News 04.02.24

Warsaw, April 1: Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz attends an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels April 2. The event follows ceremony of admitting seven new member states into NATO. The ministers are to discuss preparations for a NATO summit in Istanbul on June 28-29, military peace operations in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq and NATO's answer to a threat of terrorism.

Warsaw, April 1: Deputy Sejm Speaker Tomasz Nalecz said he had left the Union of Labour (UP) and its parliamentary caucus and joined the Social Democracy of Poland (SdPl). I have decided to leave UP to join SdPl because I believe that the Polish left-wing is going through a crisis and SdPl gives it a programmatic and organizational chance, Nalecz said explaining his decision. Asked whether anyone else left UP with him Nalecz stressed he neither convinced anyone to such a move nor organized any group. Sejm Speaker Marek Borowski officially declared the formation of the new left-wing party on March 26.

Warsaw, April 2: President Aleksander Kwasniewski said that either it would be possible to form on May 2 a new government which would be able to work and enable politicians to focus on elections or it would be necessary to hold early elections. If Professor Marek Belka cannot form a new government there are other steps that can be taken but one can hardly imagine that a majority coalition will suddenly appear. If such a coalition is possible it will be formed by May 2 and in this situation talks may follow totally different course, the President said. Poland needs a government and it is wrong to prolong unclear periods, Kwasniewski said and added that elections in late August would not be good. Asked to give reasons which made him nominate Belka a candidate for a new PM, Kwasniewski said it was Belka's experience, competence and his knowledge of the economy which guarantee that there will be no experiments (...). According to the President, Belka is very well prepared to make Poland use EU funds. Professor Belka does not have any political ambitions and will neither form a new party nor run for the European and Polish parliament.

Camp Babylon, Warsaw, April 1: Polish forces are necessary in Iraq as there is still much to do there regarding stability, commander of Iraq's Polish-controlled zone general Mieczyslaw Bieniek said in Camp Babylon. Asked about Poland's Iraq plans in connection with the parliamentary debate on the issue, general said the country could sink into chaos if stabilisation forces left prematurely as coalition troops were currently its sole security mainstay. (...) Much has been done for stability but there's still much to be done. They'll have to leave eventually, but they want to leave a stabilised country, not chaos, Bieniek said. Meanwhile candidate for PM Marek Belka said that the presence of Polish troops in the military intervention in Iraq has clearly strengthened Poland's position in Europe. Earlier the parliament failed to reach accord on Poland's further military presence in Iraq. In a debate the ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) backed by the Citizens Platform (PO) and Law and Justice Party (PiS) opted for prolonged involvement in the Iraq program and the Samoobrona Farmer Party with the ultra-conservative League of Polish Families (LPR) urged for a pullout. The Sejm also heard a government report explaining the main reasons for Poland's Iraq participation in the Iraq reconstruction program. Pawel Gras from PO reminded that the Iraq campaign had toppled "a mentally disturbed dictator who terrorised his neighbours and the Iraqis". Krzysztof Filipek of Samoobrona said Poland ought to withdraw its Iraq troops and "not contribute to the pains and suffering of occupation". LPR's Stanislaw Gudzowski appealed for a "stop to risking Polish lives now that the reasons Blair and Bush gave for the war have been proven false".

Warsaw, April 1: The possibility of terrorist attacks in Poland is evident, deputy PM and Internal Affairs Minister Jozef Oleksy warned. He stressed that one can no longer say that such threat concerns Poland only in theory and added that disputes about Iraq and Poland's presence there may encourage terrorists to act. Oleksy also announced extra security measures during Easter Holidays, the European Economic Summit and the April March of the Living in Auschwitz. Meanwhile, the Agency for Internal Security (ABW) said it has not received any signals on planned attacks in Poland in the near future.

Warsaw, April 1: Poland is able to help East Timor build state institutions, declared Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz following talks with his Timorian counterpart Jose Ramos-Horta. The minister of the youngest world state (est. 2002), expressed hope that investors in Poland will assist the development of oil and power-generating sectors as well as fishery and tourism. Cimoszewicz declared Poland was ready to contribute to international assistance to that country.

Warsaw, April 1: Sejm Speaker Marek Borowski and President of the Austrian National Council Andreas Khol, officially visiting Warsaw, met to discuss European integration. Borowski said he informed Khol about the latest developments in Poland and different problems that troubled Poles including farmers. We touched on recent changes to the EU agricultural policy that we consider unfavourable, Borowski explained. He presented Khol with the Polish position on the EU Constitutional Treaty and the Nice Treaty as well as issues that mattered for Poland. He said that "any compromise that may be reached should preserve the Polish position on the Nice level at least." Austrian experience from integration with the EU was also discussed.

Warsaw, April 1: Poland's EU accession creates chances for a 6-percent GDP growth, deputy PM Jerzy Hausner said. "If we follow the Irish road, we stand chances of gaining an extra 1 percentage point. If Poland's economy is growing 5 pct today, there are chances for 6 pct in coming years," Hausner said. "Such growth must be a result of modernisation in enterprises, a public finances reform, stabilisation of the zloty, changes in infrastructure and the health service. Such measures will lead to investment growth," Hausner said. Poland stands chances of meeting Maastricht Treaty criteria which would mean joining the euro zone in 2009.

Hausner also said his meeting with Marek Belka, a candidate for a new PM, focused mainly on the economic program of the future cabinet. He did not rule out work in Belka's government. Asked how he understood Belka's statement according to which his austerity program should be expanded, Hausner admitted his plan needed some amendments.

Moscow, April 1: Polish Ambassador in Moscow Stefan Meller told a seminar on Polish-Russian relations that Poland does not intend to break its ties with Russia after May 1 accession to the EU. Poland's EU membership "will help overcome psychological problems in relations between the two countries, rooted in the past," Meller said. He also appealed for not limiting relations between Poland and Russia to politics. "Bilateral studies on culture and the creation of basis for a cultural exchange are essential," he said. „Poland expects that close cooperation with EU countries will make it a more interesting partner for Russia," the ambassador declared. Polish-Russian ties after the EU accession were the topic discussed by a round table of intellectuals, and people of media and culture, organised last week in St.Petersburg.

Warsaw, April 1: Poland may receive over 3 billion EU euros for infrastructure projects between 2004 and 2006, deputy infrastructure minister Andrzej Pilat said. These are enormous funds of a size unknown in post-war Poland. Wisely used, they will totally change the country's infrastructure.

Warsaw, April 1: Susan Schadler, the head of an International Monetary Fund mission, said that currencies of the countries joining the interim European system ERM2 in a two-year period before the entry of the euro zone may annually firm by 1-2 percent. I think the Hausner plan does not only addresses the economic requirements, but the additional benefit is that Poland will be positioned on a sure road to the euro, Schadler said.

Warsaw, April 2: An international meeting "Central European Journalists' Forum" held within the Central European Initiative has opened its debates. The debates headlined "Central Europe in the enlarged European Union" was inaugurated by deputy minister of foreign affairs Jan Truszczynski. The forum is attended by politicians, foreign ministry officials, diplomats accredited in Poland and Polish and foreign journalists.

Warsaw, April 1: The 8th Ludvig van Beethoven Easter Festival is underway. The ten-day event was inaugurated by a gala concert in Warsaw National Philharmonic Hall. The National Symphony Orchestra of Polish Radio of Katowice, combined choirs of Polish Radio Cracow and the National Philharmonic, great international soloists, led by outstanding American conductor James Conlon performed Beethoven's Symphony No 9. Elzbieta Penderecka, the artistic director of the Festival said the Ninth Symphony was chosen for the opening because of the "Ode to Joy" which is the EU anthem. Maestro Conlon said he was very happy to be in Warsaw and accepted invitation despite full schedule he had for the season. The Festival was conceived by Penderecka eight years ago on Beethoven's 170th death anniversary. Until 2003 it was held in Cracow, and in 2002 it became member of the European Festivals Association EFA. Twenty concerts are scheduled in this year's program, performed by outstanding artists from the world, including Austria, France, Russia, Italy, Argentina and Finland. Several events are associated with the Festival. In Cracow, an exhibition of Beethoven's music manuscripts has opened in the Jagiellonian Library, and an exhibition "Treasures of the National Library" will open in Warsaw, to be followed by the 8th Symposium "Beethoven: Inspirations, Context and Resonance" next week. The Festival closes on April 9

Warsaw, April 2: President Aleksander Kwasniewski met with guests of a conference on international trade after EU enlargement. Poland's EU entry, the current economic situation in Poland as well as issues related to Poland's OECD membership were discussed. The meeting was attended by Jurgen Strubbe, President of the Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederations, Donald J. Johnston, OECD Secretary General, Bruno Lamborghini, Chairman of the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD and Thomas Vent, Secretary General of the Entrepreneurship and Industry Council. The goal of the conference was to evaluate the various effects of EU enlargement and its impact on world trade as well as to outline possible adjustment strategies in a changing economic environment.

Warsaw, April 2: The outgoing government has secured a strong European position for Poland, PM Leszek Miller told the Sejm reporting on Poland's EU policy. On May 1 we will be completing a very important European integration phase, at the same time we'll be facing a new, even more important challenge - finding our place in a family of 25 countries. Poland will have to decide whether it will be a European sideliner or a co-creator of European reality, Miller said. Thanking all who backed Poland's EU ambitions, Miller particularly expressed gratitude to Pope John Paul II and the Solidarity union. Commenting the recent discord around the EU constitution and the EU Nice Treaty, Miller spoke out for a compromise on the issue but noted that in this case Poland's position in the EU would have to equal that offered it under Nice. He also spoke out for a national referendum on the EU constitution, suggesting it could take place together with presidential elections. Referring to Poland's demands for Christian references in the EU constitution preamble, Miller advocated "more understanding" for the EU's stand on the matter. According to Miller, resolving the constitution issue will be a major task for the next government. In this, however, our country's role and position should in no way be ignored or sidelined, he reminded. Bringing Poland into the EU had been one of his cabinet's main tasks and that all had been done to "secure a strong European position" for Poland. Poland is joining the EU on conditions answering its potential, intellectual resources and place in Europe, Miller stated, noting that Poland's membership conditions were better than the remaining candidates'. Miller also pointed out that between 2004 and 2006 EU aid for Poland would amount to 50 percent of all funds for the 10 new members. In the same period EU aid for Poland would be double as high as Poland's EU contributions.

Warsaw, April 2: Prime Minister Leszek Miller met with President of the Austrian National Council Andreas Khol to discuss bilateral relations and works on the EU constitutional treaty. Miller expressed satisfaction over the very intense Polish-Austrian dialogue reflected in frequent meetings of politicians. Both sides exchanged opinions on a 7-year transition period limiting Polish citizens and companies' access to the Austrian labour market.

Camp Babylon, April 4: We cannot allow for terrorists to intimidate us, Polish soldiers should remain in Iraq, argued Senate Speaker Longin Pastusiak during his visit to the central-south stabilization zone. He said there is a big chance for the U.N. involvement in the stabilization process. He added that during a talk with the U.N. Sec'y General, Kofi Annan said this can take place if the legal Iraqi government invites the U.N. and if the U.N. Security Council approves such action. There is also a chance that NATO may engage itself in Iraq. The case should be decided at the Alliance's June summit.

Warsaw, April 2: Simone Veil, President of the Foundation for the Memory of the Shoah and member of the French Constitutional Council, visits Poland on April 5-6 at the invitation from Foreign Minister Cimoszewicz. Veil will be received by President Aleksander Kwasniewski, Sejm Speaker Marek Borowski and meet with Minister Cimoszewicz. Her program also includes a presentation of a draft project of the future Museum of the History of Polish Jews. S. Veil will also deliver a lecture on Holocaust at the Warsaw University.

Warsaw, April 4: SLD deputy chairman Jozef Oleksy told a meeting of SLD leadership that he would be ready to accept the post of PM if necessary. Oleksy stressed, however, that the declaration does not mean that the party sends a no-confidence signal to Marek Belka, the presidential candidate to replace PM Miller on May 2. Oleksy, the Deputy PM and Interior Minister, stressed that his readiness also means that the party has plan B if Belka fails to form a new cabinet. SLD chairman Krzysztof Janik, commenting on the applauding reaction of the meeting on Oleksy's statement, said this should not be interpreted as a lack of confidence in Belka's mission. Janik was cautious over the "Oleksy' situation because in his view spring 2005 is the best possible date for general elections. SLD authorities discussed preparations for June 13 elections to the European Parliament. SLD-UP candidates will run for seats in the EP in all 13 electoral districts. A campaign for the EP starts on April 25. Miller called on Poles to vote SLD-UP candidates if they want Europe to be a socially sensitive place and develop faster than today. A national convention of the party will be held on June 26

Warsaw, April 4: Leader of the Social Democracy of Poland (SDPL) Marek Borowski said that for now chances of forming a new government which could efficiently rule are very weak. In his opinion if an attempt to set up a new government fails, the only solution are early general elections. The SDPL wants the new government to be a non-partisan cabinet. Borowski added that if such cabinet has a stable, more than one-day support, than there might be a chance it will function for a longer time, preferably until next spring.

Katowice, April 4: Citizens' Platform Party (PO) expects its motion on the self-dissolution of the Sejm and announcement of general elections on June 13 jointly with European Parliament polls to be decided in late April, PO leader and Deputy Sejm Speaker Donald Tusk said and stressed that a change of the government and parliament will help Poland defend the Nice voting system at the Council of the EU. "We have to stress our determination in the defence of Poland's political potential in Europe. The best way to defend the Polish reason of state would be to change the government and parliament. Therefore, we placed the motion, to be probably decided (...) in late April," Tusk said and added that " it is clear today that the end of the EU membership negotiations of the Miller government is leading to a wrong direction. Abandoning the Nice principles at the benefit of a non-defined compromise may end up in a Polish defeat. The government did not win any guarantees for Poland's position in a new constitutional treaty during the Brussels negotiations. Asked whether it is possible to hold early elections, Tusk said that persuading most deputies to cut short the term of the Sejm "seems to be difficult" as the vast majority of MPs fear they may not be re-elected. At the same time more and more deputies are coming to the conclusion that the Sejm is neither able to form a stable government nor push through necessary legislation. He stressed PO is ready to form a broad front to prevent ultra populist Samoobrona from taking power.

Warsaw, April 2: From December 2004 Polish farmers may receive over 6 billion zlotys (1.5 bn USD) in EU direct subsidies, agriculture minister Wojciech Olejniczak informed. Preparations for the funds' proper allocation were well underway, with over a million Polish farmers already trained in EU aid management, over 400,000 of them in farmer consulting centres countrywide. The government's Agricultural Restructurisation and Modernisation Agency (ARiMR) has also trained 30,000 co-operative bank and local government employees to help farmers with subsidy applications. Besides the above aid Poland could also get close to 5.5 bn euros in EU rural development and infrastructure funds over 2004, 2005 and 2006. EU rural development programs will also provide pensions for retiring farmers.

Warsaw, April 2: "Ideological warfare" and "political hooliganism" were among the opposition's descriptions for a new abortion bill filed in the Sejm by the ruling Democratic Left Alliance's (SLD's). Support for the bill was voiced by the co-governing Union of Labour (UP) and the newly-formed Social Democracy of Poland (SDPL). The act, prepared by the Sejm's Parliamentary Womens' Group and womens' organisations, legalises abortion during the first 3 pregnancy months, guarantees government aid for three in vitro fertilisations and introduces sex education from the first schoolyear. Entire opposition rallied against the bill.

Warsaw, April 2: 87 percent of Poles in a CBOS survey feared terrorist attacks in the country in connection with Poland's involvement in Iraq, last month's attacks in Madrid raising such fears 16 pct from December, 2003. 64 pct feared terrorist attacks on their own persons (almost twice as many as in June, 2003).

Warsaw, April 5: Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz on Monday presented PM Leszek Miller with his resignation in connection with a report published by NIE weekly. The PM did not accept it. "Guided by responsibility for what has happened and the desire to minimise possible critical remarks against the government I hereby present my resignation from the post of the foreign minister," Cimoszewicz wrote in a letter to Miller. At a special press conference the foreign minister read out a letter he handed over to the PM in the presence of President Aleksander Kwasniewski. "Not being aware of the content of the lost discs I am unable to rule out that making them public may harm political interests of our country. For me this is preposterously unpleasant and surprising experience," Cimoszewicz wrote. The PM said he did not accept the resignation and added that the case of "making public the wording of documents on foreign ministry's hard discs" had to be fully explained and that respective services had already started investigation. "It is in Poland's interest to conclude all work related to its membership of the EU without any disturbance," Miller explained. Cimoszewicz said that in connection with the hard discs' disappearance he had notified the general prosecutor about a crime that had most likely been committed by a foreign ministry's employees. He added that a similar motion was sent to head of the Internal Security Agency (ABW). Cimoszewicz also ordered an investigation inside the ministry to explain how the discs disappeared. "Initial findings confirm that several computers stored in the foreign ministry's storage lacked hard discs," the minister said. NIE weekly wrote it was in possession of 12 Foreign Ministry's computer hard drives with documents from between 1992 and 2004. The most recent were dated February 2004. "The discs included also 4,216 notes edited on computers and a number of other documents labelled secret or classified," the weekly wrote. NIE editor-in-chief Jerzy Urban said that the resignation of foreign minister was not an expected result of the publication.

Warsaw, April 5: Candidate for PM Marek Belka still believes he will be able to form a cabinet. His talks with party leaders should be concluded by Easter. After that he would like to focus on the political program. So far Belka has been supported in his strivings by the SLD and the Federative Parliamentary Club. Leszek Miller has recently announced that he would step down on May 2. President Aleksander Kwasniewski proposed for the post Professor Belka, who was twice a deputy PM and finance minister in previous left-wing government.

Warsaw, April 6: Marek Belka, seeking support for his future cabinet among political parties, said the economy has sound foundations for a high growth, but it is necessary to reform Poland's finances to maintain it. The candidate for Prime Minister stressed against that he plans to implement the public finances reform program authored by Deputy PM Hausner who would be one of his ministers. Belka said the Polish zloty will firm to 4.40-4.50 per euro from today's 4.70. Belka also named priorities of his prospective cabinet. They would include problems related with the first year of Poland's EU membership (structural funds, efficient administration), a public finances' reform and better management of Treasury-held assets.

Warsaw, April 4: Sejm's special committee investigating the circumstances of the so-called Rywin affair approved a final report on its findings as prepared by committee member Anita Blochowiak in which she wrote that Lew Rywin did not act in the name of a "group holding power" as such group did not exist. The adopted report also states that the course of the legislative process regarding the implementation of the radio and TV law had no connection with Rywin's corruption proposal. The passing of the Blochowiak report was backed by five committee members. Remaining four voted against the report. Rywin, an independent film producer, has been accused by Gazeta Wyborcza daily of demanding a multimillion dollar bribe from the its publisher for himself and an unspecified but mighty political group. In exchange he allegedly undertook to see to it that the broadcast media law would be changed in a way beneficial to the publisher. Last week committee members agreed to build its final text of the report on a draft report prepared by committee head Tomasz Nalecz. Passing of Blochowiak's version of the report was received with consternation. Nalecz believes that an agreement has been reached as to a report from the committee work prepared by Blochowiak (Democratic Left Alliance - SLD). As a result of that agreement Blochowiak's report was accepted as a final report of the committee. Nalecz, who joined the recently established Social Democracy of Poland (SDPL) told reporters in the Sejm he was ashamed that by votes of the SLD, Samoobrona (Selfdefense) and MP Kopczynski the committee adopted a report which he termed "ridiculous." Committee member Zbigniew Ziobro of the Law and Justice (PiS) termed the process a "mockery of facts, a huge scandal and a dreary day of the Polish parliamentary system, another broad daylight scam of the SLD”. He believes that owing to the present alignment of forces in the parliament the report will be adopted by the Sejm. That is why the present parliament should be disband as soon as possible. Jan Rokita of the Citizens' Platform added that the committee ends its examination in disgrace. If the report comprises a collection of distorted facts conjured as a result of buying or intimidating MPs it shows the measure of decay of the Polish parliamentary system.

In tune with the parliamentary procedure the Sejm will vote on the report and on minority motions forwarded by other committee members.

Warsaw, April 5: Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski received visiting General Tome H. Walters, Director of Defense Security Cooperation Agency at the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense. Both discussed the Polish-U.S. military cooperation, including the implementation of a program of equipping the Polish air force with F-16s and the purchase of Hercules C-130 aircrafts and Hummer vehicles. Szmajdzinski thanked Walters, soon to be retired from military service, for his significant contribution to the development and strengthening of bilateral military contacts.

Warsaw, April 5: The events in Nadjaf call for a restatement of Poland's official position. The purpose of military presence in Iraq is to help stabilize the situation in the country and create conditions for the reconstruction of a sovereign, law-abiding and democratic Iraqi state, a statement by the Foreign Ministry said. We wish the Iraqi people a quick and successful reconstruction and the foundation of political institutions allowing conflict to be resolved by democratic means, without violence or bloodshed. We strive to aid such processes to the best of our abilities. We confirm our will to continue our military mission in Iraq. Polish soldiers shall carry out the tasks entrusted to them with honour, the press release concluded

London, April 5: Talks held by MG Rover in Poland on taking over former FSO-Daewoo car plant to transform it into a joint-venture factory making Rover "75" luxury model have aroused concern of British trade unions operating in MG Rover plant in Longbridge. The success of the plan however hinges on the result of talks on the taking over of the plant in Warsaw. MG Rover has been seeking a country of cheaper labour force and quickly growing market. U.K. Trade unions at MG Rover have been concerned that lower production costs will discourage the company to invest in the U.K. market.

Warsaw, April 5: Simone Veil, president of the Foundation for the Memory of the Shoah, toured Warsaw's National Remembrance Institute (IPN) and met its head, professor Leon Kieres. Both discussed IPN's current work and future projects. Veil praised the institute's role in spreading knowledge about the Holocaust in Poland.

Warsaw, April 5: Poznan Archeological Museum director Lech Krzyzaniak was nominated to a newly-formed UNESCO Experts' Council to aid museums in Egypt. On the 15-strong council are eminent archeologists and museum curators from all over the world. Krzyzaniak, himself an archeologist, has frequently conducted diggings in Egypt and Sudan and heads the current Polish archeological station near Khartoum, Sudan.

Warsaw, April 5: 85 percent of Poles in an OBOP poll believe the country is moving in a bad direction, only 9 pct showing optimism about the future. 85 pct said Poland was in a crisis, of these 54 pct claimed the crisis was deep. 12 percent said the Polish economy was developing. 64 pct expected their living standards to deteriorate over the next 3 years, 12 pct claimed otherwise. Most pleased with Poland's situation were private enterprisers (20 pct), young people (18 pct) and college graduates (15 pct). Most critical were the unemployed (92 pct), people in financial straits and workers (93 pct).

Warsaw, April 5: 63 percent of Poles in a CBOS poll claimed this month's European Economic Summit in Warsaw would raise the risk of terrorist attacks, 62 pct believed antiglobalist protests accompanying the meeting could cause serious damage. 59 pct feared terrorist attacks in connection with the summit and Poland's involvement in Iraq. 58 pct claimed the summit will raise Poland's international prestige, 52 pct claimed it would bring Poland economic benefits in future. 38 percent said the meeting was an unnecessary expense, 41 pct claimed otherwise. Only 4 pct declared no fears of terrorist activity in Poland.

Warsaw, April 6: President Aleksander Kwasniewski and his Bulgarian counterpart Georgy Pyrvanov discussed the situation in the central-western stabilisation zone in Iraq over the phone. Kwasniewski shared with Pyrvanov a report he had received from the zone Polish commander on the current situation and congratulated Bulgaria on its recent membership of NATO. Pyrvanov confirmed his attendance at the European economic summit in Warsaw.

Washington, April 6: U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer confirmed NATO's willingness to assist Poland which is in charge of central-southern stabilisation zone in Iraq.

Warsaw, April 6: Reflection Group devoted to the future of NATO and NATO - EU relations met in Warsaw on April 5 and 6. On Tuesday the participants presented the outcome of their debates to President Kwasniewski. The NATO Secretary General and representatives of all member-states will learn about the group's report and recommendations before a summit in Istanbul. The group is made of outstanding analysts of international security from France, Germany and USA. Poland was represented by former Foreign Minister Professor Bronislaw Geremek and former Defence Minister Janusz Onyszkiewicz.

Warsaw, April 6: Warsaw regional prosecutor's office has waged an investigation to find out how a dozen computer hard disks from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs found their way to the Nie weekly. The disks may carry classified and top secret documents. Prosecutor's office will not inform the public on steps taken to secure the devices. Investigation proceedings will be carried out by officers of the Internal Security Agency (ABW). ABW head Andrzej Barcikowski said that the disappearance of the disks is a "scandal and unpardonable negligence." Nie wrote it had 12 hard disks from the ministry which include documents prepared between 1992 and 2004, including over 4,000 files. President Aleksander Kwasniewski met Nie chief editor Jerzy Urban. „I discussed with Jerzy Urban the case from one point of view: the interests of the state that may be in danger, the president said. Urban is not only the editor-in-chief of the weekly but also former member of the government who, I am convinced, is fully aware of what it is the state, its interests and the protection of certain important information and I think we have reached an agreement ... it may be a seemingly unimportant piece of information that may affect bilateral relations with a given country," the President said and added that "what has happened so far poses no threat to the interests of the state but we do not know what more can surface." According to Urban, his editorial office received only copies of hard discs. "Such things have been and are copied and I do not know how many copies may circulate Warsaw," he explained. He refused to disclose the price the weekly paid for hard discs and the source that sold them confirming willingness to publish all materials. Foreign Minister Cimoszewicz was for severe consequences toward the responsible for the leak even if it turned out that discs did not carry important information.

Warsaw, April 6: There is no breakthrough, the Polish Peasant Party (PSL) does not foresee the possibility to support a government formed by candidate for PM Marek Belka, PSL leader Janusz Wojciechowski said after meeting Belka, the candidate of President Kwasniewski. Tuesday was a successive day of Professor Belka's political consultations on the formation of the new government. On Monday support was refused by Samoobrona leader Andrzej Lepper On Wednesday Belka meets with leaders of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) and its caucusas well as with leader of the Union of Labour (UP) Marek Pol. Meanwhile President Kwasniewski said that former PM Jozef Oleksy was a possible candidate for PM only when Belka's mission failed. He believes Belka stands 50 percent of chances to form a cabinet.

Warsaw, April 6: The finance ministry revised upwards Poland's first quarter economic growth forecast to 5.3 pct. The finance ministry upheld the forecast for the whole 2004 at 5 pct. The ministry projected quarter GDP growth at 5.1-5.2 pct. According to economy ministry estimates the GDP will rise 4.7-5 pct this year from 3.7 pct in 2003.

Warsaw, April 6: Warsaw-visiting Shoah Foundation Council head and French Constitutional Council member Simone Veil lectured on European values at Warsaw's Diplomatic Academy. Veil stressed that remembrance, democracy and respect for human rights should be "lasting European features". Reminding about the horrors of nazism, Veil said that democratic institutions, freedom, peaceful coexistence, human rights, courage and tolerance were values which could "save whole nations from oblivion". She added that today's young generations should "work towards building a space of tolerance and friendship, a space where nothing is forgotten". As a gesture in this direction she named Poland's 2001 homage to the victims of the 1941 massacres of Jews by Poles in Jedwabne. This move gave us strength, Veil said. During WW2 Veil was an inmate at the Nazi Auschwitz death camp (1944-45).

Poznan, April 6: Mayor of Berlin and ambassadors of 25 countries of the enlarged EU accredited in Berlin will come to Poznan, western Poland, on Saturday, May 1 what will be part of the celebrations marking Poland's EU accession. The idea came from Poland's Ambassador to Germany Andrzej Byrt. "Berlin is Poland's nearest EU neigbour's capital. I want to take advantage of this and show Poznan, my home city, to my colleagues," Byrt said. The visit of the diplomats will be part of the festivities marking Poland's EU accession. A great, open-air "European Gala" concert will take place.

Warsaw, April 7: Samoobrona may count on 29 percent support in parliamentary elections, the Citizens' Platform (PO) on 22 pct while the present ruling coalition of the Democratic Left Alliance - Union of Labour (SLD-UP) would not win seats in the parliament, Rzeczpospolita daily informs. Comparing with the previous poll, Samoobrona gained 5 points and the PO lost 4 points. The Law and Justice (PiS) placed third with a 10 pct of support (down 3 points) and was followed by the League of Polish Families (LPR). The poll indicated that SLD-UP coalition would muster a 7 pct support and therefore would miss legally required 8 pct threshold for coalitions. Newly established Social Democracy of Poland (SDPL) can count on 6 pct of votes and the Polish Peasant Party (PSL) on 5 percent.

Szczecin, April 6: Authorities in three west Polish provinces, the Czech province Hradec Kralove, the Bratislava region in Slovakia and Sweden's Scania district signed an agreement under a Central-European Transport Corridor including expressways, railway lines and waterways. The corridor will be financed from the EU's Interreg fund. It was necessary as the Baltic region would soon become the fastest-growing region in Europe.

Warsaw, April 6: In 2003 a total of 52.1 million tourists visited Poland, or up 2.7 percent on 2002 figure. Owing to Poland's integration with the EU, the number of foreign tourists will go up in 2005-2006 as a growing interest in the Polish tourist offer can be noted. The Institute of Tourism reported that 2003 saw a 7.6 percent increase in the number of tourists from Germany and a 1.1 pct fall in the number of tourists from the EU. However, the number of tourists from Germany and other EU countries in the third quarter of 2003 grew by 6.3 pct compared to the third quarter of 2002. Summer 2003 witnessed a growing number of tourists from Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Austria, Great Britain, Finland and Norway. A substantial growth was reported in the number of tourists from outside Europe including South Korea, Canada, Japan and the United States. October and November 2003 saw a 43 percent drop of tourism from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine due to the introduction of visa requirement for their citizens.

Warsaw, April 6: Since September 1, 2003 Polish consulates in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia have issued over 612,000 visas to these countries' citizens. The visas have been introduced in line with EU regulations but for convenience purposes began their issue one month earlier. A total 250,982 Polish visas were issued in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus since January, 2004.

Warsaw, April 8 : According to to-date findings, a Foreign ministry's technician, apprehended for taking hard discs out of the ministry, sold them for 10 zlotys (2.5 USD), head of the Internal Security Agency (ABW) Andrzej Barcikowski said. ”The person in question was most likely guided by economic reasons. He was probably convinced that the discs were worth only as much as technological carriers of information can be and was not aware of their contents”, Barcikowski said after a meeting of the Sejm foreign affairs committee. However, the second person involved in the theft, a Warsaw Technological University student who wanted to buy the discs was surely perfectly aware of their content.

Warsaw, April 7 : The leader of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) Krzysztof Janik said that a majority in his party was ready to support Marek Belka for prime minister. He made the statement after talks held by Belka with SLD's national leadership and parliamentary caucus.

After the meetings Belka said he was "a staunch optimist, as usual" and declared he would continue his meetings with SLD MPs, including provincial activists. However, several politicians from SLD's national leadership told PAP unofficially that there was a feeling in SLD that Belka had no chances for forming a cabinet in view of PSL's opposition to his candidacy for PM. Without the support of the Polish Peasant Party (PSL) it was impossible to create a stable majority in the Sejm, they said. Moreover, Jozef Oleksy enjoyed greater popularity in SLD than Belka.

Warsaw, April 7 : The Union of Labour (UP) will support Marek Belka's efforts to form a new government provided Polish troops are withdrawn from Iraq or nature of their stay changes and Jerzy Hausner's economic austerity plan is supplemented with a welfare package, UP leaders told Belka. As regards Iraq UP leaders and Belka agreed that Poland should be more persistent in turning the nature of the troops into peace- keeping and not occupational.

UP leader Marek Pol said that the sides shared a common view on "removing glaring injustice in social policy including the raising of the lowest old-age and disability pensions."

Warsaw, April 7: Samoobrona may count on 29 percent support in parliamentary elections, the Citizens' Platform (PO) on 22 percent while the present ruling coalition of the Democratic Left Alliance - Union of Labour (SLD-UP) would not win seats in the parliament. From a recent poll Samoobrona gained 5 percentage points and the PO lost 4 percentage points.

The Law and Justice (PiS) placed third with a 10 percent possible support (down 3 percentage points) and was followed by the League of Polish Families (LPR). The poll indicated that SLD-UP coalition would muster a 7 percent support and therefore would lack 1 percent to the legally required 8 percent for coalitions to enter parliament. The recently established Social Democracy of Poland (SDPL) can count on 6 percent of supporting votes and the Polish Peasant Party (PSL) on 5 percent.

Kerbala, Warsaw, April 7 : Polish troops killed the head of militant Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's office in Kerbala during overnight clashes in the holy Shi'ite city, Reuters said citing Wednesday's report by Iraqi police. The news has not been confirmed by the spokesmen of the Polish general staff Col. Zdzislaw Gnatowski and the mulitnational division in Iraq Col. Robert Strzelecki. However Iraqi police spokesman Rahman Mashawi told Reuters Murtada al- MUssawi, who ran Sadr's Kerbala office, was killed in fighting with Polish troops. Gnatowski told PAP the shootout in Kerbala took place several hours earlier. The general staff so far had not obtained confirmation that Murtada al-Mussawi was killed in the street fighting involving Polish troops there. According to AP reports based on al-Sadr's office account Sadr's militias opened fire on a Polish patrol in Kerbala that triggered street fighting. Al-Mussawi was killed as a result.

Gdansk, April 7 : There are no plans to enlarge Poland's Iraq force, defence minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski said. Asked about NATO's recent promises of help to Polish Iraq forces, Szmajdzinski said the best support would be more NATO troops in the region and the recognition of Iraq as a NATO operation theatre.

Warsaw, April 7 : Poland's accession to the EU will facilitate cooperation between Poland and Morocco which is an EU associated state, foreign ministers Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz and Mohammed Benaisa said "We see Morocco as a very important partner both in the political field, where we positively assess our relations, and in the economic field," Cimoszewicz told a press conference. The ministers signed an agreement on cooperation in culture, science and education. They devoted much attention to economic and trade contacts and also discussed international issues, including security, terrorist threat and proliferation of mass destruction weapons. Benaisa declared that Morocco was in the process of deep economic reforms and democratization.

Warsaw, April 7: The UN and NATO should play a bigger role in the Iraq reconstruction programme, Polish PM Leszek Miller and Iranian Ambassador in Poland Mohammad Mehdi Pourmohammad agreed at a meeting in Warsaw . During the meeting Miller stressed that Poland's presence in Iraq was important for future Polish-Iranian relations and praised to- date economic and political ties between both countries.

Szczecin, April 7 : Rescue ships and maritime airforce from Poland and Denmark are taking part in Baltic manoeuvres which started north of Kolobrzeg. The goal of the two-day "Sarex 2004" exercise is the coordination of activities of Polish and Danish rescue services. The exercise involving a number of naval ships, a rescue helicopter and scuba divers is one of the biggest such manoeuvres held in the Baltic sea.

Warsaw, April 8: Jan Waga representing Kulczyk Holding was elected a new president of PKN Orlen supervisory board by the company GSM Andrzej Wygladala who chairs the debates said Thursday. Waga replaced Nafta Polska CEO Maciej Gierej. PKN Orlen GSM on Thursday dismissed 4 members of the company supervisory board. Apart from board president Maciej Gierej, the GSM dismissed Edward Grzywa (representing PZU Group), Andrzej Kratiuk (representing Warta) and the state treasury representative Orest Nazaruk.

Warsaw, April 7: Deputy minister of infrastructure Maciej Lesny tendered his resignation Wednesday, the ministry said. The decision was prompted by personal reasons, it added.

Warsaw, April 7 : Budget policy in Poland has reached a critical point, with fiscal adjustment necessary, and the Jerzy Hausner austerity plan insufficient to prevent the public debt from growing, the IMF said. Stronger and farther reaching measures (that the Hausner plan) will be necessary, head of the IMF mission in Poland Susan Schandler said. The Hausner plan is to generate savings of 54 billion zlotys in 2004-2005 so that the public debt is kept within the constitutional limit of 60 percent of the GDP but some analysts believe that even full implementation of the plan will not prevent the debt from topping that limit.

Warsaw, April 8 : The World Bank in its economic report has warned that in order to avoid a rapid growth of debt and budget deficit Poland needs reforms broader than the planned ones.

The World Bank warns that 2004 deficit will probably exceed 8 percent of GDP and the public debt 55 percent of the GDP before the end of 2004 together with expected guarantee payment amounting to 1.5 percent of GDP. The government has adopted this year's deficit at about 5.3 percent of GDP and the debt not exceeding the threshold of 55 percent of GDP. The plan of reforms is an important step on the way to reform public finances and to change the unfavourable dynamics of the growth. However, broader reforms will be needed to ensure a stable development path for public finances, it was written in the report. It is expected that the Polish monetary policy will be one of the most credible in EU countries, the authors wrote.

Warsaw, April 7 : The World Bank will lend Poland 100 million euros for road maintenance and modernisation. "We are able to secure funds from various sources, not only the World Bank. But it is the World Bank that provides us not only with money but also some project implementation procedure that we have to apply. These procedures allow to economize on public funds," finance minister Andrzej Raczko said upon signing the agreement.

The loan is to be spend this year to modernise roads throughout Poland. The loan will be used to modernise 700 kilometres of roads. It is to be repaid within 10 years.

Warsaw, April 7: The EU will decide about controversies around public aid for Poland's Czestochowa Steelworks in 2-3 weeks, Polish deputy treasury minister Andrzej Szarawarski said. Conflicts around Czestochowa began in February after the Indian LNM Holdings Corporation won a tender for the plant, which was protested by rival bidder Donbas from Ukraine. Szarawarski has suspended the tender until clearance of the public aid issue with the EU.

Warsaw, April 7 : An urn with ashes of Col. Ryszard Kuklinski arrived in Warsaw aboard a plane from Washington. Kuklinski's remains will be buried in the merited row in the Powazki Military.

Warsaw, April 8: None of the 12 computer discs stolen from the foreign ministry earlier this week contained information which could endanger Poland, Internal Security Agency (ABW) spokeswoman Magdalena Stanczyk informed. An inhouse technician who sold them and a student, who in turn peddled them to Nie are under arrest. Asked about foreign minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz's claims that they did carry confidential data. Two foreign ministry executives have been sacked in connection with the affair.

Warsaw, April 9: Jan Waga's appointment for PKN Orlen supervisory board president should end up with legal proceedings against Treasury Minister Zbigniew Kaniewski and Jan Kulczyk, one of the richest Poles, Law and Justice (PiS) leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski told. Kaczynski announced his party would motion for Kaniewski's dismissal even though the motion would be symbolic in nature in view of looming Leszek Miller's cabinet resignation. Waga, appointed Thursday, had been promoted by Kulczyk Holding SA that has slightly more than 5 percent of shares in PKN Orlen. The move, combined with the dismissal of former president Maciej Gierej, has been viewed as the strengthening of Jan Kulczyk and present board position against the state treasury that holds 10.4 percent of shares in PKN Orlen. The PiS leader also announced he would support a motion for setting up a special inquiry committee for explaining the apprehension of former PKN Orlen CEO Andrzej Modrzejewski in February 2002. An intention to file such a motion had been announced by leader of the League of Polish Families (LPR) Roman Giertych. "This is an important case showing the seriousness of the state's ailing condition," Kaczynski said.

Warsaw, April 8: The Polish Peasant Party (PSL) does not support the candidature of Marek Belka for the prime minister and will not take part in consultations concerning the formation of a new government headed by him, PSL leader Janusz Wojciechowski said. The PSL authorities want to ensure that state posts would be held only by persons of immaculate past, the state control functions strengthened, the creation of laws streamlined, an end be put to waste and abuse in privatisation and management of state assets, and efforts made to improve the state in the public finance. The PSL also demands that matters connected with Poland's EU accession be properly settled, and Polish troops' presence in Iraq in the present character be ended and transformed into a mission under the UN or NATO mandate. Wojciechowski believes that Professor Belka as a candidate for the PM cannot meet the PSL's postulates especially those concerning the economic matters.

Warsaw, April 8: The Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) caucus will make a decision about its possible support for Marek Belka, the candidate for the new prime minister, probably at the end of next week. Before that SLD deputies want to meet with the Polish Peasant Party (PSL) and the Union of Labour (UP) caucuses, and next with Belka himself. SLD caucus deputy leader Malgorzata Ostrowska told that these meetings may take place in the middle of next week.The caucus's spokesman Bronislaw Cieslak said it seemed to him that the PSL's decision not to support Belka as a candidate for the PM was too hasty and premature, and he hoped it could be changed. PSL leader Janusz Wojciechowski reiterated after his meeting with Belka last Tuesday that his party would not support the cabinet headed by Belka.

Warsaw, April 8: Leader of the Social Democracy of Poland (SdPl) Marek Borowski said that SdPl will present its programmatic proposals to Marek Belka, so that he could decide whether any of them could be included in his programme. Since the very beginning we have been saying that this new government should not be a party-based one as it will hold power for a short time and none of the parties ready to support it does not enjoy enough social support now to form a cabinet, Borowski stressed. Borowski said the the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) had the least moral right to form a party-based cabinet now. If SLD is starting to change its position now it means that it has become aware of the current situation, SdPl's leader said referring to the statement by SLD's Krzysztof Janik who said after talks with Belka that SLD's support for the candidate for PM had gone up.

Gdansk, April 8: Shares in Lotos Group should be floated at the Warsaw Stock exchange at the start of 2005, Gdansk-based company CEO Pawel Olechnowicz. "We want to put it right and clear that the formed Lotos Group will be privatised via the stock exchange, Nafta CEO Krzysztof Zyndul said. He stressed that shares will be floated simultaneously with its capital consolidation. "For the time being we are waiting for an opinion of a court expert on raising Nafta Polska capital and on this basis a company GSM will be held". Last week the government agreed on expanding Lotos Group by Petrobaltic and southern Poland refineries of Glimar in Gorlice, Czechowice and Jaslo. The process has been started by the Gdansk refinery. Nafta Polska, that held a 75-stake in southern refineries has to end the process of transferring the shares to Lotos Group.

Warsaw, April 8: The World Bank in its economic report has warned that in order to avoid a rapid growth of debt and budget deficit Poland needs reforms broader than the planned ones. The World Bank warns that 2004 deficit will probably exceed 8 percent of GDP and the public debt 55 percent of the GDP before the end of 2004 together with expected guarantee payment amounting to 1.5 percent of GDP. The government has adopted this year's deficit at about 5.3 percent of GDP and the debt not exceeding the threshold of 55 percent of GDP. The plan of reforms is an important step on the way to reform public finances and to change the unfavourable dynamics of the growth. However, broader reforms will be needed to ensure a stable development path for public finances, it was written in the report. The forthcoming economic boom will largely be cyclical in nature and unlikely to be maintained without faster pace of fiscal reforms and firms' restructuring, the authors added. The World Bank highly spoke about the monetary policy carried out by the Monetary Policy Council (RPP). It is expected that the Polish monetary policy will be one of the most credible in EU countries, the authors wrote.

Warsaw, April 8: The Citizens' Platform (PO) would get 29 percent of the vote if parliamentary elections were held in early April, according to a recent poll run by the CBOS public opinion research centre. Next came Samoobrona (24 percent) and the Law and Justice (PiS) party with 9 percent. Compared with the previous poll conducted in March, the PO gained 3 percentage points, Samoobrona lost 5 percentage points and support for PiS remained unchanged. The Social Democracy of Poland, a new political party formed by a group of left-wing MPs and led by Sejm Speaker Marek Borowski, can count on support of 7 percent of Poles. The ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) was supported by 6 percent (2 percentage points down) and the League of Polish Families (LPR) scored also 6 percent, 4 points down. The Polish Peasant Party (PSL) was supported by 5 percent of voters, up 1 percentage point from March and the Union of Labour (UP) by 4 percent (up 2 percentage points). Fifty two percent (1 percent down) of those polled declared the will to take part in the vote if the elections were held in April.

Lask, April 8: It is too early to make an assessment whether the situation in Iraq has got out of control of the allied forces, according to Defence minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski."The situation has become more complicated, but only the coming days will show and let us make an assessment," he told. The rioting provoked by al-Sadr does not have to, and in the opinion of Szmajdzinski will not, lead to an uprising. "We deal with something we can call a rebellion, a desire to make al-Sadr's radical views publicly present," the minister said.Szmajdzinski visited an air base in Lask Thursday where he met soldiers and local authorities. The airfield in Lask in one of seven such facilities in Poland to be used by NATO forces. The first F-16 plane will land in the base in 2008.

Camp Babylon, April 12: Radical Shi'ite leader Moqtada al-Sadr, who last week launched several assaults on coalition forces, has a weaker following than may appear, general Mieczyslaw Bieniek, Polish commander of the south-central Iraqi stabilization force, said after a meeting with Shi'ite leaders in the Camp Babylon military base.The camp-surrounding province of Babil is one of the most peaceful in Iraq.Bieniek said the al-Sadr attacks had slowed down democratic change and reconstruction work in Iraq but assured the group did not have a strong backing in the country. He also warned that coalition forces would not allow "criminals" to decide about the Iraq's future.Tribal head Mohammed al-Kasim said Babil religious and political authorities were trying to keep violence down in the area, among others by appeals for peace to the local population. He also asked for less army patrols in local towns and villages. Asked about coalition plans for the recently recaptured city of Nadjaf (where support for al-Sadr is strongest), Bieniek said an attack on Nadjaf was still being considered despite its takeover by Iraqi police. Such an action by coalition forces would "help restore full order in the city", Bieniek said. Coalition officer Roberto Soria added that although Nadjaf was under control there were still "very many dangers" in the area, especially around the mosque in Kufa.Bieniek confirmed that preparation for "a determined operation" in Nadjaf were underway but refused to name details

Warsaw, April 13: Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) leader Krzysztof Janik told Radio Zet on Tuesday that staff changes in PKN Orlen had been expected though the party parliamentary floor group as well as presidential candidate for the PM Professor Marek Belka had been against structural changes in the company before the formation of a new government. He added that such changes were not made. Janik announced that the SLD would ask Treasury Minister Zbigniew Kaniewski for explanation why there had not been any counter- candidate for the post of PKN Orlen supervisory board head. "It was inconsiderate of the treasury minister to say the least," he stressed. Janik added that he did not steer ministers who obeyed the law and those who violate it always face the Tribunal of State or other penalties of political nature. Last Thursday a PKN Orlen GSM replaced the company supervisory board head and former Nafta Polska CEO Maciej Gierej with Kulczyk Holding CEO Jan Waga as well as some of the members.

Vilnius, April 8: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland Thursday in Vilnius adopted a statement on agricultural cooperation after their May 1 EU accession. Our countries have their specific agricultural problems but our chief aim will be developing a common agricultural strategy, not national policies, said Polish deputy agriculture minister Jerzy Plewa. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia launched agricultural cooperation in 2001 and have voiced their satisfaction at Poland's joining the group.

Warsaw, April 13: Polska Grupa Farmaceutyczna (PGF) will take over 81.5 percent of shares in Przedsiebiorstwa Zaopatrzenia Farmaceutycznego Cefarm Lodz Ltd., a new company carved out of Cefarm Lodz, for 22 million zlotys, PGF wrote in a statement "There will be a new company set up to which PGF will bring money and the state treasury will bring assets of a state-owned firm," Grzegorz Drozdz, PGF investment relations expert told. The founding capital of the new company, Przedsiebiorstwo Zaopatrzenia Farmaceutycznego Cefarm Lodz Ltd, totals 27.01 million zlotys and comprises 270,100 shares of the nominal value of 100 zlotys each. PGF will take over 220,000 shares or 81.5 percent for 22 million zlotys and the state treasury will bring 5.01 million zlotys taking over 50,100 shares (18.5 percent).

Warsaw, April 12: The Citizens' Platform (PO) would get 29 percent of the vote if parliamentary elections were held in early April, according to a poll run by TNS OBOP for Polish Television "Wiadomosci" main news programme. Next came Samoobrona (21 percent) and Law and Justice (PiS) party with 11 percent. The Social Democracy of Poland, a new political party formed by a group of left-wing MPs and led by Sejm Speaker Marek Borowski, can count on support of 10 percent of Poles. The League of Polish Families (LPR) scored 8 percent and the ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) was supported by 7 percent. The Polish Peasant Party (PSL) was supported by 4 percent of voters. Seventy percent of the polled said the elections should be held still this year, and 18 percent said they should not.Thirty percent said Marek Belka would be a better PM and thirty percent voiced the same opinion about Jozef Oleksy while 21 percent said none of them should be appointed new prime minister.

Katowice, April 13: A change in government style, transparency of performance, an end to "cheating" and fast moves designed to use the existing high economic growth to create new jobs are the main tasks of my government, said Marek Belka to officials of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) in Katowice. The candidate for a new PM said he was optimistic about his chances to form a new cabinet. SLD leader Krzysztof Janik said that over thirty votes were still needed in the Sejm to create supporting majority. But negotiations are still under way and we can succeed, Janik added. Belka stressed he was not interested in leading a "survival government" that was only to administer Poland until early elections and added he wanted his cabinet to act at least a year. Poland is doomed to succeed. In this situation early parliamentary elections would be a gift for those who will win them. Let's give us a chance to use the todate hard work of the government to produce visible results, Belka said. Next he added did not want to create a new program for his cabinet and stressed his plan was to include corrections and modifications of to-date moves. The most urgent tasks include fight against unemployment and poverty as well as moves to ensure proper health care, fight against terrorism and good use of EU funds. He also confirmed he was planning to keep J. Hausner (economy), W. Cimoszewicz (foreign affairs) and J. Szmajdzinski (defence) in his government.

Brussels, April 13: The European Parliament held the first day of hearings with three of the ten new EU commissioners appointed from the ten countries that join the EU on May 1. European Minister and Poland's candidate for an EU commissioner Danuta Huebner were answering questions from the EP on Wednesday. The European Commission announced earlier that Huebner would be cooperating with EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy from May 1, 2004 to October 31. All the new ten commissioners would be working together with their colleagues for six months. The current Commission's tenure expires in October, after which a new Commission will be named. The full 626-member European Parliament is to approve the new commissioners in a vote by May 3-6.

Warsaw, April 13: Claims that Poland has been pursuing a servile policy towards the U.S. are "primitive" and do not reflect the truth, Secretary of State at the PM's Chancellery Tadeusz Iwinski said commenting Warsaw weekly Nie's claims that Poland's U.S. policy over recent years had been that of a "vassal". Earlier in a feature on last week's leakage of confidential computer disks from the Polish foreign ministry Nie claimed the material on the disks proved Poland had "for many years pursued a vassal policy towards the U.S.". The weekly originally disclosed the affair after purchasing the disks on the market. The disks, containing data on the ministry's security systems and the foreign minister's personal data, were taken from the ministry building by an inhouse technician and sold off on the market for a minimal amount from where they were bought by Nie. "Governments and foreign ministers changed, but not Poland's kneeling position. (...) Documents from 1994 to 2004 leave no doubt about it. This is not a partnership-based union. Our love affair with the Yankees is blind and one-sided, a relationship from which only one side can benefit", Nie wrote. The weekly also claimed Poland had pledged to buy U.S. F-16 fighters and other military gear as early as in 1995. Iwinski, who today called Nie's report "a simplification, and a dishonest one at that", reminded that in the early 1990s Poland's entire political scene had agreed that good relations with the U.S. were a foreign policy priority. This was in Poland's vital interest "for safety reasons and because of the U.S.' global role". Iwinski also pointed out that Poland had no need to choose between the U.S. and Europe. "We're in NATO, where the U.S. are a dominant force, in a moment we'll be in the EU. This is not a matter of choices like deciding if mummy is better than daddy. For us this is a question of synergy: we need the EU and our major European partners but we also need the U.S.", Iwinski admonished and said Poland's position in the world rose substantially among others thanks to good ties with the U.S. Also today foreign ministry information deputy director Jaroslaw Drozd said Nie's statements rather expressed the weekly's personal viewpoint, and stressed that nothing on the leaked-out disks suggested Poland's servility towards the U.S.

Warsaw, April 14: The Internal Security Agency (ABW) knew that Mateusz K., a Warsaw Technology University student, had been offering via e-mail foreign ministry's hard drives prior to the drives' sale to Nie weekly, spokeswoman for ABW released. She declined to say why ABW failed to thwart the sale. The student and a foreign ministry technician who took drives from the ministry have been indicted by the prosecutor's office. The office however has not decided to arrest them. The affair has been examined by Sejm committees.

Warsaw, April 13: Inflation in mid-2005 will stabilise near the upper threshold of inflation target of 2.5 percent plus/minus 1 percentage point with the possibility of being higher at times, the National Bank of Poland (NBP) wrote in a report on inflation in 2003. NBP estimates GDP growth in 2004 and 2005 at the similar level, higher than in 2003. In 2003 GDP grew by 3.7 percent. The central bank added that the program of finances repair may not be sufficient to eliminate the risk of public debt to exceed 55 percent of GDP.

Warsaw, April 14: Poland may not be ready for the introduction of the common currency in 2007 if the government fails to cut spending, believes governor of the National Bank of Poland (NBP) Leszek Balcerowicz and says lawmakers should be more eager to carry on with reforms seeing the opportunity of introducing the euro. In his opinion, Poland cannot afford the slowing down of the pace of reforms after Miller government steps down on May 2.

Camp Babylon, April 13: The Polish-commandeered south-central-Iraqi stabilization force will not take part in coalition strikes against terrorist leader Moqtada al-Sadr. Last week Iraqi rebel forces under this Shi'ite leader seized several cities in Polish-controlled south-central Iraq, including Nadjaf and al-Kufa, both strongholds of al-Sadr supporters. According to unofficial sources, coalition forces under U.S. command plan to retake Nadjaf, al-Kufa and the city of Karbala southwest of Baghdad.

Camp Babylon/Warsaw, April 13: Polish businessmen are fleeing Iraq, the last company representative is due to leave the country soon. Polish charge d'affaires in Baghdad Tomasz Gielzecki confirmed that all but one Polish businessman had left the country but insisted that it would be an "exaggeration" to claim this was due to the precarious situation inside the country. According to the Polish foreign ministry there were about 40 non-military Poles in Iraq prior to the outbreak of the current conflicts, most left the country before Easter.

Warsaw, April 13: A Chopin Centre is to be created in Warsaw at the initiative of Culture Minister Waldemar Dabrowski. The project envisages the construction of a building which, together with the nearby Frederic Chopin Academy of Music and the Ostrogskis Castle which houses the Chopin Society will form a special cultural complex of the Chopin Centre in the heart of Warsaw. The Centre is to house Polish institutions, organisations and associations engaged in the protection and promotion of music of the Polish composer, and work towards preserving the most precious values of Polish music and secure its development. The Frederic Chopin National Institute has been entrusted with the realisation of the project. The organisers say that the the new building will be erected in about 18 months.

Bielsko-Biala, April 13: About 5,000 young Jews from all over the world and 600 Poles will take part in the 13th March of the Living due to take place in the Auschwitz-Birkenau former Nazi death camp site in southern Poland, on April 19, to commemorate the Holocaust victims. The participants will march along the so-called Death Route from the Auschwitz camp's main gate to the International Monument to the Camp Victims at the site of the former Birkenau extermination camp three kilometres away. Marches of the Living have been organised since 1988 by the Israeli Ministry of Education in cooperation with the March of the Living organisation on Holocaust Memorial Day (Yom Hashoah). Police says it is prepared to protect the participants of the March against possible terrorist attacks.

Warsaw, April 14: 59 percent of Poles welcome Leszek Miller's resignation as the PM. 67 pct believe in early elections and according to 60 pct they will take place, a recent TNS OBOP poll indicates. 32 percent displayed an indifferent attitude toward Miller's resignation and 4 pct were dissatisfied. Only 14 pct believed a lasting government based on the current Sejm would be better for Poland than early elections.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Warsaw, April 16: Talks are under way and it is difficult to predict anything until a vote in the Sejm but it seems that there are chances for Marek Belka to form a new government, President Aleksander Kwasniewski said. In an radio interview he said that it was probable that Belka was appointed new PM and Jozef Oleksy Sejm Speaker. Tradition of good parliaments and those countries which stick to principles is such that the biggest caucus appoints a speaker (...), and the caucus of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) is still the biggest and thus entitled to forward its candidate, the president said.

Poznan, April 19: A joint flight of PM Leszek Miller, Czech PM Vladimir Spidla and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder aboard a German plane to Dublin on May 1 is a desirable sign of a unifying Europe, President Kwasniewski said. He made the statement in connection with criticism by opposition who called it symbolically inappropriate. Miller is to join Spidla and Schroeder on the May 1 flight to Ireland for EU enlargement ceremonies following a meeting in Prague.

Lodz, April 18: Marek Belka, the candidate for PM, said that the consultations he has held so far make him optimistic about chances of the formation of a new cabinet. Asked at a news conference with PM Leszek Miller whether he is more convinced he is able to form a new government, Belka said: "Yes, I am optimistic that (..) a government will be formed and that it can do something good for the country." Belka confirmed that Miller's Deputy PM Hausner, Foreign Minister Cimoszewicz and Defence Minister Szmajdzinski will keep their jobs. He said health care will be on top of the agenda of his cabinet. Miller said the government will adopt a bill on the National Health Fund on April 27 but will ask a new cabinet to send it to the Sejm. Belka said political uncertainty does not favour the economy, but added that as the economy has picked up, creating new jobs is just a matter of time. SLD chairman Krzysztof Janik said Sunday he is working on a plan to guarantee a simple majority for the Belka government in the Sejm.

Warsaw, April 18: The caucus of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) decided to propose the candidacy of Jozef Oleksy for Sejm Speaker. Oleksy accepted the proposal. He added that if appointed, he would resign from the post of deputy PM and Interior Minister. According to Oleksy, his decision strengthens Belka's chances for forming a new government. The Sejm speaker is elected by the absolute majority of votes with at least 230 MPs present. Former Speaker Marek Borowski who left the SLD to form Social Democracy of Poland (SdPl) said Oleksy's candidacy did not come as a surprise and was part of a plan aimed at keeping the SLD at the power.

Warsaw, April 16: Finance Minister Andrzej Raczko confirmed in the Sejm that GDP in the Q1 will be at 5.3 percent after a rise by 4.7 pct in Q4 of 2003. "Production boom is real. Forecasts show that the trend will continue”. In early April the ministry slightly revised upward its Q1 GDP growth projection to 5.3 pct from 5.1-5.2 pct. Raczko recalled that the state of public finances is a result of good condition of the economy and legal solutions such as "bold decisions concerning taxes" and solutions boosting business. The minister stressed that good economic conditions stem from growing exports and stable consumption. Inflation should not exceed 2 percent during the entire 2004. January and February inflation levels were lower that predicted and totalled 1.7 pct. Industrial production in the 1Q of 2004 may go up by even 24 pct. Alarming is, according to Raczko, lack of political stability mirrored by delayed influx of foreign investments and fluctuations of the rate of the zloty. He stressed that Poland was not threatened with the so called Argentinian scenario as the country still enjoyed confidence of foreign investors. Raczko added that in recent years public debt has been growing at a faster pace to reach 51 billion zlotys (12.7 billion USD) this year. However, even though the latter tendency was dangerous Raczko rejected allegations about bankruptcy of public finances. He assured the MPs that the government would not resign from its tax strategy which may even be continued by a government that would replace Miller's cabinet.

Warsaw, April 16: Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski has ruled out Multinational Division participation in possible U.S. military operations in the central-southern zone of Iraq aimed to thwart a rebellion stirred up by Shiite cleric al-Sadr. "This is a stabilisation not offensive division," Szmajdzinski said Friday following talks with Ukrainian Defence Minister Yevhen Marchuk. International documents specify targets for which stabilisation forces may be used. Szmajdzinski added that Poland had asked Americans for more information on planned operations and assured that there was no conflict between stabilisation forces and the U.S. command. Marchuk also confirmed the stabilisation nature of the Ukrainian brigade. A prospective development of the situation in Iraq was also discussed later by Marchuk and President Kwasniewski. The talk also focused on current political developments in both countries, Ukrainian relations with NATO and Polish-Ukrainian military cooperation.

Warsaw, April 16: Foreign investments of open pension funds (OFEs) were worth over 1 billion zlotys in March, Analizy OnLine said. According to its calculations, the value of OFEs' foreign investments was 1.05 billion zlotys in March, up 26.8 percent from February. At the end of March the value of OFE assets was 49.96 billion zlotys which means an average 2.1 percent rise of a foreign investment share in the portfolio. It was for the first time in six months that OFEs invested in bonds issued by the governments of countries other than Poland. But non-Treasury bonds constitute 70 percent of foreign investments. Treasury bonds constituted 63.1 percent in the OFE portfolio, shares of Polish companies, NFI and shares of foreign companies - 31.8 percent. The remainder are liquid assets and other paper.

Hameenlinna, April 18: Poland may pick up Finland to provide training for the pilots of new multi-role aircraft F-16, Polish Deputy Defence Minister Janusz Zemke said. "No decision has been taken on how pilots will be trained to fly F-16s (...) One of the options is to take advantage of Finland's opportunities. Finland has 51 Hawk aircraft and the annual reserves of 3,000 hours of training, Zemke said in Hameenlinna. Finnish military attache in Warsaw, Colonel Jukka Pennanen said Poland has inquired about the possibility, and Finnish air force HQ are now studying the proposal. Poland is to receive first F-16s in 2006, and the U.S. has pledged to provide training for Polish pilots. Finland uses Hawks to train pilots flying F-18s. Zemke was in Finland to watch the performance of a Finnish-designed wheeled armoured vehicle for Poland's army. The first vehicles will be exported to Poland in 2004 (total of 690 by 2013). The value of a contract on the delivery of AMV 8x8s is 5 billion zlotys. The new armoured vehicle is tested in Finland as it is being tailored for Polish needs. AMV 8x8s, made by the Finnish company Patria, may be used in action in Iraq. Zemke hoped the eight-wheel vehicle will meet the Polish requirements: "The odds are that the armoured vehicle will meet the very high Polish requirements. It will be fully tested in Poland". Their production will be gradually transferred to Poland's Siemianowice plant.

Cracow, April 16: Culture ministers of the Visegrad Group of states agreed at a meeting in Cracow that a Visegrad fund would be created to support the creation of a Visegrad library. According to Polish Culture Minister Waldemar Dabrowski, the seed money will be assigned from the budget of the four states making up the group. Projects to be sponsored will be selected during the ministers' next meeting, to be held in Budapest this fall.

Warsaw, April 18: Ceremonies marking the 61st anniversary of the 1943 uprising in Warsaw's Jewish ghetto started at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw. The main ceremony takes place on Monday. In April 1943 a group of Jewish freedom fighters under Mordechaj Anielewicz opened fire on German SS-men entering the ghetto to start deportations. By April 19 the entire Ghetto had risen against the Germans, the uprisers under Anielewicz sometimes fighting with selfmade weapons. The Nazis imprisoned Warsaw's Jews in the ghetto in autumn 1940. At its peak in 1941, more then 450,000 people were living in inhuman conditions in the ghetto. In July 1942 the Nazis started mass deportations to Treblinka and other death camps.

Warsaw, April 16: 74 percent of Poles are dissatisfied with the development of the political situation and 66 pct expressed the same opinion on the economic situation, a recent CBOS poll has shown. The number of satisfied was at 16 pct and 6 pct respectively. 23 pct termed their living conditions as good, 24 as bad and 53 said they were neither good nor bad. A month prior to integration with the EU 23 pct expected a deterioration of the political situation and 18 pct expected the same as regards economic situation.

Warsaw, April 19: The Polish government is respecting the sovereign decision of the Spanish authorities to withdraw its troops from Iraq. This decision has not come as a surprise, government spokesman Marcin Kaszuba said. He stressed the decision put new challenge ahead of the Polish command of the international division in Iraq as it had to continue to carry out tasks but stressed that the Polish government was not to increase the Polish contingent. Kaszuba admitted that on Monday the leadership of the Defence Ministry and the General Staff of the Polish Army held a debate with Gen. Mieczyslaw Bieniek, the commander of the multinational division. According to the Polish government, the only solution is to as fast as possible transfer power to the new Iraqi authorities and hand over the control over of the political process to the U.N. The Polish government fully supports the mission of U.N.'s envoy to Iraq Lakhadar Brahimi. Spain, the second largest contributor to the multinational force in south-central Iraq, announced it was pulling out its 1,300 troops as soon as possible, fulfilling an election pledge of new PM J. L. Rodriguez Zapatero.

Warsaw, April 19: Some Polish politicians saw Spain's decision to withdraw from Iraq as a triumph for Iraqi terrorists, others as a sign of the Spanish government's concern for its people. All agreed that the move will complicate the situation. Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski said that Spain's decision was "not making Poland's job in Iraq any easier". He also assured that Polish stabilization forces would remain in Iraq. Kwasniewski added that Zapatero had assured him of Spain's political cooperation in moves to end the Iraq mission peacefully. Defence minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski said he hoped Spain's example would not inspire others to withdraw. He also assured that no extra Polish troops would be sent to replace the Spaniards. According to ex-defence minister Bronislaw Komorowski Spain's withdrawal from Iraq was "chiefly a problem for the U.S." as supervisor of the Iraq operation. He also stressed that no more Polish soldiers were available for the mission. Sending any more troops would bring the Polish army apart, Komorowski warned. Ludwik Dorn of the rightwing Law and Justice (PiS) called Spain's decision "a triumph for al-Qaida". It's like flying the white flag, he said. Izabella Sierakowska from the newly-formed Social Democracy of Poland (SDPL) said Zapatero's decision meant fulfilment of his election promises and noted that the Spanish government "could not act differently" after the March 11 attacks in Madrid. Marek Kotlinowski of the League of Polish Families (LPR) said Spain's withdrawal should inspire a debate on the matter in Poland. This debate should take place in parliament with the defence ministry listing all the pros and cons, so that the public is really aware of what Poland's military presence in Iraq means and its possible effects on our safety. Farmer leader Andrzej Lepper praised Spain's decision and said Poland should follow suit "at the earliest possible moment".

Poznan, April 19: President Aleksander Kwasniewski appealed to Poles for a high turnout in the forthcoming EP elections. Kwasniewski said participation in the EP ballot was important if Poland wanted to have reliable delegates in Brussels. He also presented National Security Office (BBN) head Marek Siwiec as his EP candidate. I am appealing to everyone to vote. It would be really incomprehensible for Europe and the world if a country which for decades struggled for freedom, democracy and a place on the European scene now showed it didn't care who will represent it in the European Parliament, Kwasniewski argued.

Warsaw, April 19: During its next meeting, to start on April 27, the Sejm will discuss motions on its dissolution, head of the Citizens' Platform (PO) caucus Jan Rokita said. Such a decision might be taken even at the next sitting, he said, adding that Sejm Speaker Marek Borowski had announced he would include the motions in the daily agenda. According to Rokita, if the Sejm passes a decision on its dissolution early parliamentary elections could be held together with the elections to the European Parliament on June 13. The Sejm can shorten its term of office if such decision is approved by at least a two/thirds majority of all deputies (460).

Warsaw, April 19: The "Nova Polska" Polish Season in France will start on May 1 when Poland will officially enters the EU. The program of the Season, to be held in several dozen French cities until January 2005, will consist of concerts, exhibitions, theatre performances, film reviews and seminars. "This will be the most important panorama of Polish culture ever organised abroad, Culture Minister Waldemar Dabrowski said on Monday. "This prestigious event in which 180 towns and over 400 cultural institutions will participate,open before artists numerous possibilities of contacts and cooperation. For French society it will offer a possibility of getting closer acquainted with the riches of Polish culture in the moment of this country's entering the European Union," Guy Amsellem, French General Commissioner for the Season said. The event will start with a concert by the Poznan Boys Choir in the Notre Dame Cathedral on May 3, followed by a retrospective of Wojciech J. Has's films and an exhibition of Magdalena Abakanowicz's works. The French organisers suggest to see what are the new, most interesting currents in the Polish culture of today, like works and performances of young artists, DJs, musicians and photographers. A Panorama of the Young Polish Cinema is envisaged, and retrospectives of films by elder generation of Polish filmmakers will be held in Toulouse, Lyon, and the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. Theatre productions of well known directors like Krystian Lupa, Krzysztof Warlikowski and Grzegorz Jarzyna are scheduled. A Polish Theatre Month is planned in five theatres in Paris. Polish art will be presented in the exhibition halls of Musee du Louvre and Musee d'Orsay in Paris, as well as in Dijon, Nancy, Rennes, Grenoble. About 30 Polish books will be published in France. The project is organised by the Ministries of Culture and Foreign Affairs of Poland and France, Poland's Adam Mickiewicz Institute and its French partner Association Francaise d'Action Artistique (AFAA), in cooperation with the Polish Institute in Paris and the French Institute in Warsaw.

Warsaw, April 19: Wreaths were laid at the Warsaw Ghetto Heroes Memorial in Warsaw on Monday to commemorate the 61st anniversary of the outbreak of armed uprising in Warsaw Ghetto of 1943. Rabbi of Warsaw said Kaddish, and next those gathered, among them Marek Edelman, the last surviving commander of the Ghetto fighters, marched to the nearby Umschlagplatz, the site of a railway loading ramp from which Jews from the Ghetto had been deported to death camps during the Nazi occupation of Poland. On their way the participants in the ceremonies paid tribute at commemorative plaques to the memory of Jewish heroes, Szmul Zygelbojm, member of the National Council at the wartime Polish government in exile, and the Jewish fighters with commander Mordechaj Anielewicz, who committed suicide when the armed struggle was lost. Flowers were also laid and candles lit at the monuments to Jewish fighters at the Jewish cemetery in Warsaw. The Nazis kept in the Ghetto about 400-450 thousand Polish Jews between autumn of 1940 and the final liquidation of the Ghetto in 1943. A vast majority of them died of hunger and diseases, executions and in gas chambers of Treblinka and Auschwitz. Also on Monday several thousand young Jews from all over the world and several hundred Poles took part in the 13th March of the Living in the Auschwitz-Birkenau former Nazi death camp in Southern Poland to commemorate the Holocaust victims. The participants marched along the so-called Death Way leading from the Auschwitz camp's main entrance gate to the International Monument to the Camp Victims at the site of the former Birkenau extermination sub-camp situated two miles away. The ceremonies were attended by Israeli deputy PM and Justice Minister Josef Lapid. Marches of the Living have been organised in Auschwitz since 1988 by the Israeli Ministry of Education in cooperation with the March of the Living organisation on the Holocaust Memorial Day .

Warsaw, April 19: Almost one-fourth of Poles (24 percent) in a CBOS survey described their living standards as very low, 30 pct as low, 37 pct as fair and only 9 pct as very good. Asked about how they managed their household budgets 68 pct said they had to cut back on leisure spending, 65 percent that they had to postpone clothes purchases. 49 percent said they occasionally avoided going out for fear of being tempted to spend money.

Warsaw, April 21: Seeking balance between national interests and those of the EU, Poland's position on the Constitutional Treaty draft after the EU Brussels summit are the main topics of a conference titled "A strong Poland in a strong Europe" and held under the patronage of President Aleksander Kwasniewski. Present are Sejm Speaker Jozef Oleksy, Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz and former foreign ministers Bronislaw Geremek and Wladyslaw Bartoszewski.

Warsaw, April 20: President Aleksander Kwasniewski met with a delegation of the European Jewish Congress (EJC) with its President Cobi Benatoff. Kwasniewski expressed his pleasure at meeting the Congress's newly-elected authorities (last October) and related the most important Polish-Jewish events in Poland. Benatoff stressed that Poland occupied a special position for European Jews and congratulated Kwasniewski on Poland's EU membership. He also thanked the President for his involvement for reconcilement between Poles and Jews.

Warsaw, April 20: President Aleksander Kwasniewski will pay an official visit to Belgium on May 11-13. During the visit, paid at the invitation of King Albert II and Queen Paola, President Kwasniewski will be accompanied by his wife Jolanta.

Warsaw, April 21: Jozef Oleksy (Democratic Left Alliance) was elected new Sejm Speaker with 189 deputies voting for his candidature, 185 against and one abstaining. The required majority was 188 votes (375 deputies voting). Oleksy declared he would resign from the post of deputy PM and interior minister immediately. Earlier the Sejm accepted Marek Borowski's resignation from the post following his decision to leave the Democratic left Alliance and form a new party, the Social Democracy of Poland (SdPl). Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski will perform the duties of the interior minister until the resignation of the cabinet, to take place on May 2.

Warsaw, April 20: Market reforms may currently be hard to put through as there is no majority backing for such changes, outgoing PM Leszek Miller said at the meeting of Entrepreneurship Council. All we managed to achieve over these two and a half years may now be abandoned as there is no majority backing for market reforms and public spending cuts, Miller said. The situation is a result of recent splits in the ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD). Commenting the future, Miller said current PM designate Marek Belka would surely strive for less public spending and a better climate for enterprise but might not find sufficient backing in parliament. The situation in parliament is different. It is currently in a pre-election flurry and may well reject the government's plans. Miller said the Polish economy was in a much better state now than when he took office, mainly through CIT cuts and relaxed business laws. Economy minister and financial reform author Jerzy Hausner said Poland could be 2005's fastest-growing economy provided financial reforms are introduced now. We cannot back down from financial reforms, introducing new commercial laws and improving EU funding. This is not a job for tomorrow but for today, Hausner said.

Warsaw, April 20: March's industrial production rose 23.8 percent year-on-year, against 18.3 pct in February, and rose 17.3 pct month-on-month, the Central Statistical Office (GUS) informed. Economists say March's industrial production will be up 21.1 pct y/y. March's seasonally-adjusted industrial production rose 17.5 percent and 1.0 pct m/m.

Warsaw, April 21: A finance ministry-prepared EU accession program foresees that Poland will meet Maastricht convergence criteria by 2007. Poland is due to present the program in May. Earlier declarations spoke about Poland's meeting Maastricht criteria by the end of 2006, including the budget criterion which means that debt must be cut to 3 pct of GDP and public debt must be below 60 pct of GDP. Poland could join the euro zone in 2009. The zloty could stay in the ERM2 in 2007-2008 with Poland joining the EMU in 2009.

Warsaw, April 20: Poland's intelligence head Zbigniew Siemiatkowski has named "political attacks" on his person as the reason for his resignation. PM Miller has refused to accept it. Siemiatkowski handed in his resignation Tuesday after accusations against him in connection with the 2002 arrest of the head of Poland's Orlen petroleum company. In a report on the incident, the Sejm's Special Services Committee claimed Siemiatkowski, then head of the State Protection Office (UOP), had misinformed the Committee about the circumstances of the arrest. The political attacks against me threaten to disrupt the apolitical character of the intelligence services. If I allowed this to go on I'd be acting against the services' interest, Siemiatkowski said. The government spokesman said Miller's refusal to accept the resignation had been dictated by concern that reshuffles in the intelligence sector could impair national security.

Warsaw, April 20: Around 450 former employees of Poland's Internal Security Agency (ABW) and Intelligence Agency (AW) may get their jobs back after the Constitutional Tribunal ruled their 2002 sackings unconstitutional. About 350 former ABW and AW staffers have declared they wanted to return to the agencies. The layoffs were connected with the transformation of the then State Protection Office (UOP) into ABW and AW. The Tribunal, which in a non-unanimous vote contested 5 articles of a legal act dissolving UOP and on whose strength the layoffs were carried through, ruled that the heads of ABW and AW had too much freedom in the sackings.

Warsaw, April 20: 92 percent of Poles believe that the situation on the labour market is bad and 52 pct believe that it is very bad, according to results of a recent CBOS poll. 45 pct of the polled think the situation on the labour market will not change for the better in the coming year, 18 pct hope it will improve and 26 pct expect it will deteriorate. Some 42 pct are afraid they might lose their job. 48 pct say the cannot find any job in the place they live, while 31 percent declare that it is difficult to find any job at all.

Warsaw, April 20: A new leftist party, different from the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) and the Union of Labour (UP), is needed in Poland. Such were the opinions voiced by 41 percent of people in a poll run by OBOP. The opposite view was expressed by 37 pct and 22 pct had no opinion. Asked how the ruling SLD will cope with its current difficulties, 45 pct said this grouping "will overcome difficulties but will be a party of little political importance." 29 pct of those questioned believe that the SLD "will continue to weaken and will vanish from the political scene," 8 pct hope it "will regain its strong position from before several years ago." OBOP also asked about opinions what chances are for the Social Democracy of Poland (SdPl) set up by Marek Borowski. 13 pct said "this party will become the most important left-wing party in Poland," 31 pct believe that it "will strengthen but will not become a main left party" and 8 pct claim that SdPl will "soon fall apart."

Warsaw, April 21: It is possible to find such a compromise between the Nice system and the system of double majority which would not limit Poland's influence on the decision making process in the EU, President Aleksander Kwasniewski said at the conference titled "A strong Poland in a Strong Europe" devoted to seeking balance between national interests and the interests of the European Union and Poland's position on the EU Constitutional Treaty draft. Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz speaking on the Constitutional Treaty also said he was convinced about the possibility of a political compromise. He said the government is reviewing "several options which could constitute a compromise idea with regard to the voting system" in the EU Council, but added that it would have to guarantee balance between small, medium and large EU states. Former Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek stressed that the slogan "Nice or death" has harmed Poland's image. To change this situation Poland must define anew its European policy. It must actively join the debate on Europe's future and initiate a discussion on European commonwealth of interests. Deputy Foreign Minister and former EU negotiator Jan Truszczynski stressed that Poland must become aware that being in the EU it must learn how to find allies in all even the smallest of issues.

Warsaw, april 21: Poland is ready to join the EU, its membership conditions are good, Prime Minister Leszek Miller assured. Despite all the shakeups, conflicts and tussles on our political scene at this strategically crucial moment for our country, we have to date managed to carry EU accession through very efficiently, Miller said. Poland has negotiated very favourable membership conditions, we are ready to utilize EU funds and we have shown we know how to use them, he added.

Warsaw, April 21: The Iraq conflict must be resolved by political means not military force, outgoing PM Miller said. Speaking about possible pullout of Polish troops from Iraq Miller stressed that such decisions would have to be well-weighed and would depend on further events in the country. Poland would make no sudden moves to pull out from Iraq but Spain's decision to withdraw from the mission could not be ignored. He also admitted Poland was trying to convince the U.S. to employ less military force and more political means in Iraq. We should not make any aggressive moves. We entered Iraq to stabilize, not upset the country, Miller reminded, adding that Iraq's conflicts would be best resolved under UN auspices. I am unable to say when (Polish troops will pull out from Iraq) because this will depend on very many things. However, I'm sure the new PM will unveil more details about this in his expose. Decisions about withdrawing most of all will depend on how matters in Iraq develop, Miller stated. Government spokesman Marcin Kaszuba said later that the government does not consider a possibility of withdrawing our troops from Iraq. I deny that the PM has allegedly made such a statement, this is a sort of misunderstanding, Kaszuba stressed addressing news report by Reuters that Miller said Poland was considering options for withdrawing its troops from Iraq. Kaszuba also reiterated the PM's statement that there are no plans for more troops to join our contingent in Iraq. According to the Polish government the only solution is to hand over power to the Iraqis as soon as possible and transfer control over the political process in Iraq to international forces represented by the UN. The Polish government grants its full support to a mission by Lakhadar Brahimi, an UN envoy to Iraq.

Warsaw, April 21: Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski said that plans linked with the reduction of the numbers of the Polish troops stationed in Iraq reach 2005 when that country is to hold free election. "In conditions of a new constitution and newly elected legislative power, our presence could surely be considerably reduced," said Szmajdzinski. Asked whether there are any changes in Poland's approach towards the stationing of Polish troops in Iraq, he replied: "I cannot reveal all our thoughts. However, at the moment we do not plan to increase the Polish contingent." The Minister also said that Poles are working with U.S. commanders on a new organization of the multinational division after Spain, Honduras and Dominican Republic announced plans to withdraw their troops. The gap can be filled-in in two ways - either by sending-in new forces or relocating already stationing in Iraq. Szmajdzinski has not been surprised by a debate in Ukraine on the future presence of that country's forces in Iraq. "Such debates are led in all countries, we also held a five hour parliamentary debate three weeks ago," He recalled. Szmajdzinski, who as of Wednesday took over as acting Internal Affairs Minister, said that the most important task of the day for the ministry's units are preparations for next week's European Economic Summit.

Warsaw, April 21: Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz and his Danish counterpart Per Stig Moeller met to discuss European matters, including the EU Constitutional Treaty and the situation in Iraq. Moeller started a visit in Warsaw. Cimoszewicz said that the sides decided to initiate bilateral consultations on the future 2007-2013 EU budget. He also presented a Polish stand that a compromise on the constitution is possible. Moeller said he was glad that the discussion on the EU constitution is marked by compromise. Cimoszewicz reiterated nothing has changed as regards the Polish stabilisation mission in Iraq.

Warsaw, April 21: PM Miller admitted he was suggested to run in the elections to the European Parliament and though he had dismissed this idea before, he was reconsidering it.

Warsaw, April 21: The first onland exercise under the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) against mass destruction weapons took place on April 19-21 in Wroclaw. Participating were Poland, Germany and the U.S. as PSI signatories, as well as Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Romania and Hungary. Also present were PSI observers from Australia, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. The exercise focused on customs and border control procedures connected with movements of dangerous chemicals and other substances used for mass destruction arms. The PSI was proclaimed during U.S. president George W. Bush's May 21, 2003 speech in Cracow, Poland and is directed against countries, organizations and other parties involved in trade with mass destruction weapons and the components.

Warsaw, April 21: The government plans to help those investors who will want to implement investment projects worth at least 40 million euros or create at least 500 new jobs. The cabinet approved a draft law on financial support of investments of significant importance for the economy. It is addressed to biggest foreign and domestic investors. According to estimates, total outlays on the implementation of this law are to reach 5.7 billion zlotys (1.4 billion USD) in a time span of five years, including 1.4 billion from the state budget.

Warsaw, April 21: Monetary Policy Council member Andrzej Slawinski made it clear that 2007 indicated as the year of Poland's entry of the euro zone may turn out to be impossible to meet. The central bank assumed in reports, based on government declarations, that Poland may join the euro zone in 2007. But the government was unable to halt the swiftly mounting budget spending, which made Poland delay the entry of the euro zone to 2008 or 2009. The central bank has not officially revised its position on the entry of the euro zone.

Tokyo, April 21: Science ministers from Japan and Poland called for strengthening bilateral ties in science and technology, especially in the fields of biotechnology and information technology (IT). Polish Science Minister Michal Kleiber and Toshimitsu Motegi, Japanese minister for science and technology policy, made the call in their opening remarks at the two-day Polish Science Forum in Tokyo. Kleiber said Poland wants to enhance ties with Japan in IT, nanotechnology and biotechnology with special emphasis on molecular biology for medicine. Kleiber said he expected Poland's entry into the EU next month to boost exchanges in science and technology at industry levels. The forum is the first major follow-up event since Japanese PM Koizumi and Polish PM Miller signed a joint statement for a bilateral strategic partnership in Warsaw last August.

Wroclaw, April 21: Steven Spielberg came to Wroclaw, seemingly scouting locations for his new film project. Famous film director spent there only a few hours and declined to meet the journalists. According to unofficial sources, Spielberg accompanied by Polish-born cinematographer Janusz Kaminski made a tour of Wroclaw University and a local street. A member of the director's entourage said that more information about Spielberg's plans will be available next week. Spielberg has already made a film on Polish location before. His Oscar-winning "Schindler's List" (1993) was shot in Cracow and its vicinity, with the substantial cooperation of Poles, Janusz Majewski as director of photography, art director Allan Starski and Ewa Braun, all of whom received Oscars for their work, and costume designer Biedrzycka-Sheppard who won an Oscar nomination.

Warsaw, April 21: President Aleksander Kwasniewski's performance was approved by 57 percent and 32 pct expressed the opposite view, according to a recent poll by CBOS Center. The work of the Sejm was negatively assessed by 77 pct and positively by 11 pct. Respective figures concerning the Senate are 59 pct and 17 pct.

Warsaw, April 22: President Aleksander Kwasniewski and visiting Foreign Minister of Denmark Per Stig Moeller voiced satisfaction over very good state of bilateral relations. They also discussed the current international situation and developments in Iraq. They agreed as to the necessity for a new U.N. resolution on Iraq and increased engagement on the part of international organisations in solving the conflict. They also spoke about the need of adopting soon a European constitution.

Paris, April 22: Polish and French Foreign Ministers Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz and Michel Bernier have stressed the importance of handing over power to the Iraqi people and granting the U.N. a role in that country. Both ministers met in Paris. French ministry spokesman said the ministers "concerned by the deteriorating situation stressed the necessity of pursing a policy based on frank, efficient and creditworthy transfer of power into the hands of the Iraqi people and in this context recalled the role of the UN..." The ministers also referred to key European problems, especially the EU constitution, confirming their will to find an agreement on this issue before the June European Council summit.

Warsaw, April 22-23: The number of troops of the Polish contingent in Iraq will not be changed in the forthcoming months. Any changes can take place after general elections and after new temporary authorities are formed in Iraq, Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski said and added that following parliamentary elections, scheduled for January 31, 2005, the number of Polish troops in Iraq will be sharply cut. He repeated that Poland's military presence in Iraq will depend on the stand of new Iraqi authorities. In the next 90 days the majority of tasks performed in Iraq so far by troops from Spain, the Dominican Republic and Honduras will be taken over by U.S. soldiers, deputy defence minister Janusz Zemke said. These 90 days will provide time to review various options and to regroup the existing units, either inside the divisions or between them. Zemke added that some countries declared to increase the number of their troops and mentioned Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Warsaw, April 22: PM designate Marek Belka has a fity-fifty chance to get a government together, President Kwasniewski said. Opening a fair devoted to winners of the national Poland Now commercial contest, he said he would welcome a government under Belka. I want Belka to form a cabinet and I believe he'll get the Sejm's backing. In the time remaining to an early election Poland needs a stable government that can manage domestic affairs and is credible to the outside world, the President said, adding that on the eve of EU accession Poland could not afford "makeshift solutions". Asked about the best time for an election, he pointed out next spring as this would "work in Belka's favour and allow the ordering of various economic and EU-related affairs".

Warsaw, April 22: Social Democracy of Poland (SdPl) calls for early parliamentary elections to be held as soon as possible and is ready to support a "purely technical" "interim" and "supra-party" government that would hold power for a few months only, SdPl leader Marek Borowski declared. SdPl will support motions for self-dissolution of the Sejm, which are to be voted during the nearest sitting of the chamber. Borowski stressed that setting elections date is a key issue for his party and October is a likely date. Borowski said the SdPl will be against a government that would demand to stay in power until next year, and he made the development of the situation dependent on Marek Belka's position on that matter. "If we fail to reach agreement we shall not support any government," Borowski admitted.

Warsaw, April 22: The Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) said it does not support the idea of the dissolution of the Sejm or the formation of an interim government forwarded by the Social

Democracy of Poland (SdPl). SLD head Krzystof Janik said a decision to dissolve parliament in a situation when Poland is in the middle of a campaign to the European Parliament elections and when there are increasing signs of an economic growth would be a "strongly unwise decision." SLD secretary general Marek Dyduch added that SdPl's leader Marek Borowski is pressing for early elections as he is aware that his new party's electoral chances will be much smaller at a later date and the party may disappear from political life. SLD also has not excluded the possibility of talks with its coalition ex-partner, the Polish Peasant Party.

Warsaw, April 22: Many business circles reacting to SdPl's call to cut short the Sejm's term and press for early elections agree that this would mean that the Belka government would be unable to continue necessary economic reforms. Tomasz Uchman of the Business Centre Club said Belka would not be able to implement an economic policy which he is now presenting if his government appears to be a caretaker cabinet. However, Uchman thinks that early elections would end a period of uncertainty on the political as well as on the economic stage. President of the Polish Confederation of Private Employers Henryka Bochniarz stressed that the continuation of economic reforms by the future Belka government would be a better option than "a parliamentary turmoil, anxiety and instability linked with early elections." "Investors must know that this is a rational and foreseeable country, where policies will not undergo major changes..," said Bochniarz.

Warsaw, April 22: Deputy PM Jerzy Hausner expects April's industrial production growth to be around 20 pct y/y. "I expect industrial production to grow to a level comparable to that in recent months, that is around 20 pct," Hausner said. According to The Central Statistical Office, March's industrial production rose 23.8 pct y/y (18.3 pct in February). Hausner repeated his forecasts for GDP to rise 6 pct in Q1 and over 5 pct in Q2. He said that GUS data showed that Poland's economic growth was taking place in a "safe macroeconomic environment." "This means that it has a permanent character and is not a combination of current economic and structural factors," he added.

Warsaw, April 22: PM Leszek Miller met Shoichiro Toyoda, Honorary Chairman of Japan's Toyota Motor Corp., and ex-president of Toyota Manufacturing Poland Toshitaka Kageyama, whom he decorated with medals and thanked for enabling the company's investments in Poland. Toyoda received a Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland and Kageyama a Cavalier's Cross of Merit. Miller also thanked Toyoda for bringing Toyota to Poland and encouraging Japanese entrepreneurs to invest in Polish economy.

Wroclaw, April 22: "The Righteous Among Nations of the World" Israeli title and medal were conferred upon five Poles for saving their Jewish fellow countrymen during the Nazi occupation of Poland. The distinctions were collected by families because four of the five awarded have passed away. Those distinguished posthumously are Fryderyk and Maria Czerwien, a married couple who offered shelter to 11 Jewish persons, including small children, in their house basement in Rawa Ruska, then eastern Poland. Other medals were granted posthumously to Kazimiera Strzalka, who offered hiding to Villy Sterner in her house in Cracow, and Helena Leszczynska from Boryslaw, now Ukraine, for hiding a Jewish family of three. Present at the ceremony was Jozef Lipman, a Wroclaw Technical University professor, who was one of those saved by Leszczynska. Anna Kister from Krosno received the medal personally. She, her parents and a brother, already holders of the medals, saved Cipore Awtalion and her mother. Poland was the only country under Nazi occupation of Europe where any form of assistance to Jews was punishable with the death of helpers and their families. The Yad Vashem Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance institute in Jerusalem so far has awarded medals to six thousand Poles.

Warsaw, April 22: 83 percent of Poles believe that things in Poland are going in the wrong direction according to an April poll run by OBOP. 11 pct claim the opposite. The number of Poles who criticise current situation in Poland went down from 85 pct in March and the number of those claiming the opposite went up from 9 pct. 81 pct of the ?polled said the Polish economy was in crisis, with 51 pct describing it as deep and 30 pct as mild. In the opinion of 16 pct of the polled the economy has been developing (up by 4 points). Over half of Poles (58 pct) fear that their material situation will worsen in the coming months.

Warsaw, April 23: 33 percent of Poles in an April Ipsos poll said they trusted in the EU (28 pct in March), 29 pct declaring deep and 4 pct very deep confidence in the Union (24 and 4 pct in March). 58 pct said they trusted the Union only in part or not at all (61 pct in March). 45 pct were pleased and 37 pct displeased about Poland's approaching EU accession.

President: Profesor Belka continues his mission

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

Kwasniewski, Schaeuble discuss European affairs

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

Kwasniewski to meet with 16 president during EES

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

Miller: I put my career at risk for sake of economic growth

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

Miller: EU accession success of many people

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

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

EC: Polish food unrestricted

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

MoD, Military intelligence deny agents work as state officials

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

Rywin found guilty of fraud in bribery scandal

Warsaw, April 26: Lew Rywin was found guilty on fraud charges for his role in a bribery scandal and sentenced to 2,5 years in prison. The verdict of the Warsaw district court was not unanimous as presiding judge submitted a votum separatum. According to the prosecution in 2002 Rywin, co-producer of the Oscar-winning "Schindler's List" and "The Pianist", sought a 17.5 million USD bribe from Agora SA, the publisher of the Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper, in exchange for changes to a proposed media law which would enable Agora to buy a nationwide broadcaster.