"Cześć!"

 

Letters to Wyre Forest Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman...

Mark Garnier

Wyre Forest Conservative Association
Margaret Thatcher House
35 Mill Street
Kidderminster.

26th July 2004

Dear Mr Garnier,

You should be aware that Michael Howard’s comment on ‘Desert Island Discs’ about “Polish Concentration Camps” - when referring to German Concentration Camps situated in Poland during World War II — has caused very considerable offence to the Polish Community across the UK.

I share the opinion expressed by Jan Mokrzycki, Chairman of the Federation of Poles in the UK, that the subsequent ‘apology’ by Mr Howard’s private secretary is totally insufficient.

The Polish Press Agency (PAP) reports Jan Mokrzycki as saying “assuming that Mr Howard's intention may not have been to offend Poles, for a politician of his experience it ought to be clear that his statement would be taken in that way and only his personal apology can repair at least a part of the damage that has been done" . I feel that comment precisely encapsulates the feelings of the Polish community here and elsewhere.

The Polish community in Kidderminster arrived in the UK as an outcome of Poland and the United Kingdom’s mutual struggle against Nazi tyranny “for our freedom and yours”. We find Mr. Howard’s words deeply upsetting and most offensive.

I look forward to your comments on this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Maria Lee

Chairman, S.P.K. Branch in Kidderminster

and

Mr Mark Garnier

Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Wyre Forest

Wyre Forest Conservative Association
Margaret Thatcher House
35 Mill Street, Kidderminster, Worcs.

26th July 2004

Dear Mr Garnier,

Michael Howard’s unfortunate use of the term “Polish Concentration Camps” , to describe Nazi Concentration Camps situated in Poland in World War II in his recent Desert Island Discs appearance, has been enormously upsetting for the Polish community here as elsewhere in the country.

I know that there has been an apology from Mr. Howard’s private secretary but the matter is not resolved.

The Chairman of the ZPWB (Federation of Poles in GB) has said that “assuming that Mr Howard's intention may not have been to offend Poles, for a politician of his experience it ought to be clear that his statement would be taken in that way and only his personal apology can repair at least a part of the damage that has been done". It has to be said that his comment is an accurate reflection of the mood in the Polish community.

Only recently we entertained Conservative MEP Philip Bradbourn at the Polish Ex-Servicemen’s Club in Kidderminster on the occasion of the celebrations to mark Poland’s entry to EU. It was a marvellous evening. It would be a shame if the good relations between the Polish community and the Conservative Party were disrupted by this unfortunate remark.

Yours sincerely,

Cllr Mike Oborski

Consul RP

posted by: Oborski at 19:59 | link | comments |

It's August!

Well almost! So don't expect many or even any postings for a while. While we are offline you can pick up Polish News daily from Radio Polonia or weekly in more depth from Warsaw Voice.

posted by: Oborski at 19:52 | link | comments |

German Leader to Attend 1944 Warsaw Rising Commemoration

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Britain's Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott are among the foreign politicians to attend the weekend’s memorial ceremonies in Warsaw marking the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, the office of the Polish president said.
Some 2,500 veterans of the uprising from Poland and abroad are also expected to attend the ceremonies. On August 1, 1944 Polish Home Army units launched the Warsaw Uprising in a final desperate attempt to reclaim the Polish capital from Nazi forces and avert the city’s takeover from the advancing Soviet Red Army. Some 20 thousand partisans and over 100, 000 Polish civilians perished in 63 days of battles.

posted by: Oborski at 19:48 | link | comments |

Neo-Conservatives Up in Popularity Ratings

If parliamentary elections were held this month, the neo-conservative Citizens' Platform would win 29 percent of the votes, the right-wing Law and Justice would get 15 percent, while the populist Self-Defense and the far-right League of Polish Families (LPR) would get 13 points each. According to many observers, Civic Platform leader Jan Rokita (photo) is likely to be Poland’s future prime minister.
The support for the Citizens' Platform rose 2 points compared to June and for Law and Justice - 4 points. Farmers’ Self-Defence recorded a drop in popularity of as many as 10 percentage points.
The ruling coalition of the Democratic Left Alliance-Labor Union would get 8 percent, the minimum required for coalitions to take any seats in the Parliament.
The approval ratings of President Aleksander Kwaśniewski are at their historic lows. 38 percent of Poles approve of the president's performance (down 2 points), while 61 percent of Poles disapprove of it (up 2 points).

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

Polish Seasonal Workers in UK Targeted by Armed Robbers

Gun-wielding robbers have been targeting Polish workers living in Coventry. Det Sgt Rich Baker, of Stoney Stanton Road police, said the small and close-knit community of Polish work-ers, who are in the country legally to carry out labouring, factory and agricultural work, were being "victimised" by the group. On four separate occasions two of the group, believed to be five-strong, have knocked on the door of houses used by Polish people in Holbrooks. When the door is answered, the men pull out a handgun and force their way in while three others wait outside in a car.

One of the robbers points a gun at their victims, while the other searches them and steals money, mobile phones and other property.* One man has been charged with 13 robberies and possession of an imitation firearm. A second man has been released without charge.

posted by: Oborski at 19:46 | link | comments |

EU1-POLAND-BBC-CAMPS

 

Tory leader's secretary apologizes for "Polish concentration camp" use on BBC

 

Text of report by Polish news agency PAP

 

London, 23 July: Jonathan Hellewell, the private secretary to the leader of the British Conservative Party, has assured

the Polish community in Great Britain that the Tory leader, Michael Howard, did not intend to offend Poles when speaking of "Polish concentration camps" in a radio interview.

 

In the BBC programme "Desert Island Discs", Howard said that his grandmother died in and his aunt survived "a Polish concentration camp". Howard's closest family were Jewish immigrants from Romania who settled in England (as received) in the 1930s.

 

"I note the points raised in your letter concerning concentration camps in which (Howard's) grandmother died and

aunt survived, but I can assure you that his (Howard's) intention was not to offend Poles in any way," Hellewell

wrote in a letter addressed to the chairman of the largest Polish organization in Great Britain, Jan Mokryzcki, and

that has been was published in the Friday (23 July) edition of (the London-based) Dziennik Polski daily.

Hellewell was in this way addressing Mokrzycki's letter to Howard, written in reaction to his radio statement.

Mokrzycki acknowledged Hellewell's statement as being unsatisfactory: "assuming that Mr Howard's intention may not have been to offend Poles, for a politician of his experience it ought to be clear that his statement would be taken in that way and only his personal apology can repair a least a part of the damage that has been done," Mokrzycki feels.

 

The chairman of the Federation of Poles in Great Britain (ZPwWB) feels that Howard should send a correction to the

media and that this would be the only proper form of satisfaction.

 

Source: PAP news agency, Warsaw, in Polish 1507 gmt 23 Jul 04

posted by: Oborski at 07:20 | link | comments |

Poland Will NOT Yield To Terrorist Pressure

Poland’s Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski has said that every
signal of even potential threat to the country’s security must be treated with utmost care. Szmajdzinski referred to a message addressed to the Polish prime minister on Wednesday by an Islamic terrorist group calling itself Tawhid, or al-Qaeda in Europe. The posted message was: “withdraw your troops from Iraq or you’ll hear explosions rocking your country.” A similar threat was addressed to Bulgaria. “Poland and Bulgaria will pay for their presence in Iraq”, says the warning on an Islamic Website. Szmajdzinski reiterated yesterday’s statement by premier Belka that Poland does not intend to recall its military contingent from Iraq. We will not yield to terrorist demands, declared the Polish defence minister, adding that there are no immediate reasons for growing concern related to terrorist attacks in Poland.

posted by: Oborski at 08:22 | link | comments |

No Tax Hikes.... In The Nearest Future!

Miroslaw Gronicki, the new Finance Minister, has pledged not to hike taxes in the nearest period. There will be no tax increases, but we are all fully aware there are bound to be problems with fiscal policy, the head of state finances told his staff at an innaugural briefing. Experts have been quick to interpret the statement as anticipation of lowered domestic demand in view of higher inflation next year. This, in turn, could lead directly to a decrease in state revenue, they claim. Premier Belka, who was present at the meeting, commented that a good finance minister must apply strict policy measures with full understanding of real possibilities of their implementation.

posted by: Oborski at 08:16 | link | comments |

Major Polish-German Crossing Pauses For Modernization

The terminal in Swiecko, one of the major crossings on the Polish-German border has been partially closed due to modernization works. Colonel Andrzej Kaminski of the Polish Border Guard said the closure of all lanes except for one, in both directions should last no longer than a week. This applies both to passenger vehicles and international transit trucks. The Border Guard is asking drivers to detour to the nearest heavy vehicle crossings in Olszyna and Gubinek, while passenger cars are advised to travel to Kostrzyn on The Odra River. They can also use the checkpoint in Olszyna during the period.

posted by: Oborski at 19:51 | link | comments |

Empty Threats?

New online statements by purported militants threatened attacks against Poland, Japan and Bulgaria if they don't pull their troops from Iraq, a day after a Filipino hostage was released because the Philippines bowed to insurgents' demands and withdrew its tiny contingent. Associated Press describes the new threats against Poland, Japan and Bulgaria as worrying signs that militants may be emboldened by their success against the Philippines. The United States and other coalition allies had criticized the government for agreeing to withdraw its 51-member contingent to save the life of truck driver Angelo dela Cruz, who was kidnapped two weeks ago.

An online statement from a previously unknown group that identified itself as al-Qaida's European branch contained threats to carry out deadly attacks in Bulgaria and Poland if the two countries don't withdraw their troops from Iraq.

The statement, signed by the Tawhid Islamic Group, appeared Wednesday on an Islamic Web site known as a clearing house for al-Qaida and groups linked to the terror network. The group identified itself as ''al-Qaida in Europe.'' The authenticity of the statement and the group could not be verified.

The group said Bulgaria and Poland will ''pay the price'' just like the United States and Spain did, referring to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York and Washington and deadly explosions on trains in Madrid in March. The group's statement had a warning to Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka: ''Pull your troops out of Iraq or you will hear the sounds of explosions that will hit your country, at the time we choose.'' The Polish Defense Ministry said that Poland would cut its troop levels from about 2,400 to between 1,000 and 1,500 next January. Poland, which also commands a 17-nation force in south-central Iraq, is required by a U.N. resolution to remain in Iraq until the end of 2005, but Polish leaders haven't determined what role their country will play after that. Deputy Defense Minister Janusz Zemke said withdrawing troops from Iraq would be a ''terrible mistake'' that would only encourage terrorism.

''To the crusader Bulgarian government which is allying itself with the Americans and to the Bulgarian people we demand, for the last time, that you withdraw Bulgarian troops out of Iraq or we swear we will turn Bulgaria into pools of blood if you don't comply,'' said the statement.
Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov said he won't pull out Bulgaria's 480-strong infantry battalion from Iraq. Last week militants threatened to kill two Bulgarian truck drivers in Iraq, while the fate of the second hostage remained unclear.

posted by: Oborski at 09:12 | link | comments |

HEARD IN PASSING

From Warsaw Voice

"During the rule of the left nothing has been done to change the situation, in that there is only one person who talks about sex in Polish school-the priest."
-Jacek Kochanowski, a sociologist from the Warsaw University

"We have a weak government and that makes me optimistic. This is a great chance. No strong government has ever done anything that would serve society because it would immediately become too proud of itself and would do something that was good-but only for its own kind."
-Prof. Wiktor Osiatyński, a lawyer and constitution expert, on the situation in Poland after Marek Belka's government obtained the vote of confidence

"From the formal point of view, my idea of who I am now is extremely vague."
-Janusz Lewandowski from the Civic Platform (PO), a former Sejm deputy, who has been elected to the European Parliament, on the changes in his life

"Certainly the cameras will be pointed at him quite often [during the debate broadcasts] because he has very interesting facial expressions; for example, he often snorts with contempt. But in fact he won't be there: he will be too slow at thinking."
-PR expert Piotr Tymochowicz on the future role of Zbigniew Witaszek, a former Samoobrona deputy, now in the Federative Caucus, who sits in the Sejm investigation committee examining the case of PKN Orlen

"Frankly, I don't know. I didn't have time to attend party meetings."
-Tomasz Sudoł, a businessman, former Samoobrona candidate in the elections to the European Parliament, when asked how he is perceived by the activists of the party that officially is against the rich

"In the summer, it is easy to recognize a popular actor by their tanned back, because they always lie with their face in the sand, so that people don't recognize them at the beach."
-Michał Milowicz, a popular sitcom actor

posted by: Oborski at 18:59 | link | comments |

Why Are the Poles Going Away on Vacation?

By Sławomir Majman
From Warsaw Voice

Fifteen years ago, I didn’t go away on vacation.
Fifteen years ago, in the summer, communist Poland departed. It departed after the elections won by Solidarity. Few people remember today that those watershed elections had a meager turnout. Nearly 40 percent of the nation wasn’t interested enough in its revolution to get out of the house and vote.

In any case, that summer hardly anyone thought it was a revolution at all, that democracy, the free market and capitalism were just around the corner, while communism was becoming history.

In terms of form, this was a revolution without barricades, shots or even fireworks in the streets. Communism did not depart to the boom of cannon, not one window was shattered in its defense. It simply fell apart, like a frayed shirt. The Polish revolution didn’t ignite the imagination: it involved potbellied guys negotiating in conference rooms, the clang of teaspoons stirring countless cups of coffee and the rustle of ballots falling into boxes.

In terms of content, in summer 1989 the generally held hope was for a corrected version of socialism, with some participation from the opposition and a few lusciously green oases of free enterprise. The free market, stock exchange, full democracy as opposed to democratization—these were unthinkable even after Solidarity won the elections, even for the boldest visionaries.

I didn’t go away on vacation that summer because every day brought new sensations. Ex-political prisoners, the boogeymen the communists scared their children with, entered the Sejm and Senate, the recent victims and oppressors voted together for reforms, the first non-communist prime minister in Eastern Europe was appointed, a spontaneous, non-decreed privatization of trade took place, starting from camp beds piled high with Far Eastern clothes, exotic fruit and electronic equipment.

The day after the elections, two spokesmen appeared on television: Janusz Onyszkiewicz from Solidarity was delicate in announcing the triumph of Lech Wałęsa’s team, but his communist colleague Jan Bisztyga was dressed so as to leave no doubts—it was obvious he had come to a funeral. The two heralds hadn’t the faintest idea that sitting in the TV studio on Woronicza Street, they were proclaiming a change of system not only in Poland, but for the whole eastern part of Europe.

■ To get an idea of what Poland looked like 15 years ago, first of all you would need to clear the sidewalks of any banana skins. Back then, the only thing lying around a Warsaw sidewalk would have been an apple core.

You would have to clear away all the goods from butcher shops, leaving surly clerks and their faithful companions—cockroaches dying of boredom among the empty shelves. Take away the cars. Leave just Fiats, Wartburgs and Zhigulis. Plus a handful of Toyotas, brought in from abroad by a very few lucky devils. Lead a group of joyful citizens into Marszałkowska Street, all of them with garlands of miraculously purchased toilet paper hanging around their necks on pieces of string. Place a group of workers in soiled work jackets, pulling at bottles of flat beer on a mucky construction site, next to a crane stuck in mud up to its axles because nobody can be bothered to start it up. Close the restaurants, leaving no more than ten, and don’t forget to hire only guys with faces like Boris Karloff and Klaus Kinski.

■ This was Poland just 15 years ago. Despite that, 40 percent of Poles wish for a return to communist Poland. Have that many Poles gone so crazy as to wish for the absurdity of food ration cards, the muzzle of censorship, secret police and a several-month-long wait to buy a TV set?

The dissatisfied include at least three groups: those who are really worse off than 15 years ago, those whose standard of living is evidently higher but who don’t like the fact that the present system requires them to work hard and be resourceful, and those who compare what they have with what others have and become frustrated.

First of all, life is worse for the great majority of Polish farmers. The years following 1989 uncovered such weaknesses of Poland’s scattered and unorganized agriculture that nobody had realized existed. When prices were freed up, farmers became the first beneficiaries of the change. It quickly turned out they were also the first victims of the reform. The steep drop in farmer income continues, and the income of a Polish farmer today is equal to just 40 percent of a city dweller’s. In rural areas, old-age pensions, disability pensions and—soon—EU subsidies are of greater significance than income from crops and livestock.

The transformation was just as painful for the industrial working class. The archaic mastodons of industrialization turned out to be impossible to maintain in the free market, and for their employees this meant not only the collapse of the foundation of their material existence but also their system of values. A social group placed sky-high not only by the communists but also by Solidarity—the working class—who were taught a sense of superiority and were led to believe they were a shining example, first of communism and then of the fight against communism, in the most part turned out to be superfluous. From an object of cult, they turned into a problem. The haughty, self-confident workers of giant factories, before whom the communist director and the party secretary had trembled, became the frustrated objects of restructuring and retraining—something a sizable part of them couldn’t cope with.

Secondly, nostalgia for the People’s Poland is cultivated by those Poles who don’t have less, but who would prefer to exchange the necessity to fend for themselves for the social security of communism, for the omnipresent guardianship of the state guaranteeing a low standard of living but eliminating the fear of tomorrow.

Thirdly, dreaming of the ancien régime are those whose standard has improved slightly, but who cannot stand the thought that their neighbors have it 15 times better. The citizens of communist Poland, with few exceptions, lived on a similar level, poverty had subjective causes, while equality and a hatred of the rich was upheld by the political stance of the state. That someone had one room more hurt less than today’s easily visible gated communities with private security guards and swimming pools. The pain of diversity devours the joy of improving one’s own status.

Nobody in their right mind doubts that the absolute majority of Poles have benefited from the changes that began 15 years ago. Worse is the fact that not all those who benefited are sure they actually did.

■ During the past 15 years, Poles did much better than their neighbors.
The average salary counted in U.S. dollars grew from $32 to $605 per month. One hundred percent more Poles can afford to travel abroad. Inflation has fallen from 251 to 4 percent.

The growth of gross domestic product from a negligible 0.2 percent jumped to 6.5 percent. But, unemployment has also risen dramatically, the amount of housing is not growing and there have emerged social groups experiencing a lasting rejection by the system.

During the past 15 years the Poles have largely shown themselves to be enterprising and resourceful, and everything that was shocking in its novelty that hot summer of 1989 has turned banal. Thank goodness.

This summer, yet again, more Poles are betraying the cold Baltic in favor of the Mediterranean. Poles are calmly going away on vacation because their revolution, with all its advantages and faults, is long behind them.

posted by: Oborski at 18:56 | link | comments |

Polish PM Declares: troops will stay in Iraq

Prime minister Marek Belka has declared that Poland will not withdraw troops from Iraq. An islamic terrorist group calling itself Tawhid or al-Qaeda in Europe posted a message to the Polish prime minister saying: “withdraw your troops from Iraq or you’ll hear explosions rocking your country.” A similar threat was addressed to Bulgaria. “Poland and Bulgaria will pay for their presence in Iraq”, says the statement on an Islamist Web. The authenticity of the threats has not been confirmed yet.
Premier Belka assured that Polish services treat each such information very seriously, considering both the global situation as well as with an eye to what’s going on in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East. The premier added that no suspicious activities had been observed in Poland in recent days. The dangers are bigger outside Poland and inside, he said. In his view there is no cause for panic. There have been many such threats addressed not only towards Poland. Commenting on the Philippine’s decision to withdraw troops from Iraq, premier Belka said that bowing to the pressure of terrorists steps up the dangers faced by all others.

posted by: Oborski at 18:53 | link | comments |

Treblinka - a Nazi Not Polish Death Camp

The Canadian ambassador to Poland, Ralph Lysyshyn has been called to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs after a Canadian broadcaster identified the World War II Nazi death camp Treblinka as a Polish concentration camp. Director of the American Department Piotr Ogrodzinski said that the term was improper and noted that CTV News refused to correct it despite action taken by the Polish embassy in Ottawa. CTV News claimed the term was correct as it referred to the location of the camp. The Canadian ambassador expressed understanding for the Polish stand. He informed that Poland can file a complaint against CTV News with the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission. It can also exert pressure through Polish and Jewish communities in Canada.

posted by: Oborski at 18:52 | link | comments |

Anti-Polish German Posters

The president of Boleslawiec in south-western Poland has notified prosecutors after anti-Polish German posters appeared in the city. The posters question the present Polish-German border and say that German courts are already dealing with the crimes against Germans expelled from Polish territories after World War Two. Similar posters appeared in several other cities in the region. Investigation is under way.

posted by: Oborski at 18:51 | link | comments (1) |

Ratings of the President, PM and Government Down

Popularity ratings of the president, prime minister and the government have dropped this month, compared with June, according to a survey conducted by OBOP. Fifty six percent of Poles gave good marks to the president, compared with 61% last month. 36% of the respondents gave him poor ratings. The premier’s work was described as good by 19% of those interviewed by OBOP, a decline by 3% from last June. 80% of Poles gave poor marks to the government, compared with 63% in June.

posted by: Oborski at 18:50 | link | comments |

PM pays short visits to Afghanistan, Uzbekistan

Warsaw, Kabul, July 19: Prime Minister Marek Belka paid short visits to Afghanistan and Uzbekistan on Monday while returning from Iraq and Kuwait to Poland. The visit was kept secret. On Sunday Marek Belka unexpectedly arrived in Camp Babylon in Iraq. There he declared Poland will keep its military commitment until 2005 but after a U.N. mandate for international forces expires the nature of the Polish contingent would have to be changed. Belka said he hoped there may not be a need for international forces in Iraq any more after 2005 as Iraq may strengthen its own security forces. After meeting Afghan President Hamid Karzaj Belka assessed the situation in Afghanistan as moderately peaceful. However, part of Polish troops may be relocated from Iraq to Afghanistan. Belka added that international missions to Iraq and to Afghanistan are equally important and equally difficult. "I would imagine the situation, when needed, that we could relocate some of our people here," AP quoted Belka. "But it's a matter of the future, not immediate decisions". The PM underlined it could take place only after elections in Afghanistan in October. In Uzbekistan Belka met with his counterpart Shavkat Mirziyayev.

Polish firms should fight for contracts in Afghanistan

Warsaw, July 19: Afghanistan is starting reconstruction and as it is much safer there than in Iraq, Polish firms should do everything to win contracts in that country, PM Marek Belka said following his visit to Afghanistan. Belka, who met with President Karzai, said the president appreciated Poland as the country which achieved a success in reforms. The Polish PM said that Karzai thanked for the participation of Polish troops in the stabilization contingent in Iraq. The president displayed interest in the work of Polish experts in designing and carrying out economic and social reforms in his country. According to Belka, Afghanistan is perceived as a marginal country as far as investment attractiveness is concerned. And the situation is different, the PM stressed as "there is money flowing there, (...) and economic activity is more intensified".

Rotfeld: Steinbach's initiative inappropriate

Warsaw, July 20: Deputy Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld said that ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising organized by head of the German Union of Expellees Erika Steinbach in Berlin were an inappropriate initiative. A meeting, headlined "Empathy a road to community" held in a Berlin church on Monday, was planned to mark the Warsaw Rising. Neither Polish historians nor Warsaw Rising veterans were invited to attend. Rotfeld said that the Rising was "the last issue Erika Steinbach should speak about and instrumentalize it for her own interest in Germany". According to him, Steinbach organized the meeting only because she was still seeking justification for her project to open a Center against Expulsions in Berlin. Rotfeld stressed that he was sure that German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who would come to Poland on August 1 to attend the ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the Warsaw Rising, was fully aware of the sensitivity of the issue for Poles and would surely want his visit to be a very significant moment.

Kieres: Steinbach project harmful for Polish-German relations

Warsaw, July 19: German Deportee Association head Erika Steinbach's plans to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising in a Berlin church without Polish delegates but in the presence of German homeland representatives is a bad idea which will harm Polish-German relations, Leon Kieres, head of Warsaw's National Remembrance Institute (IPN) in Warsaw, said. Kieres, attending a sitting of Poland's National Committee for the 60th Warsaw Uprising Anniversary Celebrations, said he had "heard nothing about Polish uprising veterans being invited to the ceremony". He added that he was surprised Steinbach was involved in the event as she was "not very credible on this issue". According to League of Polish Families (LPR) leader Roman Giertych Steinbach's plans to celebrate the Warsaw Uprising were a "provocation" comparable to Russians celebrating the Red Army's 1939 invasion of Poland. Recalling that his father had to watch his house being blown up by German soldiers, Giertych admonished that "(...) murder, rape, destruction and other acts committed by the Germans after the uprising's fall are something the German political elite should look back upon with shame. And you don't celebrate shame". German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung appealed to the German government to ensure that "tributes to German war victims are paid in such a way as not to evoke protests from our neighbours". The paper also noted that the conflict around Steinbach's deportee centre had damaged Polish-German relations "to an unimaginable extent". The Warsaw Uprising lasted 63 days, during which 16,000 insurgents were killed, 25,000 were hurt and over 15,000  imprisoned. Civilian deaths during the conflict came to 180,000, 50,000 Varsovians were deported to concentration camps.

Forum on Polish European policy opens

Warsaw, July 19: A forum on Polish European policy was inaugurated in Warsaw by Secretary of state at the foreign ministry Adam Daniel Rotfeld. The first session on the European security strategy was attended by director of the General Secretariat of the European Council Robert Cooper. Rotfeld said the forum sessions provide the opportunity for the exchange of opinions of key issues on Poland as EU member. According to Cooper, the enlarged EU cannot exist without a common security policy.

Hausner: Point of balance of zloty rate at 4.35 for one euro

Cracow, July 19: Deputy PM Jerzy Hausner said that the point of balance, at which exporters are not suffering losses due to a strong zloty on the one hand and public finances are secured in the best possible way on the other hand, is around 4.35 zlotys for one euro. "A strong zloty surely has an influence on exports. There is a question where the point of balance is at which exporters are not suffering losses and at which public finances are secured in the best possible way. We are not sure. Basing on analyses, I thought it was somewhere around 4.35 zlotys (for one euro, ed.)", said Hausner. Currently export is growing but one has to carefully observe it. The minister also said Poland's economy should grow 6.1-6.2 pct in Q2 against 6.9 pct in Q1. "The question to think about now is not how to stimulate the growth but how to strengthen it. What is most important for me is what to do to make the high over 5 pct growth last in the coming quarters," he added.

Kalisz: free borders in 2007 a strategic goal

Brussels, July 19: Poland's strategic goal is to abolish border checks on the frontiers to the new EU member states and start Schengen admission procedures for them as soon as possible, Polish interior minister Ryszard Kalisz said in Brussels. Poland has set the end of 2007 as the strategic deadline for abolishing border controls on the EU's inner frontiers. Kalisz added he would present the EU with a Schengen admission plan backed by the so-called Salzburg group (Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic) under which Schengen preparations launched by the new EU states would be completed in a two-phase procedure lasting only 16 months. Under the current admission system Poland would join the Schengen group at earliest in 2011 or 2012.

NBP, FinMin continue talks on Poland's joining euro zone

Warsaw, July 20: The National Bank of Poland (NBP) and the Finance Ministry are continuing talks on Poland's euro zone entry strategy. "On July 19 another meeting of the NBP and Finance Ministry's Interministerial Working Group for Poland's Integration with the Economic and Monetary Union was held. (...) The meeting was dominated by issues relating to current conditions for Poland's integration with the Economic and Monetary Union and to working out a strategy of Poland'd euro zone entry," NBP wrote. "In particular discussed were plans to carry out the Convergence Program that was presented to the EC by Poland's government on May 14 as part of an economic policy coordination process within the EU," the NBP wrote. Under the convergence program, Poland is to meet budgetary criteria in 2007 and enter the euro zone in 2009. "It was decided that during the Group's meetings the NBP and the finance ministry will exchange views on Poland's integration with the Economic and Monetary Union that would in particular relate to Poland's joining the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM2) and the adoption of the euro in Poland. The views will then be taken into account while formulating by the government's and NBP's authorised organs Poland's official position that will be presented, among others, during the sittings of the Committee for Economic and Financial issues of the EU Council," the NBP wrote.

Fitch: Caspian oil flow reversal may be permanent

Warsaw, July 19: The Fitch rating agency fears that a Ukrainian government's decision to ship Russian oil from Brody to Odessa via the Odessa-Brody pipeline may be of a permanent character. It was originally settled that the pipeline will carry Caspian oil from Odessa to Brody and, after extending the pipeline, it could be send to Poland and other EU countries. Fitch treats cautiously Ukrainian government's assurances that the reversal of oil flow would be temporary until the Polish stretch of the pipeline is built. A week ago the Ukrainian government said that the flow of oil via the Odessa-Brody would be reversed for three years. Fitch said that the reversal would be good for Russian firms that would not have to fear competition on the part of the Caspian Sea producers. In February Ukraine decided that the Caspian oil would be sent to the West European markets via the 500 mn USD worth pipeline. But a month ago the Ukrainian government changed the decision and allowed to reverse the flow. A Polish-Ukrainian company Sarmatia which is to probe profitability of the pipeline extension to Poland, is due to work out a business plan and propose funding sources. 

posted by: Oborski at 22:17 | link | comments |

HEARD IN PASSING

From Warsaw Voice

"I asked him whether he was insured. He said yes, but not against vodka."
-Rafał Lasota, an employee of the Bemowo District Office, about a driver who bumped his car; according to a breathalyzer test, the man had 0.24-percent blood alcohol content

"The Polish tax policy looks like a sieve."
-Roman Giertych, leader of the League of Polish Families (LPR)

"After my hitchhiking experiences, I would not be able to support a strictly liberal policy. Also, I can now understand why the populists are so successful."
-Tadeusz Cymański, a deputy from Law and Justice (PiS), who says every year he gives some 100 hitchhikers a ride in the Coast region he comes from; he talks to them about the situation in the country without revealing his function

"The party now has to fight to survive the most difficult time when it can be thrown out into the street with impunity." [eviction is legal in warm months-ed.]
-From a commentary by the leftist daily Trybuna on the fact that the rightist mayor of Kielce has terminated an office lease contract with the local branch of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD)

"We intend to associate people who want to live and work here [in Poland] despite the fact that Polish reality is far from normal."
-Part of the manifesto of a new political grouping applying for registration, named the Party of Polish Freaks

"It turned out the man wanted to sit in a cool place, he was homeless and had all his belongings in the bag, and his supposedly dark skin resulted from dirt."
-A police officer from Płock, about a call from a worried local resident who noticed a suspicious "Islamic terrorist-looking" man with a bag sitting for about an hour in the local cathedral

posted by: Oborski at 10:17 | link | comments |

Polish PM Belka In Iraq

Polish prime minister Marek Belka has visited Iraq today to take part in a change of command of the Poland-led multinational force. Belka, accompanied by defense minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski, was the first prime minister of a coalition country to visit Iraq since power was transferred to the Iraqis by the US-led administration last June. The commander of the multinational force in south-central Iraq, Polish general Mieczysław Bieniek was replaced by general Andrzej Ekiert. The ceremony in Camp Babylon was attended for the first time by the Iraqi media alongside representatives of the Iraqi provisional authorities and soldiers. General Ekiert will command the multinational stabilization force for six months. The entire Polish contingent will be replaced. Today’s ceremony summed up one year of Poland’s presence in Iraq.

posted by: Oborski at 10:11 | link | comments |

Badly Needed Health Care Law to Be Ready On Time

Poland’s new health minister Marek Balicki is confident that the badly needed law on state-funded medical services will be ready on time to be implemented as of 1 January 2005. This, the minister said, is an absolute priority because Poles must have access to efficiently operating health care. The new law is to be an element of long term changes, which need the support of all political groupings in Poland.

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

Action Against Drunk Driving

A campaign against drunk driving has been launched in Poland. It was organized under the patronage of the European Commission by the catholic MIVA Poland association and the Safe Driver foundation.
The campaign is planned for two years. A sideline event is an exhibition of drawings by the renowned graphic artist Andrzej Mleczko, at which an animated figure of a popular Polish racing car driver Krzysztof Holowczyc will give advise to drivers. The sobriety campaign has a long tradition in old EU members.

posted by: Oborski at 10:09 | link | comments |

Warsaw Rising Clandestine Radio Reconstructed

A replica of a clandestine radio transmitter that kept up Polish fighters' spirits during the Warsaw Uprising 60 years ago has been unveiled, part of this year's commemoration of the failed revolt against the Nazi occupation, Associated Press reports.

Antoni Zebik, who led the construction of the original transmitter and helped build the replica, said it would be a tangible reminder to young Poles of "the horrible time of the German occupation" and the "patriotic duty" in 1944 to fight the Nazis.

The two box-shaped transmitters with an old microphone will be exhibited in a new Warsaw Uprising museum that will open July 31.

Radio Blyskawica - Polish for lightning - went on the air Aug. 8, 1944, seven days after the Home Army launched a desperate attempt to liberate Warsaw following five years of Nazi occupation and as Soviet troops neared the capital.

About 200,000 people, a quarter of Warsaw's residents, were killed in the fighting and most of the city was devastated.

"We built the radio station under very difficult conditions, in an attic, in a small house, most often it was done at night after we shaded windows," recalled Zebik, 90. "My father built a fake chimney and we hid all the parts in it."

"Being caught with even the smallest part in the radio station brought the risk of death," he said.

The radio broadcast news in Polish and music aimed at informing fighters and Warsaw residents of the battles against the Germans. There were also English broadcasts aimed at informing the outside world of the struggle.

It went off the air on Oct. 4, 1944, two days after the uprising was crushed.

posted by: Oborski at 10:08 | link | comments |

Polish Fruit Takes EU Market by Storm

Nicely-priced Polish apples, cherries, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries have taken the European Union market by storm two months after export tariff barriers were dropped following Poland’s accession to the EU.
Poland stands a very good chance of becoming a market leader within the expanded EU if good quality yields and low prices continue to prevail.
For the first time Polish apples and apple juice concentrates are surpassing traditional EU market leaders Italy and France. One out of five apples sold within the expanded EU comes from Polish orchards.
Waldemar Guba from the Common EU market policy bureau at the Polish Ministry of Agriculture:
‘We have already well established regions which specialize in apple, fruit and vegetable production in general in Poland, which are well prepared to produce at fairly low costs. And they are probably ready to deliver production to supply to the export as well as to the internal market.’
Bozena Nosecka from the Institute of Agro-economy in Warsaw also believes that quality speaks for itself:
‘Prices of Polish products are much lower compared to the prices paid to the European Union producers. The taste of Polish fruit and vegetables are much better because of less use of production. We are kind of a source basis for the European Union as far as the frozen fruit and vegetables are concerned because as far as the frozen strawberries are concerned we use a special brand – ‘zenga zangana’, which is very good for the processing sector. The same situation is with the apple concentrate. The quality of this juice is much better compared to the production in the European Union.’
Polish strawberries are three times cheaper than in Germany for instance. For the first time since EU accession on May 1st, Polish fruit producers can export en masse.
The export of fresh strawberries are expected to increase by 50%. Frozen fruits and vegetables are expected to rise by some 30%.
Analysts say that the EU market is ripe for Polish raw fruits and vegetables.
‘Production of apples and the other products are diminishing in the European Union. Germany, in the European Union, the production of cherries and apples are decreasing. So, that is one of the reasons that our exports will be higher.’
Over the past month consumer inflation went up some 0.9%. Polish farmers are selling their raw materials to Western wholesalers for at least double the price found on the domestic market.
In recent weeks pork, beef, and dairy products have all gone up in price.
So can Polish consumers expect an increase in the price of Polish fruits and vegetables soon.
‘Export of fresh products to the European Union could be higher and so the supply of processing plants will be lower. So the prices will be for sure higher in the future.’
Poland’s fruit and vegetables success story has come as a shock to traditional EU leaders – Germany, France and Italy, for instance.
They would like to strike a deal with Poland which would allow the sale of fruit and vegetables during certain periods of the year. The success of Polish fruit and berries comes on the heels of an export boom of moderately-priced Polish beef on the EU market.

posted by: Oborski at 10:07 | link | comments |

Geremek for President of the European Parliament

Bronislaw Geremek, a veteran of the Solidarity movement and a former Polish foreign minister, is among the candidates for the post of president of the European Parliament. The Belgian daily Le Soir believes that if, as a result of backstage arrangements, he will not be elected the assembly will deprive itself of an important asset. In an interview for Le Soir, Mr Geremek said that if elected he would like to mobilize the public opinion in new EU member states to work for the benefit of European problems and establish ties between old and new member states.
‘It is important for people to accept the EU Constitutional Treaty. The European Parliament may initiate a debate on the Treaty and take part in the pre-referendum campaign’, he said. The fact that he has the backing of the liberals and the Greens, as well as the Polish centre-right Law and Justice is ‘proof that I am positioned in the centre of the political spectrum’ , Mr Geremek said.

posted by: Oborski at 18:20 | link | comments |

Polish Writer Honoured

The prominent Polish writer Stanisław Lem has been made a member of the German Arts Academy. Now in his eighties, Lem has established an international reputation as the author of many best-selling science fiction books, the best known of which Solaris has been translated into many languages and made into a film.
Lem is the second Polish writer, after the poet Adam Zagajewski, to join the Literature section of the German Arts Academy.

posted by: Oborski at 18:19 | link | comments |

Wrocław Attracts Tourists

The south-western city of Wroclaw has become the first Polish city to introduce an electronic ticket offering entry to several of its many tourist attractions. Tourists can use the ticket for the city’s museums, the zoo, a riverboat excursion and one hour in an Internet cafe. In addition, the ticket is good for getting a rebate on the price of concerts, cinemas, galleries and several hotels.
The ticket, valid for 24 hours, costs eight and a half euro and can be purchased at the Tourism Office and at the airport and train station. A three-day ticket costs twice as much.

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

Advice for Poles coming to work in UK...

Please see official UK Polish Language booklet in pdf format.

posted by: Oborski at 14:15 | link | comments |

Star Wars Base in Poland?

British daily The Guardian revealed that Poland may be the location for an element of the US missile defence program popularly called the Star Wars. An American base consisting of a radar station and a missile interceptor site, an unspecified system for destruction of enemy missiles, would be located on the Polish territory. The system so far is expected to consist of two such bases – one in California and one in Alaska. The Polish base would be the only one located outside the US. Possible attacks are expected to come from North Corea or the Middle East although the Guardian suggests that Russia is also taken into consideration. The talks are still in preliminary stages, the US government discusses also possible locations in the Czech Republic and Hungary.

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

Poles Accept Privatization of Health Service

Medical Doctors Trade Union revealed that according to opinion polls 70% of Poles accepts that idea of co-financing health care. Majority of Poles support the idea of introduction market economy, open competition and free choice of doctors into the health care system. Also 70% of Poles would accept the idea of financial participation in health care provided its quality improves. Majority of Poles does not object to possible privatization of the health service. The results of the poll revealed also that the support for introduction of market economy into health sector is dominant in big cities while inhabitants of small towns and villages would prefer a budget financed health service.

posted by: Oborski at 21:20 | link | comments |

Poles The Most Inquisitive Nation in Europe

Poles are the most inquisitive nation in Europe. A poll revealed that Poles show the greatest interest in the world. Surprisingly, we are more interested in scientific discoveries than in rumours from the lives of the rich and famous. The least curious are the Dutch where only 25% of the participants claim they are interested in science while over 50% of Poles were characterized as extremely inquisitive. The poll was a part of an experiment called “Got to Know” organized by TV station Discovery Channel

posted by: Oborski at 21:19 | link | comments |

Emergency Landing On A4 Highway

A small private plane made an emergency landing on the A4 highway in the southern city of Katowice. The plane landed near the city center because of technical problems. The pilot fortunately chose a little used part of the highway. The plane has already been removed from the road although some pile-ups may continue for at least an hour.

posted by: Oborski at 21:18 | link | comments |

Polish Festival...

Federation of Poles in Great Britain invite you to the 6th Polish Festiva which will take place in the Polish Center in Slough.

The superb grounds and buildings there will house an exhibition commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Warsaw Rising. There will be fun for all with a kiddies corner, stalls, polish food and drink, lots of music and other attractions. Further details including maps and photos soon.

See you there.

The first Polish festival was held at the famous war time cryptology centre, Bletchley Park in 1999. Its huge success led to it becoming an annual event, with some 4-5000 people, both Polish and English
attending. For the first time we are holding the Festival in Slough where it promises to be better than ever. Come and have a tast of the Polish life in the UK as well as the Polish food and beer. See you there.

6th Polish Festival
Organised by Federation of Poles in Great Britain

Sunday July 11th
At Polish Association's
"Gryf"centre, Church Lane , Stoke Poges, Slough , SL2 4NZ
Phone: 01753 525668

10 am till 10 pm 12 hours of fun and games

Festival program

In the main building

On their 60th anniversary exhibitions of: Battle of Monte Cassino

The Warsaw Rising 1944

Open to visitors 10am till 6pm. Couriers from the Rising will be on hand to explain the exhibits.

And lectures: 11.00 am The Scout run field postal service during the Rising (Z. Bokiewicz)

3.30 pm Audley End the SOE training centre for WW II fighters to be dropped into German occupied Europe (I. Valentine)

4.00 pm Radio Communications during the Warsaw Rising (Z. Siemaszko)

4.30 pm Exhibition of English made telecommunication equipment used in WW II (J. Elgar-Whinney)

Lectures will be 20 mins. long followed by by a 5-10 min. question sessions.

On the open air stage

At mid-day open air Holy Mass

During the morning and afternoon on the stage we have

Matuszewski's violin trio-humorous medleys

"M M Polanie" musical group

"Zenon" pop group

Especially from Poland the famous "D¿em" blues group

Polish folklore song and dance ensembles

Karate -an exhibition by the little ones

Elsewhere in the grounds

Imperial Guard Lancers at muster

"Living History" recreation of the battle for Falais (60th anniversary)

Scout Group festival

For your little ones Bouncy Castle and other attractions

In the markees

Stands of Polish organisations, institutions, publishers, arts and crafts as well as businesses.

Super tombola

Polish delicatessen, Polish hot and cold food and beer. Come and enjoy!

Stands and exhibitions close at 6.00pm, we can then all enjoy the music.

Entrance prices: Adults £10.00
Pensioners £5.00 Children 5-15 £5.00
Children under 5, unsighted and wheelchair users- Free
Organisers reserve the right to ask for proof of age

How to get there:

Take M4 at junction 6 exit to Slough Central. Straight at roundabout. Next traffic lights go right, continue for approx. 1 mile At traffic lights turn left into Stoke Poges Lane in 2-2.5 mls Poges Lane becomes Church Lane , look out for "Gryf" centre.

For information on coaches from London etc phone:
0208 741 1606 from 10.00-4.00
0208 995 4007 from 4.00-8.00

posted by: Oborski at 09:37 | link | comments |

Warsaw Uprising Anniversary

From Warsaw Voice

The 60th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising, one of the most tragic developments of World War II, falls on Aug. 1. It involved a heavy death toll-nearly 300,000 soldiers and civilians-and resulted in the total destruction of the city.

The Uprising lasted until Oct. 2, 1944. Its objective was to liberate Poland's capital from the Germans so that Polish people could meet the approaching Red Army in a free capital city, the beginning of a restored and independent state. Unfortunately, the city remained isolated and for 63 days waged a battle of honor. Some 50,000 soldiers, chiefly young people, took part in the fighting. Nearly half of them were killed, including many artists, such as Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński. His poems depicting the horror of those days still move readers. The civilian population suffered enormous losses. Thousands of people died not only during the fighting itself but also after the failure of the Uprising. Some 500,000 people were forced to evacuate.

Hitler decided to raze Warsaw to the ground. He sent military and SS units composed of the worst criminals released from prisons-Germans, Ukrainians and Russians-to exterminate the city. Almost 90 percent of the urban structure in West-bank Warsaw and the property of city residents was destroyed. Not a single family in Warsaw managed to avoid heavy losses as a result of the Uprising. Splendid historic buildings were turned into rubble and only parts of them were later rebuilt. Priceless collections of Warsaw museums and Polish historical records were also destroyed. Residential houses were no longer usable and streets were covered by heaps of rubble.

In many of his poems, for example the famous Pokolenie (Generation), Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński expressed concern that future generations would not remember and appreciate the sacrifices made by the Warsaw Uprising soldiers. His worries were not groundless. This year, 60 years have passed since those developments. Over this period, former communist authorities made many efforts to erase or falsify the memory of the Uprising and its participants. However, there were also attempts to establish a Warsaw uprising Museum. Twenty three years ago such an institution commemorating the uprising was established, although not as a separate museum but as a department of the Warsaw History Museum.

The present mayor of Warsaw, Lech Kaczyński, the son of a Warsaw Uprising insurgent, identified the establishment of the Museum as one of his most important objectives. For the Museum's premises, he selected a building which previously housed a plant that supplied Warsaw trams with electricity, located on Przyokopowa Street. Warsaw authorities have already set aside over zl.30 million to convert the building into a museum. Wojciech Obtułowicz, a Cracow architect, won the contest for the museum design.

The interiors are to be austere and finished in concrete. A Freedom Park will be constructed outside, complete with a Remembrance Alley nearby. A 156-meter-long wall featuring the names of the fallen will extend alongside the Alley. A bell named after Warsaw Uprising commander Antoni Chruściel, dubbed Monter, will be placed in the center of the wall. The Alley and Freedom Park will surround a square where assemblies will be held. A monument, chipped, scored with bullets and bearing the most important dates of the Uprising, will be built on the square.

The Museum will incorporate the latest technologies, for example multi-media techniques, in order to attract young visitors. One of the best Polish film composers, Wojciech Kilar, is writing music for the Museum. Polish actors Janusz Gajos and Teresa Budzisz-Krzyżanowska will record commentary for individual exhibitions. Sewers under the building will be adapted for the needs of the exposition as a reference to Warsaw Uprising realities: Home Army (AK) soldiers used sewers to move from one point of fighting to another. For the time being, only part of the Museum, located in the building standing close to Przyokopowa Street, will be opened to the public. The remaining part, with the largest exposition, will open by the end of 2005.

The collections of the Warsaw Uprising Museum are composed of under 20,000 exhibits including rings, identity cards, armbands used by Warsaw Uprising soldiers, weapons, uniforms and German hardware, and so on. Among the collected exhibits are objects of such symbolic significance as a slice of bread taken from the destroyed city by one of the fighting Poles. Thousands of documents and testimonies offered by participants in the fighting as well as negatives depicting the tragedy of the city will also be on display. A majority of the exhibits were donated by former insurgents and their descendants. The collection of Warsaw uprising mementos was held in the Museum on Nov. 9-11, 2003.

The Museum's opening on July 31 will be part of very solemn commemorations of the 60th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising to be held from July 30 to Aug. 1. A group of 4,500 veterans who took part in the fighting will be the guests of honor. Government representatives, including German chancellor Gerhard Schröder, cultural and academic representatives, including Prof. Norman Davies, the author of a book on the Warsaw Uprising, will also attend. The book's Polish edition will be presented to the public for the first time during the ceremonies. Concerts, a military parade and a presentation of films related to the Warsaw Uprising will accompany the event.

The objective of the Museum is to show that the Uprising, which started on Aug. 1, 1944, was a result of the consistent implementation of plans by the Polish clandestine state in pursuit of a single goal-an independent Poland.

posted by: Oborski at 09:35 | link | comments |

Will Poland Liberalize Tests On Animals?

The Polish Parliament is to vote tomorrow on a new bill on experiments on animals, which has sparked off massive protests from Polish animal rights campaigners. The president had vetoed the bill, which deprives ethics commissions of the right to supervise such experiments and introduces very liberal rules of testing cosmetics on animals. Animal rights organizations appealed to parliamentarians to reject the bill. Most caucuses declare that they will not accept the proposed legislation. But the farmers’ Self-Defense groupings argues that rejection of the bill would harm Polish breeders as well as pharmaceutical and cosmetics firms. While the League of Polish Families said that by laws of nature animals are subordinated to man and it intends to back the interests of Polish science.

posted by: Oborski at 00:10 | link | comments |

Polish Troops To Remain in Iraq Until Year End

Polish troops will remain in Iraq until the end of the year. Their number will be markedly reduced at the beginning of 2005 - Poland’s defense minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski has declared in the Parliament. The scaling down of Polish forces in Iraq will be conducted with an eye to developments there. The minister hopes that a timetable of the Polish troops’ pull-out will be presented in September. It is our will to leave Babylon and we will confirm this in the coming weeks, the Polish defense minister declared.
Meanwhile, relatives and government representatives bid farewell to 300 soldiers going to Iraq to replace their colleagues. The group includes a dozen citizens of Lithuania and Latvia. Their mission will end in January and February next year.

posted by: Oborski at 00:07 | link | comments |

HEARD IN PASSING

From Warsaw Voice

"We are observing increased purchases of 'quarters.' Many clients say they are buying them to have a souvenir of a tradition close to their hearts from pre-EU Poland."
-A clerk from a Warsaw liquor store, on the sudden increased popularity of 0.25l vodka bottles that, after the adoption of EU regulations, will have to be replaced by 0.20l bottles

"One cannot accept the fact that the European Union is to be an atheist state based solely on such fragile foundations as the economy and human rights."
-Bogdan Pęk, a deputy to the European Parliament from the League of Polish Families (LPR), who was third in Poland in terms of number of votes (105,000), on the necessity of including religious values in EU life

"He speaks to us in a friendly way, he agrees with everything, and then he mounts the Sejm rostrum and brutally drags us through the mud; then he steps down and starts to smile again, expecting us to consider his speech part of his conventions."
-Jan Rokita, head of the Civic Platform (PO) Sejm caucus, on LPR leader Roman Giertych

"We are not afraid of August. In the summer, there are many folk holidays in the countryside, and these are a natural occasion for meeting with the electorate."
-Jan Bury, a deputy from the Polish Peasants' Party (PSL) on the prospect of early parliamentary elections in early August that would take place if Marek Belka's government had not won a vote of confidence; the PSL voted against

"I treated each of my husbands like a film. When the film ended, there was a divorce."
-Actress Grażyna Szapołowska on her family life

"All went well, except that at the station in Brussels, it was announced our train was coming from Moscow."
-An employee of the new express train Jan Kiepura launched on the Warsaw-Brussels route a few weeks after Poland's European Union accession

posted by: Oborski at 12:08 | link | comments |

One in Five Farmers Fails to Apply for EU Subsidy

Just 85 per cent of Polish farmers have applied for EU subsidies under the Common Agricultural Policy. The official deadline for applications expired on midnight. Observers are surprised that so many farmers failed to submit applications, although the minister of agriculture says he is happy with the result. Farm subsidies was one of the main sticking points in Poland's negotiations with the EU, with Warsaw insisting that subsidy levels for Eastern European farmers should be equal to those granted to farmers in existing member states.

posted by: Oborski at 12:03 | link | comments |

Miners Defend Their Fringe Benefits

Twelve mining unions have staged a demonstration in Katowice, southern Poland, protesting against a new collective work agreement proposed by their employer – the Coal Company. Several thousand trade unionists joined the protest, which is meant as a warning and a show of force. The Coal Company management proposed to replace the Miners’ Charter by a motivational pay system and to scrap some fringe benefits. The plan sparked off protests by all the mining unions. The Coal Company is the biggest mining concern in Europe. It has 22 coal mines and employs more than 80 thousand workers. It extracts about 55 million tons of coal anually.

posted by: Oborski at 12:02 | link | comments |

Polish Chefs In Dutch Parliament

Traditional zurek soup with white sausage, beef rolls Polish style and poppy seed cake are some of the Polish cuisine staples served in the Dutch Parliament this week. The dishes are very popular among deputies – the head of the parliamentary restaurants said. Polish chefs are presenting their skills as part of the Polish Week, which coincides with the assumption of the EU presidency by Holland. The Polish food feast is accompanied by an exhibition entitled “Poland in the Eyes of Foreigners”.

posted by: Oborski at 12:01 | link | comments |