News May 2004

Warsaw, May 4: Prospects of Iraq's stabilization and economic cooperation after Poland's EU entry will be the main subjects of talks, to be held by President Aleksander Kwasniewski during a three-day official visit to Great Britain starting May 5. As special guests of Queen Elizabeth II, the Polish presidential couple will be staying at Buckingham Palace. This will be Kwasniewski's first official visit to Great Britain. The British queen visited Poland in 1996. The President will meet with leader of the parliamentary opposition Lord Ancram and leader of Liberal Democrats Charles Kennedy. The program of the visit provides also for a meeting with PM Tony Blair which might focus on the opening of the British labour market to EU newcomers. Kwasniewski and Blair will also attend a seminar on possibilities of bilateral economic cooperation. The value of mutual trade totals 5 bn 300 milllion USD annually. For the first time in 2003 Poland reported a surplus in bilateral trade.

Warsaw, May 4: President Kwasniewski met with Indonesian Defence Minister Air Marshal Suprihadi. The talk focused on international security, including struggle against terrorism. Also the Polish and Indonesian defence ministers discussed security in South-Central Asia and bilateral military relations. Indonesia plans to buy from Poland 11 Skytruck planes for its naval forces, Air Marshal Suprihadi said after talks with his Polish counterpart Jerzy Szmajdzinski who confirmed that the Polish export credits for Indonesia to buy equipment from the Polish aviation sector total 75 million USD. So far Indonesia bought 11 Mi-2 choppers and 4 Skytruck planes from Poland. Polish minister also proposed that Indonesian soldiers could be trained in Polish Defence and Navy Academies. Suprihadi said his country was interested in joint undertakings including participation in research and development work on APC, crewless space ship and between shipyard sectors.

Warsaw, May 5: In a telephone conversation President Kwasniewski and HM King Albert II agreed to postpone the Polish president's official visit to Belgium planned for May 11-13. The President informed the King that the resignation of Prime Minister Leszek Miller and the current political situation required his presence in Poland and thus the visit could not take place as planned. King Albert II and President Kwasniewski expressed the conviction that Poland's joining the EU will help better develop bilateral relations in all fields. The King Albert wished success in winning parliamentary and social trust in the new cabinet.

Warsaw, May 4: A Polish Senate delegation headed by Speaker Longin Pastusiak is paying an official visit to the Czech Republic. Pastusiak called on the Czech Republic Senate Chairman Petr Pithart and Czech PM Vladimir Spidla. During the meeting with Pithart, Pastusiak presented political situation in Poland, especially chances of a new government, and discussed the condition in the Polish left. The EU Constitutional Treaty was also discussed. Pithart pointed out that the Treaty is not tantamount to the Constitution. Much attention was given to regional cooperation. An idea emerged to create a joined Senates team to work out a program of cooperation in the Visegrad Group within the framework of the EU. It was stressed during the meeting with Spidla that good cooperation between two countries may develop even better within the EU. Pastusiak, also is a vice-President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, discussed trans-Atlantic relations and stressed the need to work out an EU eastern policy. The situation of the Polish community in the Czech Republic, chiefly as regards education for children of the Polish origin, was also reviewed.

Warsaw, May 4: The policy of management of state assets, investments and new jobs are the main economic tasks of the Marek Belka cabinet, according to its spokesman Dariusz Jadowski who said a detailed program will be presented by the PM in his expose on May 14. As far as the management of state assets is concerned, the government wants all moves to be transparent and "privatization could not serve as a budget support". Privatization must be perceived as an impulse to modernize the economy. Consolidation of the current economic growth, moves designed to combat unemployment and normalize the situation in the health service, and foreign policy were other priorities of the Belka cabinet. Before the Belka cabinet has won a vote of confidence in the Sejm, no radical privatization moves are to be expected.

Warsaw, May 4: Deputy PM Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka, in charge of coordinating social policy, said possible early elections would diminish or even waste Poland's chances stemming from the currently accelerating economy and Poland's EU membership. She said that calls for early elections are irresponsible and guided by party interests. Jaruga-Nowacka confirmed recent rumours that she will try to "soften" Hausner's austerity program stressing that maintaining discipline in public finances does not have to be implemented at the cost of the worst off.

Warsaw, May 4: Poland has paid the first instalment of the EU contribution in the amount of 727 million zlotys out of 1 bn 344 million euros (6.32 billion zlotys) due in 2004, the finance ministry informed. It reported that Poland had received from the EU the first instalment of budget compensation (290 million zlotys out of 490 million euros) due in 2004.

Warsaw, May 4: The most interesting Austrian films from recent years will be shown in Poland during a Week of Austrian Cinema to be held in four major Polish cities: Warsaw, Cracow, Lodz and Wroclaw. The event is co-organised by the Austrian Forum of Culture in Warsaw and Gutek Film. The Week will provide an opportunity for Polish film lovers to see pictures made by contemporary, mostly young, independent Austrian directors and discuss about their work at panel debates with the participation of Polish and Austrian filmmakers. The programme of the Week held under the motto "In the Mirror of Provocation," includes films by Barbara Albert, Michael Haneke, Rebic, Nina Kusturica and Urlich Seidl.

London, May 5: Prospects for the stabilisation mission in Iraq and Polish-British economic cooperation are to be the main topics of talks held by President Aleksander Kwasniewski who, accompanied by his wife Jolanta arrived in London for a three-day state visit to Britain. Poland sees the need for the UN as well as for NATO forces to join in stablisation in Iraq, Kwasniewski said in London University. Developments in Iraq and Afghanistan show how essential cooperation of international community is when it comes to new events. This is also a proof that in matters decisive for international security the United States needs Europe, Kwasniewski said. He reaffirmed Poland's commitment to Iraq and said his troops would not be pulled out. We will accomplish the mission that we have taken on, he said. Polish soldiers will not be pulled out of Iraq, though they will not stay there for a single day longer than is necessary, he assured. The visit is paid at the invitation of HM Queen Elizabeth II. This is Kwasniewski's first state visit to Great Britain. 13 years ago, in 1991, a similar visit was paid by the then President Lech Walesa. After the ceremonial welcome by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, the President received calls from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition Lord Ancram and the Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Charles Kennedy before delivering a keynote address at University College London, attended by The Princess Royal. The President also unveiled the foundation stone for a new building for the School of Slavonic and Eastern European Studies. Earlier, he laid a wreath at the Polish War Memorial at RAF Northolt. The evening program included attendance at a reception for the Polish community at St. James's Palace. The Queen hosted a State Banquet for the President and Mrs. Kwasniewska at Buckingham Palace. Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski who accompanies the President, will meet with Secretary of State for Defence Geoffrey Hoon, to discuss security situation in the Gulf Region and development of stabilisation process in Iraq as well as increased involvement of NATO in that country. They will evaluate Polish-British military cooperation which includes joint exercises and schooling Polish officers in British academies and military units. An agreement between the Polish and British governments is to be signed during the visit.

London, May 6: Polish and British nations should get to know each other better and this is the main task for them in the EU, President Kwasniewski said while inaugurating a Polish-British economic forum in London. The forum, also co-inaugurated by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, is attended by businessmen who are accompanying the President during his official state visit. Great Britain is Poland's sixth biggest investor. Last year Poland for the first time reported a surplus in trade turnover with Great Britain. At present the turnover exceeds 5 billion 300 million USD. Earlier, Kwasniewski and Blair discussed prospects for the stabilisation mission in Iraq and economic issues including the opening of the British labour market to citizens of new EU member-states.

Strasbourg, May 5: In accordance with the EU treaty the European Commission takes care of the all-European interest. It represents and implements what is being defined by EU members as a common interest, Poland's EU Commissioner Danuta Huebner said. Of course, it's impossible to implement the all-European interest if one does not understand problems, abilities and national interests of particular countries, Huebner stressed. It is my task to bring the EU Commission all colours of Poland, she stressed. Earlier in the day the European Parliament approved the enlarged composition of the EC and ten commissioners from the EU newcomers. Huebner will be cooperating with EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy until October 31, 2004. All ten new commissioners would be working with their colleagues for half a year.

Warsaw, May 5: Secretary of state at the European Integration Committee Office (UKIE) was appointed secretary of the European Integration Committee (KIE). Pietras will also head the UKIE. Jaroslaw Pietras, doctor of economy, has been engaged in European integration affairs in the state administration since early 1990s. He replaced Danuta Huebner, Poland's new EC commissioner.

Warsaw, May 5: The Foreign Ministry has implemented all strategic goals of Poland's foreign policy, especially those linked with Poland's integration with the EU and securing the country's external security, reads in part a report on activities of the previous government presented by Leszek Miller to President Kwasniewski. The report stresses that such issues as the adjustment of Poland's foreign policy to demands and rules of the EU and the participation in activities excluding the possibility of the formation of the so-called Europe of two speeds need to be continued. The list of priorities of Poland's foreign policy includes the attaining, in tune with Poland's national interest, of a compromise on the EU Constitutional Treaty, active participation in debates on key issues linked with the development of the EU, including debates on the EU 2007-2013 budget. Other priorities include steps aimed at Ukraine's further integration with NATO and the EU, restoration of a climate of "special confidence" in relations with France and Germany and the development of economic relations with the U.S. The 200-page report includes information prepared by ministers on activities of their ministries since fall 2001 to the time of the resignation of Miller's government.

Warsaw, May 5: Reports by companies implementing offset projects in Poland show that USD 1 billion and 175 million, and 100.6 mn euros worth of offset obligations related with Polish military purchase programs were either implemented or started in 2003, Science Minister Micha Kleiber said. The reports show that 6 offset providers executed offset projects worth USD 1.14 billion out of the total of 6.03 (Lockheed Martin Co.), 77.5mn /482 mn euros(Patria Vehicles Oy), 9.65 mn/308 mn euros (OTO Melara), USD 40.82 mn/212.04 mn (USDEADS-Construcctiones Aeronaticas), 2.45 mn/26.99 mn euros (GEIE Eurotorp) and 11.08 mn/76.09 mn euros (Thales Nederland BV). "The offset projects are being implemented at a slower-than-expected-pace but the delay benefits quality of the projects benefits", Kleiber said. "There was a noticeable rise of offset projects in Q1 of 2004", said Deputy Economy Minister K. Krystowski, also the Offset Committee secretary.

Warsaw, May 5: Deputy President of the National Bank of Poland (NBP) Krzysztof Rybinski believes that inflation growth in 2004 resulting from Poland's integration with the EU may be smaller than the earlier assumed 0.9 percent. Rybinski said factors that may push inflation beyond 3.5 percent in 2005 are getting stronger. "That is why the Monetary Policy Council (RPP) has changed its policy bias to restrictive," he said. RPP inflation target is 2.5 percent plus/minus 1 and the RPP had substantiated the change of bias by growing inflationary pressure.

Warsaw, May 13: President of Mexico Vicente Fox arrives here on a one day visit on Friday to discuss Polish-Mexican cooperation and Latin American contacts with the EU. At the end of May Poland will take part in the third Latin America-EU conference in Guadalajara. Mexico attaches much importance to contacts with the European Union and Fox will be the first state leader visiting Poland as EU member. Polish-Mexican trade turnover have been growing but still fall short of both countries potential. Last year it totalled some 200 million USD. Soon this may change. Poland as the member of the EU will participate in decisions on trade with Latin America and will be familiar with EU-Latin American turnover sums. While in Warsaw Fox will meet with President Aleksander Kwasniewski. An agreement on cooperation in tourism will be signed. Fox will also meet with Polish businessmen.

Warsaw, May 13: Sejm Speaker Longin Pastusiak met with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Pasy to discuss both countries involvement in Iraq and consequences of EU enlargement. Pastusiak said the talk also focused on bilateral relations, trade contacts and the fighting of international terrorism. He assured his guest that Poland would support Bulgaria's effort to gain membership of the EU. "We've agreed that as regards troops withdrawal from Iraq we first have to define tasks that should be carried out," the speaker said and added that such tasks included the U.N. taking over stabilisation mission in Iraq, security for civilians and preserving territorial integrity of Iraq.

Warsaw, May 13: The Congress of the International Press Institute (IPI) will hold its three-day debates in Warsaw as of Saturday. Publishers, editors-in-chief, journalists and politicians are to discuss the role of the media in Central and Eastern Europe after the fall of communism, the situation in Central Europe and in countries of the former Soviet Union as well as Polish corruption scandals, future European boundaries, freedom of speech, good journalistic practices and media concentration. The congress is to be attended by President Aleksander Kwasniewski, PM Marek Belka, former Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek.

Warsaw, May 13: The economy will grow by over 6 percent in the first quarter of 2004 and may be over 5 pct in the whole 2004, Central bank vice-president Krzysztof Rybinski announced. Economists polled by PAP expect a 5.5 pct GDP rise in the whole 2004.

Warsaw, May 13: According to the National Bank of Poland (NBP), all the EU accession related price rises have been already visible, but on the other hand some prices which were to go down due to the EU membership have not been cut yet. All the price rises stemming from EU regulations have been already visible. But not all the expected price cuts have taken place yet. According to NBP experts, changes of prices of such goods as fuels, coal and fruit are not connected with the EU accession but with the influence of global factors or administration and seasonal decisions. Earlier the central bank said that following Poland's joining the EU a growth of inflation in 2004 will not exceed 0.9 percent.

Warsaw, May 13: The National Bank of Poland warned that a sharp growth of oil prices may contribute to the growing likelihood of inflation growth, which may send inflation going beyond beyond the upper end of the Monetary Policy Council-set target of 3.5 percent. "If oil prices continue to grow, CPI may grow much, and this may cause producer costs to rise", NBP VP Krzysztof Rybinski said. NBP Governor Leszek Balcerowicz assured that there will be no a sharp rise of inflation this year. "The maximum effect of the EU entry-related price growth is 0.9 percentage points. We do not see reasons why it should fully materialize", Balcerowicz said and added that the positive effects of Poland's entry of the EU will become visible in autumn when grain prices fall, which will translate into a fall of bread prices.

Warsaw, May 13: Krzysztof Glomb has been elected VP of the European Local Authorities' Telematic Network ELANET implementing R&D projects linked with the development of the information society. Glomb is the president of the Polish association Miasta w Internecie (Cities on the Internet). ELANET is an organization supporting local and regional administration in EU countries in the introduction of eGovernment. Glomb will be responsible for the introduction of an aid program for new EU members covering the development of the information society. The meeting in Ireland where he was elected also decided to hold a 2005 European conference om the development of the information society in Krakow.

Warsaw, May 17: President Aleksander Kwasniewski believes that mid-February 2005 is the date of parliamentary elections which should be taken into account. The President said "that he would be trying to convince politicians to think of next year while discussing the date of parliamentary elections". "Mid-February 2005 is the date which should be discussed. This is my position," he stressed. Kwasniewski added he would be trying to convince the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) to hold talks with the Social Democracy of Poland (SdPl). He also said he believed that in talks with SdPl the point was not the difference of opinions concerning the program but the date of elections. SdPl speaks about October or November while Marek Belka about March or April. These dates are not so different to make it impossible to reach agreement, the President added. His candidate for a PM Marek Belka lost a parliamentary vote of confidence on Friday. Now the parliament has two weeks to form and approve an alternative cabinet. If parliament fails to come up with a new government, the ball will be back with the President who said he would appoint Belka again.

Brussels, May 17: Foreign minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz would not stake his money on the EU governments' meeting the deadline of June 18 for agreement on the constitution. He declared he was more pessimistic than a few weeks ago because EU states so far had failed to react positively to the Polish proposals on the matter. Poland "has involved" itself in the search for a compromise but "we have seen no such effort at the other side of the dispute," the minister said. He is "deeply convinced" that the constitution should be adopted at the June 17-18 summit in Brussels, but warns that "if there is an attitude of 'things will work out somehow' then this is a mistaken approach." Cimoszewicz attended the EU council of foreign ministers and the meeting of an intergovernmental conference on the EU constitution.

Brussels, May 17: Monday killing of head of the Iraqi Governing Council Izzedin Salim surely does not help stabilisation process in Iraq but will not delay the implementation of a political time-table of transferring power to Iraqis and withdrawing Polish troops, according to Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski. He said in Brussels that the situation in Iraq was still tense and far from stable and that military prosecutors would examine the situation in the Polish-run detention centre. He added that so far there had been no signals that Polish soldiers ill-treated prisoners.

Warsaw, May 17: Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiar Zebari starts a three-day working visit to Poland on May 18 at the invitation of his Polish counterpart Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz. During the visit the guest will be received by President Aleksander Kwasniewski and PM Marek Belka. Both ministers will chair Polish-Iraqi plenary talks on prospects of the political process and the role of U.N. in the reconstruction of Iraq as well as Poland's participation in the stabilisation and reconstruction of that country.

Lodz, May 17: National Bank of Poland governor Leszek Balcerowicz warned that continuing political uncertainty could delay Poland's entry to the euro zone. "The best thing to do would be to meet the euro zone entry requirements fast. (...) It is difficult to say what will happen, because of political situation," Balcerowicz said. "What's most important is the problem of strategy, what date to choose from the point of view of development. In order to enter the euro zone it is necessary to reform public finances, and the sooner (it will happen) the better. If Poland enters later, it will be because there is not enough strength and mobilisation for reforms," the central banker said. The central bank believes that the euro should be introduced as fast as possible, that is in 2007. The Miller government insisted on 2009 as a possible date.

Warsaw, May 17: "The European integration must progress but not towards a superstate, because the latter direction would contradict European diversity," former PM Tadeusz Mazowiecki said at a conference on EU and Polish goals. He believes that if Christianity is mentioned in the preamble to the EU constitution, then also mentioned should be Judaism, ancient Greek philosophers, Islam and the Roman law. "The enlargement of the EU is a unification of Europe after years of division and the preamble should refer to Europe's recent past - the two totalitarian systems," Mazowiecki added.

Warsaw, May 17: Russia will be the guest of honour to the 49 th International Book Fair starting in Warsaw on May 20. Russia occupies the fifth place in the world and the third in Europe as regards the number of published books. The boom on the book market after a period of stagnation in Russia is reflected by the fact that almost 81 thousand titles in the total impression of over 720 million copies were published there in 2003, according to the Russian Chamber of Book. The number of titles published in Russia last year grew by over 15 percent and total impression by 22 percent. According to data provided by Biblio-Globus, one of the biggest bookstore in Moscow, Poland's Joanna Chmielewska is the most popular Polish author here. Next come Andrzej Sapkowski, Katarzyna Grochola and Stanislaw Lem.

Warsaw, May 17: International legal acts adopted to safeguard freedom of speech do not always guarantee the freedom of expression. Moreover, they are frequently not observed, according to participants in the world congress of the International Press Institute under way here. "Legislation often remains on paper only," complained Raymon Louw of the Southern African Report and a BBC correspondent. "As a result we read almost daily about an arrested newsman." He argued that countries with a more effective observance of the freedom of speech are also expanding markets that attract foreign investors. They also get the bulk of humanitarian assistance. The absence of clear rules on how to limit freedom of speech on the internet is a great and unsolved problem, panelists agreed. "Internet carries certain dangers, such as for instance those involved in terrorists activities," said OSCE's Miklos Haraszti. A statement by the widow of slain Ukrainian newsman Georgi Gongadze, caused a stir at the meeting when she asked "Has there been an example of international organizations saving the life of an opposition journalist? The organizations should create a coherent mechanism for counteracting abuses of the press."

Monte Cassino, May 18: Celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the battle of Monte Cassino, which was won by the 2nd Polish Corps and which opened the allies' way to Nazi-held Rome in 1944, were attended here by 500 veterans from all over the world including some participants in the famous battle. In his address delivered to veterans and officials at the Polish military cemetery in Monte Cassino, President Aleksander Kwasniewski said that "it is largely from that battle that the nation derived the strength to demand freedom and dignity in 1980, to peacefully dismantle the communist system at the round table conference (in 1989) and replace it with the law abiding state and democracy, to inspire other nations and contribute to bringing down walls in Europe." Today's secure and uniting Europe owes a lot to that battle, he added. Today, when anger and hostility have evaporated, we visit in reflexive mood also the German soldiers graves, he went on. "This site of bloody clashes has now become, to a growing extent, a site of forgiveness and reconciliation of former enemies." The President recalled that "the Polish victors from Monte Cassino were barred from entering Rome together with the allied forces and from taking part in the victory parade there. The Yalta order had already begun to take root," he commented. The President laid a wreath at the grave of general Wladyslaw Anders, the commander of the 2nd Polish Corps. Anders led the Polish troops to victory in the battle after three unsuccessful allied attempts to push back the Germans from their strongholds atop the mountain. The Polish attack started May 11 and 7 days later the Polish flag was hoisted where Germans had held their positions. 924 Polish soldiers were killed, 2,930 wounded and 345 went missing in the battle.

Vatican City, May 18: Pope John Paul II received President Aleksander Kwasniewski and his wife Jolanta at an audience in the Vatican. Present were also Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski and Poland's Ambassador to the Vatican Hanna Suchocka. The pontiff stressed the meeting was very special as it took place on the day of the 60th anniversary of the battle of Monte Cassino. The pope who turned 84 Tuesday, said he was aware of the problems Poland was going through but stressed he believed all the difficulties would be overcome. The celebrations of the Pope's 84th birthday in his home country envisaged an open-air concert in Warsaw's central Pilsudski Square, the same which heard the Pope's memorable, inspiring words 25 years ago, "may the Holy Spirit come upon this land and may it change its fate."

Krakow, May 18: Pope John Paul II's new book "Get Up, Let Us Go," has been brought out in Poland and presented to first readers on Tuesday, the day it was also presented in Rome. The event coincided with the Pope's 84th birthday. Krakow Metropolitan cardinal Franciszek Macharski present at the Archdiocese Museum said the book contains not only descriptions of many persons, events and experiences, but also reflects the Pontiff's love of his country and its people. "Get Up, Let Us Go" is the story of Karol Wojtyla's experiences as bishop in Poland of the communist era. The book appeared nearly eight years after the Pope's autobiographical book "Gift and Mystery," recalling his early priesthood. Apart from the Polish translation, pope's new book was simultaneously released in the Italian, Spanish, French and German versions. The No. 1 copy, bound in white leather, was handed over to the pontiff in the Vatican on May 10. Karol Wojtyla's poem "The Roman Triptych" published in 2003 sold in 530,000 copies in Poland.

Warsaw, May 18: PM Marek Belka commenting on the President's statement that "mid-February is a date for parliamentary elections which may be discussed" said this reflects attempts to find a compromise and a step towards guaranteeing that the government will act until spring 2005. Belka speaking for private radio said that "if parliament discusses but fails to pass a budget then such a scenario, a February or March scenario, is unavoidable." Asked if he would present a new expose, Belka replied he does not think that there would be such necessity but added he might make a political supplement to last week's policy statement.

Warsaw, May 18: PM Marek Belka believes that the time has come for Iraq to choose a new government that can gain a broad support of political forces. He is convinced that the government will be formed by June 30, that is by the earlier announced deadline. "Now the point is to choose a new government in Iraq. The existing Governing Council lacks, as it turned out legitimacy and other forces shall have to be incorporated to form a broader support," the PM said. He hinted at a possible change of the patron of the new government from the coalition to the U.N. According to Belka, this plan success would be a new factor stabilising the situation in Iraq and prompting its positive evolution. The PM recalled that a new resolution of the U.N. Security Council was being considered that would "strengthen and give more legitimacy to the presence of foreign troops."

Brussels, May 18: EU countries are getting closer to a compromise on the EU Constitution but there has been still much work ahead and thus another meeting of EU ministers is necessary, deputy Foreign Minister Jan Truszczynski said. Ireland, holding the EU rotating presidency, decided that such meeting would take place on May 24. Tuesday's discussion of the 25 EU foreign ministers focused mainly on the voting system. Differences of opinions of EU members were visible again but today's discussion was very beneficial and it showed that it was possible to reach a compromise on many issues still unsettled, Truszczynski said.

Krakow, May 18: The Polish banking sector is prepared for operation in conditions of the EU, but it will have to undergo consolidation, improve efficiency and cut costs, according to Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, vice-president of the Europan Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Consolidation expected to occur in the sector will reduce the number of commercial banks from 55 to some 20. Consolidation will also occur in the wider financial market of insurance and pension funds. "The breakthrough moment for the Polish financial market will be Poland's joining the euro zone," Gronkiewicz-Waltz opined. "There is a growing number of opinions holding that given the present high budget deficit it would not be in Poland's interest to join the zone quickly. Therefore I see the accession at the end of this decade rather than in two or three years," she said.

Warsaw, May 18: Former Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek became the "Man of the Year 2004" when he received a Gazeta Wyborcza award during the World Congress of the International Press Institute. Chief editor Adam Michnik recalled Geremek's contribution to struggle for respecting human rights and the liquidation of censorship. He added the annual award was for the first time given to a Pole. Earlier it had been granted to Czech President Vaclav Havel, Russia human rights activist Sergei Kovalev and EU commissioner for enlargement Guenter Verheugen. On Tuesday, participants in the congress discussed concentration and globalisation in mass media. For the most part they agreed that the state should ensure pluralism on mass media market and refrain from any interference in it. Foreign investors claimed that foreign capital was a guarantee of mass media independence.

Warsaw, May 18: Rzeczpospolita daily reports on a series of alleged kidnappings of foreign businessmen in Poland. Five foreign businessmen, three of Turkey and two of India, have been kidnapped in the past few months. Four of them were released after kidnappers' ransom demands were met. One of the citizens of India was freed just several days ago after his family paid a million-euro ransom. Warsaw police "officially received information on the kidnapping of two Turkish citizens and one citizen if India." The daily wrote that a Turkish businessman thought by police to be a leading drugs importer, is behind the kidnappings. Meanwhile, Polish consul Lech Faszcza said that the Polish embassy in Ankara has not received any signals on the kidnappings.

Warsaw, May 18: According to 51 percent of Poles the country general situation is bad, 32 said it was good and 17 pct had no opinion, a recent CBOS poll has found. Compared to the April poll the group of pessimists diminished by 23 pct points. Poland's economic situation was termed as bad by 56 pct of the polled. 9 pct said it was good and 31 pct termed it neither good nor bad. 67 pct were unsatisfied with the political situation, 21 pct said it was neither good nor bad good.

Warsaw, May 26: The Lisbon Strategy envisaging an economic growth in the EU by 2010 at 3 percent is the most ambitious EU project which should lead us to a success, President Aleksander Kwasniewski said during the 2nd congress of the Lisbon Strategy Polish Forum that started at Warsaw's Royal Castle. Present is German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. The President stressed that the idea of the Lisbon Strategy is to jointly support neglected regions. He stressed the chance Poland was facing in connection with the expected 6-percent GDP growth this year. The President declared the government would prepare a draft on a public-private partnership of enterprises which would make it possible to absorb EU funds.

Warsaw, May 25: President Kwasniewski met with Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Kamal Kharrazi. They discussed bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction over their development but stressed the need for their further intensification. On behalf of Iranian President Khatami, Kharrazi renewed the invitation for Kwasniewski to visit Iran. Discussed was also the situation in Iraq and international moves designed to stabilize it. Kharazzi presented the state of Iran's negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Kwasniewski welcomed Iran's signing of an additional protocol to the non- proliferation treaty.

Warsaw, May 25: Poland will participate for the first time as a EU state in the EU-Latin America Summit to begin Friday in Guadalajara, Mexico. President Aleksander Kwasniewski will lead a Polish delegation. The Summit will gather leaders and heads of governments of the enlarged Europe and of 30 Latin American countries. The EU is Latin America's second biggest economic partner with the value of goods purchased by the EU surpassing 50 billion euros and exports to Latin America exceeding 57 billion euros. Main topics of the meeting include a new social model in Latin America and consolidation of multilateral contacts between EU member-states and Latin America.

Warsaw, May 25: Iran has conveyed to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) necessary information on its nuclear programme which serves solely peaceful purposes, Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Kamal Kharrazi said after meeting his Polish counterpart Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz in Warsaw. The talks were devoted to consultations before the next session of IAEA's Board of Governors scheduled for mid-June. Kharrazi added that for the time being there is an atmosphere of understanding between Iran and IAEA. He said that information conveyed to the agency as well as international inspections have created a good climate for the normalization of relations between Iran and IAEA. Discussing the situation in Iraq, both ministers stressed the importance of passing by the U.N. Security Council of a new resolution on Iraq as well as the continuation of the political process there. Cimoszewicz stressed that this process should be treated as the most important element of stabilization of Iraq. "I am certain that the Iraqi people grew up to take over responsibilities," said Kharrazi commenting on the take over of power by the Iraqis planned for June 30. He also stressed the need for speedy elections

Warsaw, May 25: Foreign minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz said that chances for reaching a fast compromise concerning the EU Constitution were rather small. He said he was not sure whether this issue could be settled still under the Irish presidency. At the same time I am convinced that if we don't do it now, the issue may be shelved for a long time. Soon we will have to start a discussion on the so-called new financial prospect, that is the financial framework of the EU functioning after 2006, Cimoszewicz said and added this was a serious and urgent problem. Of course the chances are still there. And now I expect Ireland to present final proposals, the minister said. After meeting his counterparts from the EU in Brussels on Monday, Cimoszewicz admitted Poland was the only defender of the "philosophy of Nice" in the debate on the voting system in the EU council.

Warsaw, May 25: Senators gathered at the 6th Meeting of the European Senate Association in Warsaw suggested to create an interparliamentary forum that would focus on monitoring the areas subject to international cooperation, and on observance of the principle of subsidiarity and proportionality in the EU. The meeting was attended by representatives of 16 European states. The idea to create the new forum was put forward by president of French Senate Christian Poncelet who stressed that the European Constitution draft consolidates national parliaments, thus increasing the role of second chambers in shaping European policies. Higher chambers especially can strengthen control of observance of the principle of subsidiarity in the EU. According to Poncelet, the European Senate may also be responsible for development of democratisation in the Union. Belgian Senate President Armand De Decker supported the idea of creating a forum for national parliaments. It should replace the Conference of the Community and European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the EU (COSAC) and deal with problems of internal and external security of the Union, he stressed. Polish Senate Speaker Longin Pastusiak liked Poncelet's idea as the setting up of the EU Senate might prevent domination of bigger states over the smaller ones. Head of the German Bundesrat European Committee Hans Kaiser warned against creating another bureaucratic structure and encouraged to use the COSAC more effectively instead. Great Britain's House of Lords joined the Association at the present meeting. Later in the day President Aleksander Kwasniewski received heads of the foreign delegations to the conference.

Warsaw, May 25: Preventing threats from "weak and fallen" states and other groups and curbing the proliferation of "all arms" (not only WMD) were the three crucial issues in the UN reform, Polish deputy foreign minister Daniel Rotfeld said following Warsaw conference on the UN's future entitled New Threats - New Answers. These are the issues we consider crucial. First, we believe today's threats are different from what they were in the past as earlier they came from strong and aggressive countries and today increasingly weak or fallen ones. Hence, the measures used against them must be radically different from those used to date. Secondly, some of the threats we are facing come not from organized countries but various non-state groups, and also here the UN has found no feasible solutions. Thirdly, the proliferation of arms - not just mass destruction weaponry but all arms – calls for much firmer counteraction, Rotfeld said. He added that arms proliferation will be discussed at a meeting of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) at the turn of May and June in Cracow, to be attended via satellite link by U.S. and Polish presidents Bush and Kwasniewski. PSI was announced by Bush last year during his visit in Cracow.

Warsaw, May 25: The Sejm committee for special services decided that the decision to expel Yemeni imam Ahmed Ammar from Poland was justified. At a closed-door meeting the committee heard a report of the Internal Security Agency (ABW). The charges against the Yemeni, who was ordered to leave Poland a few days ago, were presented. The imam had been living in Poland for 13 years and was a PhD student at the Poznan university. Local province governor ordered Ammar to leave Poland on an ABW motion stating his further stay in Poland posed a risk to the national security. A representative of the Muslim community in Poznan said the imam had decided to leave Poland because he did not want to oppose binding laws but intended to hire lawyers in Yemen to fully clear his case in Poland. Sejm special services committee chairman Jozef Gruszka said Ammar had been involved in activities "possibly close to terrorism-connected activity".

London, May 25: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development believes Poland must increase its ability to attract foreign investments and create new jobs. Bank's special report says Poland has to speed up reforms that lost momentum lately and curb its tendency to maintain high budget deficits. Poland can realize its growth potential only when it improves its business environment to attract foreign direct investors, modernizes its infrastructure and starts creating predictable and stable tax environment. EBRD has invested 2.8 bn euros in 130 projects in Poland. Another 7 bn euros were invested in joint projects with Polish partners.

Warsaw, May 25: Representatives of some hundred Polish companies interested in investing in Iraq met with representatives of American companies that won investment contracts there. Polish and American businessmen discussed possibilities of cooperation in Iraq.

Vienna May 25: Polish writer and reporter Ryszard Kapuscinski received annual Austrian Bruno Kreisky Prize in Vienna, awarded for his lifetime achievements as the author of over 20 books translated into numerous languages. The prize is awarded by the Academy of Austrian Social Democrats and the Dr. Karl Renner Institute in Vienna. It is designed to promote political literature which reflects the values and goals that inspired Austrian politician Bruno Kreisky (1911-1990). Kapuscinski (b. 1932), former foreign correspondent, an author of best selling books which have gained him recognition worldwide, travelled to dozens of countries. His travels inspired books "The Emperor" on the rule and fall of Heile Selassie, "Shah of Shahs" based on the Revolution in Iran, "Imperium" about the collapse of the USSR, and "Ebony" on Africa. Kapuscinski is the most frequently translated Polish writer.

Warsaw, May 25: Poland abolished a visa requirement for citizens of Venezuela who wish to stay in Poland up to 90 days. The visa requirement continues to be in force in regard to those citizens of Venezuela who plan to work in Poland or plan a permanent stay in Poland.

Waraw, May 25: On June 15 Poland's Air Polonia cheap air carrier will open new Poznan-Brussels connection, offering flights on Tuesdays and Thursdays. >From last December Air Polonia' fly from Warsaw, Poznan and Katowice to London, from Warsaw to Wroclaw, Paris, Brussels and Frankfurt, from Katowice to Brussels, Koeln and Paris, from Gdansk to London, and from Wroclaw to Paris

Lowicz, May 31: PM Marek Belka said that successive rounds of a new government formation would cover his talks with parties that had made proposals similar to his philosophy of ruling and on changes to his government make-up. He said he was ready for compromises but declined to elaborate on the extent of changes to the government make-up. According to the PM, the date of the new government swearing-in ceremony will be given soon, in June. He added he was optimistic about a chance to find a majority ready to support his government. He counts on votes of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), the Union of Labour (UP) and a certain group of independent deputies.

Warsaw, Lowicz, May 31: Prime Minister Marek Belka hopes that a majority of the 1.5 million Polish farmers who filed for registration numbers for their farms will manage to submit applications for EU subsidies on time, that is by June 15. "We expect that a great majority of those who filed for registration numbers will manage to file applications before June 15," he told a meeting of farmers held in Lowicz. Agriculture minister Wojciech Olejniczak said at the same meeting that if EU subsidies for Polish farmers or structural funds were used in full "we will have a mandate to ask for more." "The EU Commision is ready to discuss the matter with us on condition we prove that we can use what we get," Olejniczak added. Farmers filed 417,000 applications for direct subsidies from the EU by Friday, May 28, according to figures from the Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture (ARMiR) released Monday. This means applications were filed by some 28 pc of eligible farms. Applications filed after June 15 will result in subsidies being reduced by 1 pc for each day of delay.

Vilnius, May 31: The Polish and Lithuanian troops will stay in Iraq until the Provisional National Assembly has been elected, Polish and Lithuanian Defence Ministers Jerzy Szmajdzinski and Linas Linkevicius said. Our presence in Iraq would depend on the way the provisional government would be acting, especially with regard to the Iraqi security system. It will also depend on a resolution of the Security Council legalizing the presence of international forces, Szmajdzinski said. He also stressed Poland was planning to significantly reduce the number of its troops in Iraq after the elections of the Provisional National Assembly, planned for the end of 2004 or the beginning of 2005. Under the existing political plans for Iraq, first free elections to the Iraqi Provisional National Assembly will be held in December 2004 or in January 2005 at the latest. The assembly is planned to appoint a provisional cabinet and to prepare a draft constitution. Under the Sejmas decision Lithuanian troops will remain in Iraq to the end of the year and we are not going to change this. Our job should be completed. It's necessary to peacefully hand over power in Iraq as any chaotic moves may hamper this, Linkevicius said. The two ministers said that the Polish troops and 54 Lithuanian soldiers serving in the Polish-controlled zone had never been involved in any violence against Iraqi detainees. The Polish and Lithuanian ministers also discussed NATO-EU relations, a NATO summit in Istanbul and prospects of bilateral cooperation. The Polish minister also met with acting Lithuanian President Arturas Paulauskas, Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas and Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis and paid a visit to the Lithuanian parliament.

Cracow, May 31: Members of Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) decided to include Russia into their group at a meeting in an underground hall of the famous Wieliczka salt mine near Cracow on Monday, deputy Foreign Minister Adam D. Rotfeld said. Rotfeld explained that the initiative proved to be the most effective means in preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as it centres on seizing illegal transports of mass destruction weapons and not on passing resolutions. Representatives of 63 states, including Libya, were scheduled to take part in the official part of the debates inaugurated by Foreign Minister Wlodzmierz Cimoszewicz. On Tuesday, June 1, participants will zero in on world's safety and will have the opportunity to get familiar with speeches of U.S. and Polish Presidents George W. Bush and Aleksander Kwasniewski. The idea of the initiative was originated by President Bush in Cracow last year.

Warsaw, May 31: A Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) decision whether to motion the Constitutional Tribunal to examine Zbigniew Ziobro's report on the Rywingate depends on the wording of an experts' opinion, SLD leader Krzysztof Janik said. On Friday night MPs adopted a minority report drafted by the special Sejm enquiry committee examining charges of bribe soliciting against film producer Lew Rywin with 190 votes for. Opposition claimed the motion was final as it had gained the support of the absolute majority (which was 188 votes for). However, since Friday Janik and former PM Leszek Miller have been commenting that for them the case has not been closed. Miller told Radio Three that the report is very likely to be examined by the Constitutional Tribunal as the Sejm committee has no authority to motion for bringing to accountability the president and the former PM of the country. The controversy aroused after the vote, when it turned out that the opposition and the Sejm Speaker Jozef Oleksy (SLD) had different interpretations on the way the final vote should be carried, that had been agreed by the group of senior MPs. Ziobro's report says Rywin was sent to Agora with a bribe proposal by former PM Leszek Miller, former deputy Culture Minister Aleksandra Jakubowska, former head of Miller's political cabinet Lech Nikolski, former TVP head Robert Kwiatkowski and secretary of the National Radio and Television Council Wlodzimierz Czarzasty. Ziobro believes that President Aleksander Kwasniewski, Miller and former Prosecutor General Grzegorz Kurczuk should face the Constitutional Tribunal for not notifying law enforcement bodies about Rywin's corruption proposal despite having been aware of it.

Torun, May 31: The Citizens Platform (PO) will not back the Samoobrona Farmer Party's motion to call President Aleksander Kwasniewski before the State Tribunal in connection with his possible involvement in the Lew Rywin bribery scandal, PO caucus leader Jan Rokita said Monday in Torun north Poland. On Sunday Samoobrona leader Andrzej Lepper announced his party would move for indicting Kwasniewski. The move was inspired by Friday's acceptance by the Sejm of a report on the work of a parliamentary commission investigating the Rywin affair stating that Kwasniewski, ex-PM Leszek Miller and ex-prosecutor general Grzegorz Kurczuk knew the facts behind it but failed to report them to the police and judiciary. Under Polish law this makes them answerable before the State Tribunal. One thing must be made quite clear: president Kwasniewski didn't author the Rywin affair. We shouldn't lose sight of the facts here. From this angle Lepper's whole action (...) is a provocation and one we won't take part in, Rokita told reporters. Rokita also reminded Samoobrona's recent backing of a different version of the Rywin report clearing the government of all ties with the affair. Before he sets off to indict the people behind the Rywin scandal I'd suggest Mr. Lepper explain to the public why only a fortnight ago his party backed a different report (...) stating no one had stood behind Rywin?, Rokita remarked, adding that Samoobrona's fast turnabout showed it was a "maverick group".

Warsaw. May 31: On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the D- Day landing of the allied troops in Normandy and liberation of France, the French authorities decided to honour ex-servicemen from the allied countries who took part in the operation and decorate some of them with the Legion of Honour, the highest French distinction.Knight Crosses of the Order of the Legion of Honour will be conferred upon ten Polish ex-servicemen who served under General Stanislaw Maczek in the 1st Armoured Division, the 1st Grenadier Division, the 2nd Rifle Division and the 1st French Army. One of the veterans, General Michal Gutowski will be decorated by President of France Jacques Chirac during international ceremonies in Normandy on June 6, to be attended by President Aleksander Kwasniewski. The remaining veterans will receive the distinctions from Partick Gautrat, the French Ambassador to Poland, during a reception to be given in his residence on June 3

Warsaw, May 31: President Aleksander Kwasniewski, Warsaw President Lech Kaczynski, Sejm Speaker Jozef Oleksy and one of leaders of the Citizens' Platform Jan Rokita are the most trusted Polish politicians, a recent CBOS poll has shown. President Aleksander Kwasniewski remained the most trusted politician with 71 percent of respondents placing confidence in him (up by 4 percentage points from April). Lech Kaczynski ranked second with 49 percent of respondents trusting him (up 4 percentage points). He has been followed by Oleksy and Rokita with 48 percent each (up 4 percentage points). Marek Borowski (Social Democracy of Poland - SDPL) and Law and Justice (PiS) leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski placed next with 47 percent of respondents trusting them. The list of the least trusted politicians opened with former PM Leszek Miller with 60 percent of those polled saying they do not trust him down 14 percentage points). Next came president of the National Bank of Poland (NBP) Leszek Balcerowicz (46 percent, down 2 percentage points), Deputy PM Jerzy Hausner (42 percent, down 11 percentage points) and Samoobrona leader (41 percent, down 3 percentage points).