.9% in September and slightly higher than the market consensus, which was set at 1.0-1.2%. Prices for the first ten months of 2003 are now up 0.7% in annual terms. Food, drink and tobacco prices, which make up some one-third of the CPI basket, rose by 1.1% year-on-year in October. Fuel prices grew by 3% year on year in October. Housing and utilities prices were also up, by 2.7%.

posted by: Oborski at 10:28 | link | comments |

"I don't believe this action will be successful. No one has ever managed to do that, not Stalin in the Soviet Union, or Mao Tse-tung in China, or even the Taliban in Afghanistan."
-Piotr Gadzinowski, a deputy from the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), on Warsaw Mayor Lech Kaczyñski's plans to rid escort agencies and street prostitutes from the city

"I don't like drinking for noreason. For me, the glass is a companion in a card game or an interesting conversation."
-Krzysztof Janik, minister of internal affairs and administration, on his
attitude about alcohol

"Everyone knows how to find a McDonald's; why can't police stations also look alike and be as visible?"
-Jacek Popecki, a councilor of Samoobrona in the £ódŸ Province Assembly, justifying his idea to paint all the police stations in Poland the same bright color

"This is not only a form of exercise. It's also a way to make contact with an energy that may turn out fatal for a man of the West."
-Father Tadeusz Mariañski, from the Dominican Center for Information on New Religious Movements and Sects in Cracow, about the dangers of practicing yoga

"Similar treatments are provided, with the exception that in women, breasts are usually enlarged, and in men they are reduced."
-Andrzej Sankowski, a plastic surgeon, on the differences between the requirements of male and female patients

"In the morning, when you wake up with a hangover, you think there's no God; in the evening you believe God exists; and again in the morning, with a new hangover-there's no God."
-Russian writer Viktor Yerofeyev on the Russians' attitude to religion

posted by: Oborski at 10:23 | link | comments |

posted by: Oborski at 02:01 | link | comments (1) |

Although we are both talking about 11.11.1918 our Independence Day doesn't exactly gel with UK Remembrance Day. So Brits use the closest Sunday and we use the other. So in 2003 Brits used the 9th and we're using 16th. Hope that makes sense!

So Mass this morning at Our Lady of Ostra Brama - then a few drinks and setting up at the Polish Club - and tonight at 17.00 "Akademia" at the Polish Club.

Local S.P.K Chairman Maria Lee will welcome us. Mr Szauman-Szumski will speak in Polish. I will read the Norman Davies article from last week's Guardian (see below). We will then watch video of Remembrance Day events on Warsaw's Pilsudski Square on 11th November.

posted by: Oborski at 17:26 | link | comments |

posted by: Oborski at 14:04 | link | comments |

Lest we forget...

Britain's failure to recognise Poland's wartime sacrifices is shameful, argues Norman Davies

Saturday November 8, 2003
The Guardian

In Britain, we continue to honour Remembrance Day every eleventh of November and we think that we remember all those who gave their lives in two world wars for our peace and freedom. It is a sentimental occasion when we eagerly remember our own and rarely stop to think who "all those" actually were. For we did not win alone. We were fortunate to have many allies, some of whom were called on to make sacrifices considerably greater than our own.

November 11 also marks the day in 1918 when Poland regained its independence after 127 years of foreign rule, that independence which, in 1939, Britain formally agreed to uphold and which provided the occasion for our declaration of war on Nazi Gemany. For six years, Poland was Britain's "first ally". Polish squadrons tipped the balance in the Battle of Britain. Polish cryptographers were first to break the Enigma code. Polish divisions fought alongside us at Narvik, Tobruk, Monte Cassino, Arnhem and in Normandy. Poland's underground resistance movement, the Home Army (AK), was the first and largest client of our Special Operations Executive.

By 1945, our Polish allies had lost at least six million of their people - half Jewish and half Catholic. But their sacrificies were largely ignored. No place was found for them in our grand post-war victory parade. And the Imperial War Museum has ignored requests to organise a display to mark a key event in Poland's contribution to the allied effort, although commemorative exhibitions are planned in Paris, Berlin and Warsaw.

The critical moment in this tragic story was August 1, 1944 - the outbreak of the Warsaw rising. The Varsovians, who had already endured five years of Nazi savagery, including the brutal suppression of the Ghetto uprising of 1943, decided to co-ordinate their insurgency with the advance of an allied army: 40,000-50,000 half-armed men and woman answered the call to attack the Wehrmacht and SS. They included a more numerous contingent of Jewish fighters than had fought in the Ghetto uprising. Their hopes were boosted by promises that Stalin would settle all differences with the Soviets and by the activity of SOE, which was flying in men and supplies to the very last day and which, in the face of Foreign Office opposition, urged Churchill to provide all assistance.

They expected to hold out for two to six days, and their calculations were not far out. Marshal Rokossovskys's original orders were to put the Soviet Army into Warsaw by August 2. When repelled by the fierce counter-atack of four German Panzer divisions, he submitted a revised plan dated August 8 that proposed the early relief of Warsaw and a colossal drive towards Berlin.

At this point, the rising began to unravel. The SS drafted in heavy reinforcements. Stalin ignored the Polish premier's pleas for a compromise solution; rejected Rokossovsky's revised plan; transferred Soviet reserves to the Balkan Front; described the rising as a "criminal adventure"; and refused landing rights to the RAF Squadron which Churchill had ordered to supply Warsaw from southern Italy.

Warsaw, in consequence, bled to death. With brilliant ingenuity and daring, the Home Army held off the SS for weeks. Germans talked of a second Stalingrad. But civilians were dying at the rate of 2,000 a day. Incessant bombardments reduced the city to rubble. Western aid was woefully inadequate, scores of British, South African, Canadian and Polish aircrews died in vain and the Soviets stood still, eventually watching the battle from across the river. After 66 days, the insurgents capitulated and Warsaw's ruins were razed to the ground.

The Polish commander-in-chief, General Sosnkowski, who had personally advised against the rising, was left to beg his British counterparts for a greater sense of urgency. He was not allowed to take control of the Pol ish Parachute Brigade which had been trained in England for service in Warsaw.

Not for the first or last time, the Poles were left alone with their poetry:

Next year the Imperial War Museum is launching an exhibition on "Women at War". Nothing would be more suitable than a tribute to the heroines of Warsaw - to Elizabeth "Zo", who was parachuted in by SOE, to Krystyna K, the model for Warsaw's Syren statue, who was shot dead whilst rescuing a wounded comrade or to the thousands of underground nurses and couriers.

After the war, all public memory of the Warsaw rising was suppressed in the Soviet bloc. The last commander of the AK, General Okulicki, who had been flown into occupied Poland by the RAF, ended up in a show trial in Moscow for "illegal activities". Thousands of colleagues perished in the Gulag or in communist jails. Though a fine monument was raised to the Heroes of the Ghetto in 1947, no memorial to the Warsaw rising was permitted until 1989. When Chancellor Brandt travelled to Warsaw in 1970 to pay Germany's penance to Poland, there was still no memorial.

The Warsaw rising did not feature in the Nuremburg tribunals. It would have outraged the Soviets and embarrassed the western powers. Instead, SS General Erich Von dem Bach, the butcher of Warsaw and a notorious murderer in the campaign against Soviet partisans, was used as a witness for the prosecution. He escaped scot free.

The exclusion of the Poles from Britain's 1945 victory parade in contrast, may charitably be attributed to muddle. Though the Polish government, our exiled wartime ally, was still in London, invitations were sent to the communist regime in Warsaw. When no response was forthcoming, Ernest Bevin saw the mistake and sent a last-minute apology to Poland's General Anders, living in exile in England. There was no chance to form a contingent. In any case, the Poles knew that for them the war had ended in unmistakable defeat. In Poland, the communists had abolished Independence Day, and replaced it by a so called National Day that celebrated their own accession to power in 1944. In Britain, meanwhile, the survivors of the Warsaw rising who had made their way to our shores after release from German camps, were being refused war pensions.

· Rising '44 - The Battle for Warsaw by Norman Davies is published by Macmillan, £25.

posted by: Oborski at 11:41 | link | comments |

It was nice to see a bigger turn out today for Remembrance Day - more people in the Parade and more members of the public outside to Church and later outside the Town Hall in Kidderminster. It is important that we remember.

As Polish Consul it is an honour to be able to lay a wreath during the ceremony. Our SPK standard was also present and local SPK Chairman Maria Lee laid a wreath on their behalf.

For me it is a difficult time of year. The British half of me responds to the solemnity of this act of remembrance for so many who lost their lifes. The Polish half of me celebrates the self same anniversary of the ending of World War I as "Independence Day". On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month Warsaw's Pilsudski Square sees Poland celebrating the rebirth of the Polish Republic in 1918 after a century of partition.

Ironically Poland lost a higher percentage of her population than probably any other country (except perhaps Serbia) in World War I. Polish casualty figures are lost from view as hundreds of thousands of Poles were conscripted into Russian, German and Austrian armies and their names are counted among their dead before you even mention the Polish volunteers in France or the Polish Legion in which my grandfather fought under his beloved Jozef Pilsudski.

Like everything else it is a matter of perception depending upon where exactly you are standing.

posted by: Oborski at 02:52 | link | comments |

Deputy premier and economy minister Jerzy Hausner has reiterated the undisputable necessity -as he called it- of curbing public expenditure planned for the next three years. However, Hausner said he will not press for specific cuts, as long as alternative propositions do not jeopardize balancing the public finances budget. He warned that checking expenditures already in next year’s budget is mandatory in view of the constitutionally set norm of public debt with respect to the GDP. The economy minister announced that five groups of experts will be working on the provisions of the required changes. Hausner also stated he will not be leaving the matter solely in the hands of specialist teams and politicians, as special hot lines have been opened at several ministries and central institutions to gather wide opinion on the proposed moves in public spending. An interactive website has also been launched allowing for a true public debate, Hausner assured.

Prime minister Leszek Miller has met with the newly appointed national police chief, general Leszek Szreder. They discussed the situation in regard to the law enforcement budget and planned organizational changes in the national police headquarters. Speaking to reporters following their talks, the prime minister said he expected the new police chief to concentrate efforts on greater effectivity in combatting organized crime as well as counteracting common crimes which are experienced by citizens on a daily basis. I’m interested in pulling policemen away from precinct desks and sending out more officers to monitor security of individual districts and their inhabitants, said Miller. Asked about potential personnel changes in the Central Bureau of Investigation general Szreder, on his part, said he presently has not considered any, but added that its organizational backup would be strengthened.
Meanwhile, the best crime prevention experts from all over Europe have come to the Police Academy in Szczytno to discuss methods of fighting organized crime. Task force officers are also analyzing gang warfare tactics. The Central Bureau of Investigation estimates that there are close to 500 organized criminal groups operating presently in Poland. Nearly all are engaged in drug trafficking.

PAH, the Polish Humanitarian Action has launched a campaign to encourage Poles to help the needy in Iraq. Head of the organization Janina Ochojska announced that PAH is starting a wide ranging media action to make Polish society more aware of the often tragic plight of Iraqi people, especially children. The Polish Humanitarian Action has been running a permanent mission in Iraq since August. Contrary to many international organizations which have been considering withdrawing from that country because of high security risks, the Polish humanitarian aid organization is expanding its operations. Our volunteers have been successful in establishing friendly relations with the local population and that has allowed to base our activity on mutual trust, said Ochojska. We do not make decisions for them, we just assist them in their problems and that’s why they like us there, she proudly declared. The PAH head also expressed satisfaction with the November 7th scheduled signing ceremony in Brussels to include the Polish Humanitarian Action in the EU alliance of humanitarian aid organizations. Ochojska said the move will enable PAH to secure additional EU funding for its other two permanent missions in Chechnya and Afghanistan.

Finance and economy ministers from EU countries have been debating in Brussels. The forum began with a meeting with representatives of candidate countries devoted to the prospective members’ economic plans envisaged for their initial years in the EU. The Union side is concerned with the projected growth of budget deficits in several of the aspiring countries. In the case of Poland, the EU is also worried about a substantial drop in the country’s high unemployment rate envisaged no sooner than in 2005. Poland has been represented at the conference by finance minister Andrzej Raczko.

And finally, a brief look at the weather map of Poland........ The country has been mostly cloudy, especially the northern coastal regions where rain and drizzle prevailed for the entire day. Tuesday’s noontime mercury highs ranged from 9 centigrade in the northeastern provinces to 13 degrees Celcius in the southwest. The outlook for tomorrow – no change!

posted by: Oborski at 01:58 | link | comments |

It is the Polish custom to place candles and flowers on graves on All Saints' Day (1st November). Today we placed candles and flowers on the graves of four young Polish Airmen who lie in the graveyard at St. Cuthbert's Church at Donington on the edge of Albrighton, Shropshire.

posted by: Oborski at 19:53 | link | comments |

Edmund Szymczak, Father Edward, Barbara Evans, Maria Lee and Mike Oborski at the graves.

posted by: Oborski at 19:47 | link | comments |

posted by: Oborski at 19:44 | link | comments |

Poland's first lady Jolanta Kwasniewska has said she might run for president in 2005 after a survey gave her good chances of winning in a country tired of professional politicians.
Analysts and politicians compare Kwasniewska, a 48-year-old lawyer known for her charity work, with Hillary Clinton, who was elected to the U.S. Senate after husband Bill ended his second term as president in 2001. If elected, the Kwasniewskis would become the first political dynasty in eastern Europe since the 1989 fall of communism. Popular President Aleksander Kwasniewski is barred from running for a third term after 10 years in power.
A recent poll by agency OBOP showed that Kwasniewska, who frequently features on women magazines' covers, could be backed by 34 percent of Poles, more than twice any other potential candidate.
But a lack of political experience could yet discredit her among voters who may fear she would struggle with diplomatic challenges after Poland joins the European Union next May. Her strength however is the 70-percent support rating for President Kwasniewski, and a widespread distrust of political elites caused by a series of scandals.
Kwasniewska's chances would be especially strong if the ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), fails to find a credible candidate.
Although the Polish president has limited powers he or she can veto bills and has a say on foreign and defence policies the election race is expected to be heated.

Austria supports the Nice Treaty voting system , a statement to this effect had been made by chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel and Poland’s prime minister Leszek Miller during a joint press conference. The Polish premier met with the Austrian chancellor in Vienna today for talks on the EU Constitution Treaty The Austrian chancellor underlined that if the Nice system had been ratified in all the EU states then it must be appropriate and effective. Wolfgang Schuessel has also said that his country fully supports the project of one commissioner representing one state as well as reference to Christian values in the EU constitution.

Sociologist professor Janusz Reykowski considers that the main reason why Poles negatively asses the results of the 14 years of transformations lies primarily in the growing unemployment.Speaking for Polish Radio early this morning Prof. Reykowski said that many people have been disillusioned with the transformations, hoping they might bring about a betterment of their living conditions.The 14 years have also witnessed ineffective co-operation of the political eltites, said Prof. Reykowski.Each of the ruling power aimed at introducing transformations in line with their own ideas without listening to the voice of other parties and the opposition.

Prime Minister Leszek Miller will go to Iraq next month to visit Polish troops running a stabilisation zone there and promote the country's economic interests in the region, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
The announcement came as a survey showed public opposition rising to Poland's involvement in the military operation in Iraq after Warsaw backed the U.S.-led war to topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
Miller, who follows British Prime Minister Tony Blair in visiting Iraq, will also visit Lebanon and Jordan during the November 8-11 trip.
The visit appeared timed to rally support among a public sceptical about Poland's support for Washington, which has irked key allies France and Germany ahead of Poland's entry into the European Union next year.
An opinion poll showed that the number of those opposed to Poland's military involvement in Iraq increased to 57 percent in October from 53 percent in September. Support for the operation declined to 37 percent from 40 percent.
The poll by agency CBOS indicated that 70 percent of Poles feared their country could become a target of terrorist attack, up from 68 percent in September.
Some political analysts and news media have blamed the government for failing to win any significant contracts for Polish firms as a reward for joining the war on Iraq.
Poland runs one of four stabilisation zones in Iraq and has committed over 2,000 troops to a multi-national military force in the centre and south of the country.

The independent Monetary Policy Council has left the central bank’s key lending rates unchanged for the fourth consecutive month. The decision came as the value of the national currency, the zloty, plunged to record lows vis a vis the Euro in recent days.Most analysts believe the decision was dictated by market uncertainty over doubts as to whether the government will be able to control next year’s deficit.

A young Polish tourist, wounded in the road accident in Hurghada on the Red Sea in Egypt,is to undergo a second surgery. His condition does not allow him to be transported to Poland, said the spokesman for the Polish embassy in Cairo, thus he has to remain under the care of Egyptian specialists. The accident took place on Monday night.The bus carrying Polish tourists from Cairo to Hurghada drove into the dessert. 6 Poles and the Egyptian driver were killed. On Thursday the group of tourists who took part in the accident returned to Poland .19 people are hospitalised , 4 of them are in critical condition.

Queues continue in front of the Polish consulate in Minsk, Belarus. According to Polish officials this is a result of the operating Belarus “ tourist mafia” which gains huge profits as an intermediary in a acquiring Polish visas.Polish officials say such practices are very harmful and have decided to turn to a security agency to supervise the situation in front of the Minsk consulte.Belrussian ONT television has informed that there are 4 thousand people on the visa list to the Polish consulate in Minsk.

"Cześć!"

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