Warsaw, Sept. 1: In the opinion of seventy three percent of Poles foreigners can be employed in Poland and 20 percent think the opposite, according to a recent CBOS poll. Nearly half of the respondents (49 percent) think it is better to work with Poles, 51 percent want their boss to be a Pole and in the opinion of 39 percent the nationality of their boss does not have any significance. According to CBOS, better-educated people attach less significance to the nationality of their colleagues and bosses. Speaking about benefits connected with foreigners working in Poland 31 percent of Poles think of new investments and new jobs. But according to over 30 percent a growing number of foreigners working in Poland can pose a threat to the position of Poles on the labour market as they are a cheap workforce

Szmajdzinski: Iraq command to Kadisija

Warsaw, Sept. 3: Plans to move Poland's Iraq command from Babylon to Kadisija will hopefully be approved by a today-ending Warsaw conference debating the makeup of the Polish-led Iraq stabilisation force, Polish defence minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski said on Friday. Representatives of countries attend the meeting in the Warsaw Citadel with troops in the Polish-commanded unit. I believe the conference will accept my idea to move the stabilisation command from Babylon, which is a special place for Iraqis. The new headquarters will possibly be in Kadisija, in which case we would leave Karbala province and would be responsible for Babil, Wasit and Kadisija, Szmajdzinski said today. He added that the size of the stabilisation force would probably remain unchanged until Iraq's elections scheduled at latest in January of next year. Szmajdzinski also praised Polish Iraq troops for their commitment to the mission. We are restoring stability, rebuilding infrastructure, and have to date completed 1,300 projects worth around 50 million USD, Szmajdzinski said.

Kalwas to be new justice minister

Warsaw, Sept. 3: Andrzej Kalwas will be appointed new justice minister by President Aleksander Kwasniewski on Monday, the Government Information centre reported on Friday afternoon. Todate justice minister Marek Sadowski, who may face charges in connection with a 1995 road accident, placed himself at the PM's disposal on August 13.

LPR's motion for Belka ouster in Sejm Warsaw, Sept. 3: As promised, the League of Polish Families (LPR) Friday lodged a Sejm motion for PM Marek Belka's resignation, LPR's Marek Kotlinowski told. The motion is tied in with an article in the Wprost weekly which wrote that Lux Med, a countrywide network of private clinics, had been receiving money from state enterprises. Wprost also wrote that Lux Med employed PM Marek Belka's wife and that the PM himself was on its supervisory board until April 29. LPR wants Belka to resign also because he was "an active participant of the witchhunt against former PKN Orlen CEO Andrzej Modrzejewski" in trying to persuade the Bank of New York to abstain from voting at an Orlen general assembly. It was Modrzejewski who told a Sejm commission dealing with Orlen that Belka, a finance minister in 2002, had held talks with the bank President condoles Putin

Warsaw, Sept. 5: Poland and the entire civilised world condemns this crime, Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski wrote in a Saturday condolence telegram to Russian president Vladimir Putin in connection with the terrorist assault in Northern Ossetia which has to date claimed close to 400 lives. I am deeply shocked by this act of barbarous terror (...) in Northern Ossetia, whose victims are children, parents, teachers and special service troops sent in to free the hostages. Please accept these expressions of our deepest sympathy and sorrow in both my name and on behalf of the entire Polish nation, Kwasniewski wrote. He also assured Putin that Poles sympathized with Russians over the situation. Also Senate Speaker Longin Pastusiak and interior minister Ryszard Kalisz sent condolences to their Russian counterparts.

Belka: Allawi asks Poland not to withdraw troops from Iraq

Warsaw, Sept. 5: Prime Minister Marek Belka told that he had received a "dramatically worded" letter from the Iraqi interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi asking Poland not to pull out from the country or reduce its troops. Belka said Allawi wrote that Poland's withdrawal from Iraq could have fatal effects for his country. The PM stressed that there were no doubts that the presence of Polish troops in Iraq was increasing security in that country. What is happening in Iraq, but also world-wide and in Northern Ossetia, warrants our presence in Iraq and our active struggle against terrorism, Belka stressed. The PM admitted it was difficult to say such things especially after Polish soldiers were killed in that country as "every life was extremely precious to us and we were in deep sorrow over every victim".

No cuts in multinational force before 2005 election

Warsaw, Sept. 5: All countries with soldiers in the Polish-led multinational division in Iraq have confirmed their readiness to continue the mission until the Iraqi elections planned in January 2005, first Deputy chief of the General Staff general Mieczyslaw Cieniuch said Friday. Cieniuch, the organizer of a two-day conference on the future composition of the multinational division, said that the declared troop figures were similar to the current stand. The participants also declared a readiness to "continue the mission on the level of 2004 after January 2005", Cieniuch said after a two-day meeting of troop contributors in Warsaw. At the conference, Armenia said it would start contributing troops to the multinational force, with a contingent of 50 soldiers. The Armenian contribution will include a transport unit with drivers and a maintenance team, sappers and three doctors, Cieniuch said. Cieniuch also said that there were three candidates for the commander of the division's fourth shift and confirmed that general Waldemar Skrzypczak was among them. He also said Poland plans to move the force's headquarters away from the archaeological site of Babylon and to hand over responsibility of the neighbouring Karbala province to U.S. forces before the end of January, and to take over responsibility for the province of Kadisija.

Maastricht, Sept. 5: German exile claims against Poland were the subject of Saturday's talks between Polish and German foreign ministers Wlodzimirz Cimoszewicz and Joschka Fischer at an EU foreign ministers' meeting in Maastricht, Holland. We must find a formula to prevent compensation claims becoming a problem in future, foreign ministry spokesman Boguslaw Majewski told. Majewski added in the near future such solution would be sought by Polish and German experts.

Kwasniewski: Caucasus issue needs political solutions

Cracow, Sept. 5: The Caucasus issue needs political solutions to halt the region's mounting violence, Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski said in Cracow, south Poland commenting recent terrorist attacks in Russia. Signals coming in from the world point to a need for political solutions, otherwise the violence spiral may rise out of control. At this time we should show our solidarity with Russia, the [terrorism - PAP] victims and their families and continue in our trust that the global anti-terrorist front finally brings effects, Kwasniewski said. Kwasniewski assured Poland would back all measures to resolve the conflict in Chechnya and reminded that Russia has asked the UN Security Council for a special sitting in connection with terrorist activity on its territory. I think talks with the UN and countries ready to help Russia are possible, Kwasniewski said, but added that such initiatives should wait until Moscow decides what to do with the situation. Let's wait and see what president Putin and the Russian side have to say about what happened, he admonished.

Lodz, Sept. 6: It's to our credit that Polish pupils held a moment of silence on Monday morning to honour the victims of the terrorist assault in the town of Beslan, Northern Ossetia, Prime Minister Marek Belka told. The appeal to pay homage to the victims who were children, parents, teachers and special service troops sent in to free the hostages was made on Sunday by Education Minister Miroslaw Sawicki. Candles lit at the Russian Embassy in Warsaw and at Russian consulates in other Polish cities prove that Poles can show their solidarity with the Russian nation.

New car sales down in August

Warsaw, Sept. 5: The sales of new passenger cars went down in Poland in August 2004 by nearly 8 percent from July 2004 and by 14.4 percent from August 2003, according to Samar agency monitoring the car market. According to Samar, the number of new passenger cars sold in August was 20,309 units, down from 22,067 units in July. But despite this fall the sales of new passenger cars went up in the January-August 2004 period by 4.9 percent to 235,114 vehicles from the corresponding period of 2003. According to Samar, the fall in sales of new cars was has been caused by a considerable growth of imports of used cars. Fiat was still Poland's best selling car company in the first eight months of 2004 with 40,564 cars sold. Runner up was Skoda with 29,576 cars sold and third was Toyota, with 26,726 cars sold.

Investors divided as to WIG 20

Warsaw, Sept. 5: Forty percent of those questioned in a weekly poll conducted by the Warsaw Stock Exchange expect the WIG 20 index to fall next week and also 40 percent expect it to grow, the WSE said. At the end of current weak the value of WIGOMETR, the indicator presenting investors' expectations regarding bourse sentiment, is 0 points, a rise by 6 pts from previous week. The survey on the market sentiment is carried out every week on the basis of the same set of questions. Participants in the survey indicate their expectations regarding the performance of the WIG20 index for the end of next week, choosing one of the following: rise, no change and fall.

Left: time to congress for crisis management

Warsaw, Sept. 3: The ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) should use the time remaining to its December congress to master its current crisis, SLD secretary Marek Dyduch said Friday at a sitting of the SLD National Council. SLD leader Krzysztof Janik appealed for reducing of internal strife. The Marek Belka government is not SLD's competition. Its successes can also be our successes, Janik said, stressing that the left's true foe was the right and not other leftwing groups. According to Dyduch SLD's relations with the government could be "difficult" as it was not formed by the party. He added, however, that he was convinced a "key" would be found allowing SLD to influence Belka's moves

Armenian president starts official part of Polish visit

Warsaw, Sept. 6: Bilateral relations and the situation in Iraq are the main subjects of talks between Presidents of Poland and Armenia Aleksander Kwasniewski and Robert Kocharian that started at the Presidential Palace. The Armenian president started on Monday an official part of his visit to Poland. On Sunday he paid a visit Gdansk. Later in the day the two presidents will chair plenary talks of the two delegations and will attend the signing of a bilateral agreement on cooperation in defence. In the afternoon the Armenian president will receive Prime Minister Marek Belka and will meet with Sejm and Senate deputy speakers. Kwasniewski values Armenia's declaration to sent troops to Iraq Warsaw, Sept. 6: President Aleksander Kwasniewski has said Poland is grateful to Armenia for its declaration on readiness to sent troops to Iraq under the Polish command. The president made the statement after a meeting with his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian, who started an official part of his visit to Poland. "We highly value this fact as we know these are difficult decisions but necessary in the era of common, united war against terrorism," the Polish president stressed at a Monday news conference. The two condemned the recent terrorist attack against a school in Beslan, Northern Ossetia and declared their solidarity with the families of the victims and entire Russia. According to Kwasniewski, Polish-Armenian relations are in a perfect condition. The Polish president explained that a treaty basis for closer cooperation, especially in economy had been prepared. On Monday the two presidents witnessed the signing of the treaty in cooperation in defence and fighting organised crime. The president of Armenia stressed that Poland's membership of the European Union "has given a new dimension to cooperation" between the two countries. Armenia wants to use Polish experience in economic transformation and law adjustment to EU standards. Robert Kocharian arrived in Poland on Sunday and was Aleksander Kwasniewski's guest at Hel Peninsula. The present visit is his third paid to Poland.

Belka: dialogue with Americans on Iraq underway

Lodz, Sept. 6: Prime Minister Marek Belka told reporters on Monday that Poland had been conducting dialogue with Americans on the situation in Iraq for many months now. Poland is also pointing to some elements of the U.S. policy towards Iraq that our country does not accept, Belka added. The PM was asked to make a comment concerning President Aleksander Kwasniewski's interview for "The New York Times". According to Belka, the Polish president's statements should not surprise anyone as "in our relations with our partners, especially Americans, we are sometimes critical and we are pointing to some elements of the U.S policy towards Iraq we do not accept". The PM stressed Poland wanted to speed up election process in Iraq. In our opinion the situation in Karbala or Najaf would be better if local elections were held earlier despite the unstable political situation and other difficulties, the PM said.

Warsaw, Sept. 6: We will remain the U.S. ally, we will stay in Iraq. We are proud that we are able to cooperate with Americans in a number of places, this way President Aleksander Kwasniewski commented his interview granted to New York Times daily in which he criticised the U.S. foreign policy. The president told reporters on Monday that he was only sharing reflections that are manifested by public opinion in Poland. He added that the interview was also the expression of an opinion that the U.S. would meet Poland's expectations halfway in a number of issues, especially those related to the visa policy. In the interview that was summarised by the Saturday issue of International Herald Tribune daily Aleksander Kwasniewski called on the United States to be "more flexible, open and gracious." He said he did not want "America to be guided by the ideas of neo- conservative supporters of isolationism, to fully govern the world and pursue the "divide and rule" policy. Kwasniewski told reporters: "We do not change our policy towards the United States. I can assure you that America is a strong enough country to take in my critical remarks. However, the president underlined, as a loyal U.S. ally Poland has the right to comment certain elements of the U.S. policy. "And, please, read this interview this way. I can honestly say there is nothing more to it," Kwasniewski added. He also said that as regards visas in not-so-long a future he expected Poland to be treated on equal footing with other U.S. serious allies, that means with more liberal visa system.

Armenian, Polish defence ministers meet

Warsaw, Sept. 6: Security in the Caucasus, Iraq and Afghanistan and military cooperation dominated Monday's talks in Warsaw between Armenian and Polish defence ministers Serge Sargsyan and Jerzy Szmajdzinski. Szmajdzinski described Poland's experience with NATO and UN peace missions in the Mideast and the Balkans, both politicians also discussed a defence cooperation agreement sealed today in the presence of both countries' presidents. Sargsyan also announced the inclusion of a 50-strong Armenian military unit in the Polish led stabilization force in Iraq.

President appoints Kalwas new justice minister

Warsaw, Sept. 6: President Aleksander Kwasniewski appointed Andrzej Kalwas, the todate head of Poland's legal advisers' association, a new justice minister. Earlier the president recalled Marek Sadowski from the post. Sadowski tendered his resignation last month after media wrote about the road accident, which he had allegedly caused nine years ago. Sadowski avoided investigation into the accident because he was employed at the time it happened as a judge, which gave him immunity.

Economic Forum to host Polish-Arab Day

Warsaw, Sept. 6: Polish-Arab cooperation will be the main topic of the second day of the 14th Economic Forum in Krynica, southern Poland, deputy Foreign Minister Boguslaw Zaleski said. Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz holds the patronage of the event. According to Zaleski, the list of guests includes the industry and trade minister of Saudi Arabia, Egyptian deputy foreign minister, Yemeni deputy industry and trade minister as well as minister for planning and international cooperation of the Kingdom of Jordan. Zaleski said the idea to include the Polish-Arab Day in the forum had originated from "hopes for doing business with the Arab world raised last year." The deputy minister stressed the point was not to sign concrete agreement during the forum but to promote Polish businessmen and attract Arab capital to Poland. Since 1960's Arab countries had have a considerable share in Poland's trade exchange. The 1970's and 1980's witness the development of relation with Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Lybia and Morrocco becoming Poland's most important partners. Then Poland invested in these countries' construction, power-generating sectors as well as chemical industry and railways. In the 1990's cooperation deteriorated which was related, according to Zaleski, to Poland's economic transformation and different political priorities such as membership of the NATO and EU. At present Poland's turnover with Arab countries are at a very low level. In 2004 Polish exports to Arab countries accounted for 0.8 percent and imports for 0.3 percent.

SLD: govt confidence vote with budget debate

Katowice, Sept. 6: A forthcoming confidence vote on the Marek Belka's government will be a good opportunity for debates on budget reforms between the ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) and the government, Sejm speaker and SLD executive Jozef Oleksy said. Oleksy added that such debates would not result in SLD's non- support of Belka. Our backing of the government is sincere and full, although not absolutely unconditional, Oleksy stressed. SLD leader Krzysztof Janik said his party and the government would also discuss budget matters during a meeting planned for September 23. He also rejected recent criticism by Poland's business circles of SLD's tax reform plans, especially to free Poland's low-income earners from taxes altogether and lift tax-free quotas for highest- bracket earners. We don't want to deprive businessmen of anything. This is just an appeal to the wealthier groups for some solidarity (...) in helping the poorest. And for those who don't understand this sort of morality this will be in their own good interest as social peace also has a price, Janik said.

PO on resolution on war reparations and Europe without claims

Sosnowiec, Sept. 6: The Citizens' Platform (PO) is preparing a resolution on Germany failing to transfer to Poland due war reparations for losses suffered as a result of WW2. PO leaders count on all political parties in the Sejm to accept the resolution. PO leader Donald Tusk on Monday appealed to Polish politicians for working out a joint international strategy that would tackle two elements, namely Polish-German relations and the threat of terrorism. Donald Tusk, who believes that war reparations should become a subject of a European debate and end with very honest balance of losses underlined that Europe without claims was Poland's strategic goal. He stressed that it was obvious that that balance was unjustly unfavourable for Poland as Poland was one of Europe's most affected countries because it fell pray to two aggressors: Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia.

Gilowska: Tusk a presidential "natural"

Sosnowiec, Sept. 6: Citizens Platform (PO) leader Donald Tusk is the party's most natural candidate for the presidency, PO deputy head Zyta Gilowska said on Monday in the south Polish industrial city Sosnowiec, south Poland. PO leaders have been campaigning for their party in south Poland's Silesia industrial basin since Saturday. PO currently has the biggest support of all Polish political groups. Asked on the subject Tusk said it was too early to speak about the presidential elections and that PO's candidate would be appointed at the party's congress in the first quarter of next year. PO leader Jan Rokita said today that PO was "facing preparations to take over power".

Ministry confirms plans to raise 1.5 bn USD from privatisation

Warsaw, Sept. 6: The state treasury ministry confirmed unofficial reports saying that it hoped to raise 5.7 bn zlotys (1.5 billion USD) from privatisation next year, a press official from the ministry told."The ministry plans gross revenues from privatisation of 5.7 bn PLN next year", she said.Government plans for this year call for revenues of 8.8 bn PLN.

More firms to invest in Lodz economic zone

Lodz, Sept. 6: Three more firms that received operating licences on Monday will invest over 280 million euros in the Lodz Special Economic Zone. The new investors are Aliberico Polska with Spanish, Austrian and Italian capital, Czech Kofola and Prettl Electronics Polska, operating within the Prettl Group. The three firms are to create 220 new jobs. Prime Minister Marek Belka who attended the ceremony said he was really glad there was a growing number of investors in the Lodz zone, as he believed it were one of the best. Aliberico Polska is planning to open a plant manufacturing and processing aluminium and steel used in the production of household and hi-fi equipment and computers. The Czech firm wants to open a mineral water and juice plant. The Prettl Electronics Polska is a producer of plastics, electrical equipment and batteries. The Lodz zone was set up in 1997. The number of firms that were granted operating licences in the years 1997-2003 reached 43. In 2004 the zone issued ten licences.

Poland to be honorary guest to Weeks of Lights in Essen

Warsaw, Sept. 6: Poland will be the honorary guest at the 55th "Essener Lichtwochen" festival of lights in Essen, Germany. From October till January Poland will promote Polish culture, economy, tourism and cuisine. "Essener Lichtwochen" has been organized in Essen around Christmas since 1949. Finland was the guest of honour last year. Mayor Wolfgang Reiniger has invited Poland. The Polihs programme will be the biggest presentation of Poland in Germany since EXPO 2000 in Hannover. We want to present Poland as a country, which brings new, interesting ideas to Europe. We want to present at Essener Lichtwochen the newest trends in Polish culture and arts, Dorota Keller, the coordinatior of the project told a press conference Monday. A Polish National Village featuring Polish handicraft will be the highlight of the Polish event. Young Polish art will be on show in the section "Far West, Near East", Gabriel Chmura will conduct the National Symphony Orchestra concerts, and jazz fans will have an opportunity to listen to concerts by Tomasz Stanko and Zbigniew Namyslowski quartets.

Caritas for humanitarian aid for children of Beslan

Warsaw, Sept. 6: Caritas Polska Catholic Church charity organisation in Poland donated 10,000 USD for aid for children injured in Beslan, Osetia, and appeals for further support for those who suffered in result of the terrorist attack in that town. The money will be destined for purchasing necessities, and above all medicines and first aid materials, Caritas Polska head Father Adam Deren wrote in an appeal. More money is needed for food, shoes and clothing, and school aids. Caritas also plans to help finance rehabilitation for crippled children of Beslan. Donations may be paid to Caritas Polska account: PKO BP S.A. I/O Centrum in Warsaw, 70 1020 1013 0000 0102 0002 6526 with a subnote "Osetia".

Sejm: Beslan resolution, no convicts on election lists

Warsaw, Sept. 7: A resolution on the recent hostage tragedy in Northern Ossetia and a proposal to bar persons convicted of common crimes from election lists will be discussed at the Sejm's sitting starting Wednesday. "The Polish Sejm hereby expresses its deepest sympathy with the victims of the terrorist attack in Beslan and their families, the resolution draft reads. Proposals to bar court-convicted persons from running in elections and similarly incriminated MPs and Senators from parliamentary work was lodged by the ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), the Social-democracy for Poland (SdPl) and Law and Justice (PiS). Later that day the Sejm will will review a government bill on public-private partnership backed by Poland's businessmen. The bill is among others aimed at simplifying EU aid procedures and boosting public investments. The Sejm will also discuss a resolution on German war reparations for Poland.

Polish government humanitarian aid for Beslan Warsaw,

Sept. 7: The Polish government wants to prepare a relief shipment for the victims of the tragedy in Beslan, Northern Osetia, to be ready these days, government spokesman Dariusz Jadowski informed media Tuesday. Humanitarian aid shipment at present consists of medicaments and sleeping bags, Jadowski said. The needs of the victims of the terrorist attack in Beslan are being checked through diplomatic channels and will be fully assessed still on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Hausner on Polish meat exports to Russia

Warsaw, Sept. 7: The Polish government demands that Polish meat exports to Russia should be conducted in accordance with todate procedures until Russia has completed veterinary inspections in Polish meat processing plants, deputy PM and Economy Minister Jerzy Hausner told a press conference after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Polish meat has been halted on the Polish-Russian border as Russia is rejecting products which have not been granted permits the Russian side and have only Polish veterinary certificates. We demand that Poland should be treated like other EU countries, Hausner said and added that Agriculture Minister Wojciech Olejniczak will go to Moscow in the coming days. By the end of August 19 Polish meat processing plants got permission from the Russian veterinary authorities to export meat to Russia starting as of September 1. The Russians inspected 54 Polish red meat (beef and pork) plants interested in exporting to Russia. Hausner added Russians started to demand permits from plants that have not been inspected yet.

Hausner: Unemployment may fall below 19 pct in August

Warsaw, Sept. 7: In August unemployment may fall below 19 percent and the number of jobless may drop to 3 million, deputy PM Jerzy Hausner told a news conference following a government meeting on Tuesday. "In August we may be very close to report a fall to 3 million jobless people which would mean that unemployment rate would be below 19 percent," Hausner said. According to him this is a sign of improvement in the labour market situation. However, the deputy PM underlined that in his opinion unemployment rate was still high.

Arbitration court verdict at the turn of 2004

Warsaw, Sept.7: The treasury minister Jacek Socha told a Sejm committee Tuesday that the verdict of the arbitration court probing the PZU dispute would be known at the turn of this year. The arbitration will take the next two weeks (..) The veridct could be known at the turn of this year and next. We have reasons to believe that the Polish side has certain arguments and that they are weightier and more important", he said. The minister also said that Nov. 5 marks the deadline after which Eureko will not be bound by a ban on selling the PZU shares it holds. "After Nov. 5 the shares will not be covered by the ban resulting from the privatisation agreement. Eureko has a choice on whether to continue being an investor in PZU", Socha said. PZU shares cannot be listed at the stock exchange without an agreement between the shareholders, he added.

PAIiIZ: Polish trade grows by 30 pct in first half of 2004

Warsaw, Sept. 7: The pace of trade growth in the first half of 2004 kept the level of more than 30 percent. In June exports outdid imports by close to 250 million USD, President of the Polish Information and Foreign Investments Agency (PAIiIZ) Andrzej Zdebski said Tuesday. He added that in the first half of 2004 the value of exports soared to 34.4 billion USD, up some 40 percent or 10 bn USD on the comparative period of 2003. Like in the previous years, in the first half of 2004 Poland exported goods mostly to the European Union countries with union markets' share in trade with Poland accounting for 83 percent. Russia and Ukraine followed EU markets. According to Zdebski imports have grown at a slower pace which improved the balance of trade. "In trade with Germany and Great Britain Poland's surplus can even be counted in few hundred million USD," Zdebski said. In his opinion Poland is the leader among central and eastern European states in attracting foreign investments. Since the start of the transformation process in 1989 foreign investments have totalled 72 billion USD or more than 30 percent of GDP in 2002. According to Zdebski at present 102 investment projects are being negotiated but he refused to elaborate quoting commercial secret. Foreign investments up to close 3 bn euros in first half of 2004 Warsaw, Sept. 7: Foreign direct investments in Poland grew to close to 3 billion euros in the first half of 2004, President of the Polish Information and Foreign Investments Agency (PAIiIZ) Andrzej Zdebski told a press conference Tuesday. "According to our estimates foreign direct investments in the first half of 2004 grew to nearly 3 billion zlotys and according to the central bank (NBP) their value totalled some 2 billion euros," Zdebski explained. Earlier PAIiIZ reported that in the first half of 2003 foreign direct investments in Poland totalled 2.53 billion USD. At the end of 2003 foreign direct investments totalled 6.42 billion USD.

Defence minister visits Cossack Steppe

Warsaw, Sept. 7: Polish defence minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski Tuesday visited Polish, Ukrainian and British UN peace troops taking part in the Cossack Steppe exercise in Salisbury, Britain. Szmajdzinski, accompanied by British defence secretary Geoffrey Hoon and Ukrainian defence minister Evegenyi Marchuk, watched the troops practice air and urban assault tactics as well as combat situations in Iraq-similar surroundings. Cossack Steppe takes place each year in Britain from August 30 to September 13.

Minister calms scientists over budget

Warsaw, Sept. 7: The government will probably set 2005's science funding at 2.76 bn zlotys (756.1 mn USD), slightly above last year's quota, science minister Michal Kleiber said Tuesday commenting the Polish science milieu's recent protests against planned cuts in next year's research funding. On Monday Poland's scientists were told next year's budget foresaw a 13-percent cut in science funding. Later today they are scheduled to discuss the subject with PM Marek Belka. I want to reassure our scientists that research financing next year will be close to this year's, Kleiber said today. He added that cuts in science funding were a result of the government's general austerity measures.

12th World Forum of Polish media abroad starts in Tarnow

Tarnow, Sept. 7: The 12th World Forum of Polish-language media abroad started in Tarnow, south-east Poland on Wednesday with the participation of over 150 journalists working outside Poland. Senate deputy Speaker Jolanta Danielak welcoming the participants stressed that without journalists working in Polish-language media abroad information about present-day Poland could not spread so widely all over the world. Those most merited in this field, Halina Subotowicz-Romanow, the Polish born activist in Russia, and Chicago-based newspaper "Dziennik Zwiazkowy" received "Fidelis Poloniae" 2004 awards. The Forum is devoted to challenges and chances connected with Poland's EU membership and the role of Polish media abroad in maintaining ties of Polish communities in foreign countries with Poland. The Malopolska Centre of Cooperation with Poles Baroad MCWP, which is the initiator of the project, estimates that about 500 media of various kind operate abroad, first of all newspapers (70 percent) radio stations or Polish programmes in national radio stations (20 percent) and tv stations or Polish programmes in national televisions accounting for 10 percent.

SLD braces for retrieving lost position

Warsaw, Sept. 7: Poland of left-wing dreams and Poland of left- wing strivings, such is the target of a Programmatic Convention of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), to be held with a task to draft a programme of the party for 2005- 2010, SLD leader Krzysztof Janik told. "We are starting work on a document that will address basic problems related to Poland's future and the future of Poland's left-wing," Janik said. SLD secretary general Marek Dyduch told PAP that the first meeting would evaluate the implementation of the party election programme. The Programmatic Convention is made up by academics, intellectuals and left-wing politicians.

President ready to testify before Orlen commission Warsaw, Sept. 7: President Aleksander Kwasniewski is ready to testify before the Sejm special commission examining the so-called Orlengate at an open meeting and in the presence of mass media, reads President Kwasniewski's statement presented by head of his Chancellery Jolanta Szymanek-Deresz. Szymanek-Deresz added that the president would like to testify before the commission still in September. In a statement read out by Szymanek-Deresz the president explained that the decision was made for the benefit of the Republic of Poland and in connection with lies and slanderous accusations against his person by some commission members. Earlier in the day the commission announced it would renew demands for the transfer of the Presidential Chancellery's visitor list to the Sejm. The commission will also ask for financial documentation connected with the Communication without Barriers foundation run by Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski's wife Jolanta.

Warsaw airport: counselling for Polish U.S. travellers

Warsaw, Sept. 7: On Wednesday Warsaw's Okecie Airport will open a counselling service for Polish U.S. travellers informing them about possible entry troubles before their departure. Travellers warned of such problems would then have the option to cancel their trip. The service, launched under an Immigration Counselling Programme sealed by the Polish and U.S. presidents last January, is a response to recent complaints that Poles arriving in the U.S. were frequently turned back by U.S. immigration authorities. The U.S. embassy in Warsaw informed PAP today that the programme was created to help cut down the number of U.S.-arriving Poles barred from entering the country. Ani pro Futuro's award for President Kwasniewski Warsaw, Sept. 7: President Aleksander Kwasniewski on Tuesday received the title of Advocate of Slovakia awarded to him by the Ani pro Futuro Foundation set up by Ambassador of Slovakia to Poland Magda Vasarjova. Vasajrova stressed Kwasniewski has been one of the authors of Slovakia's success in achieving EU and NATO memberships. "If I could have been helpful, if Poland could have been an advocate of Slovakia, than I am glad," replied Kwasniewski. The Ani pro Futuro foundation serves to promote Slovakia's culture in Poland.

Polish exhibition in Nancy

Warsaw, Sept. 8: An exhibition titled "The Three Musketeers... And The Fourth One" devoted to four outstanding Polish artists opens in the Museum of Fine Arts in Nancy on September 10 as part of the Nova Polska Polish Season in France. The exhibition will present paintings and photographs by Stanislaw Ignacy Witkiewicz, drawings by Bruno Schulz and documents connected with the life and writing of Witold Gombrowicz. They are often called "the three musketeers of polish avant-garde of the inter-war era". The fourth is Tadeusz Kantor, a painter and founder of his own, original theatre Cricot-2 well known in France. The exhibition has been mounted at the initiative of literary critic Jean-Pierre Salgas, an expert on Gombrowicz, in cooperation with the National Museum of Cracow. Exhibits come from many Polish museums and cultural centres and private collections. The display will be open till end of November

Sejm Speaker, ILO reps discuss corruption fighting

Warsaw, Sept 8: Sejm Speaker Jozef Oleksy received a delegation of the International Labour Organisation ILO headed by its President Francois Perigot to discuss corruption and ways of countering it as well as Economic Forum that is starting in Krynica, the Sejm Chancellery reported Wednesday. Welcoming guests the Sejm speaker said the visit attested to the growing role of the Polish business in Europe. He recalled that Poland had embarked on building a strong economic local government, which was all the more important that 80 percent of the Polish economy had been privatised. Jozef Oleksy acknowledged the paucity of employers' federations in Poland but said the process of their establishment would be faster once Poland had joined the EU. He also stressed that Poland had entered the path of fast economic development, which can be attested by growing exports and investments. Oleksy added that Poland's membership of the EU would surely contribute to this growth.

Draft 2005 budget implies smaller debt needs - Belka

Warsaw, Sept.8: The draft 2005 budget implies much lower borrowing needs and this will restrict room for interest rate increases, according to PM Marek Belka."This budget sends a lot of positive signals. (...) What is most important from the viewpoint of Poland's creditworthiness? The need for credits will decrease markedly, we will issue less bonds, and this should have a mitigating effect on interest rates", Belka told newsmen when visiting the KSAP higher school of administration. The cabinet is to adopt the draft 2005 budget at its Thursday meeting. "Decisions concerning the budget were made 99 pc last week. Now we are still polishing them, looking for means to subsidise those areas that need it. The budget will feature a 35 bn PLN deficit which is considerably lower than this year's", Belka noted. He added that implementation of this year's budget will turn out to be better than planned. The target for the deficit is 45.3 bn PLN. In reality the gap can be smaller by 1 or 2 bn PLN, finance ministry officials claim. This will be possible owing to lower cost of debt servicing and higher revenues resulting from quickly economic growth.

Activisation relief instead of minimum wage rise

Warsaw, Sept. 8: The government is mulling over replacing minimum wage rise with an activisation relief. In effect low income earners will receive higher net wages while higher income earners will pay a higher tax, deputy PM Jerzy Hausner said. The unionists grouped in the Tri-Partite Commission are demanding higher minimum wages. The commission is due to present its opinion on the assumptions to next year's budget. Hausner said that the activisation relief plan is under consultation now. He added it was a good solution for low-income earners and for employers. But high-income earners would have to pay a little higher tax. Hausner said that the whole operation would be neutral for the budget.

Cimoszewicz on Polish-French cooperation

Warsaw, Sept. 8: "An open dialogue concerning all issues is a condition of good cooperation between Poland and France in an enlarged European Union," Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz said Wednesday and added that Polish-French relations have often lacked mutual confidence. Cimoszewicz opened a conference "Poland and France in the EU: Are we able to cooperate for Europe's future?" in the Belvedere on Wednesday. "I cannot name any reasons for Poland and France not to cooperate within the EU. It would be much easier to present a list of significant reasons for which the two countries should cooperate with each other," Cimoszewicz said. "Despite close political and economic contacts our relations lacked sufficient confidence. But as long as we are aware of this and we want to change this situation we do not have to worry too much," the minister said. According to Cimoszewicz, bilateral readiness to discuss every issue is a necessary condition of mutual success. And the point is not only a political dialogue but also greater openness of the two nations, the minister said and added that in the coming years Poland and France would need an intensive dialogue of political elites and opinion-making bodies. A Polish-French intergovernmental seminar, planned for November, will provide an occasion to meet this goal, he said. The foreign minister also said that referenda on the EU Constitution draft would be held in the two countries nearly at the same time. It will be a symbolic moment which we should use to think more deeply about the shape of the EU and our priorities for the future, he added. Speaking about "an optimum method of conducting dialogue" Cimoszewicz pointed to the Weimar Triangle set up by Poland, Germany and France which in his opinion could be a source of European initiatives. The conference has been organized by the Foreign Ministry and the French Embassy in Warsaw.

Poland, U.S. seal Immigration Counseling Programme

Warsaw, Sept. 8: From mid-September Poles travelling to the U.S. from Warsaw's Okecie Airport will be able to pass all entry formalities before leaving Poland under an Immigration Counseling Programme sealed Wednesday in Warsaw by U.S. and Polish gpvernment officials. Poles risking non-admission into the U.S. will also be informed about the fact in Poland. The Programme is a response to recent complaints about entry refusals to U.S.-arriving Poles. Travellers informed about possible troubles in entering the U.S. will be able to resign their trip.

Olechowski on running for ambassador in U.S.: No comments

Warsaw, Sept 8: Former Poland's Foreign Minister Andrzej Olechowski did not want to comment on a Rzeczpospolita daily report on him being a serious candidate for the post of Polish ambassador to the United States. "I have nothing to say. The project has not been developed yet. I have no comments," he told PAP. According to the newspaper information, President Aleksander Kwasniewski, PM Marek Belka and Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz positively evaluated Olechowski's candidacy for the post. Leaders of the Citizens' Platform (PO), the party co-founded by Olechowski also did not want to elaborate. Deputy Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld told PAP he was indignant at Rzeczpospolita report. He stressed he understood the role of the press as information carrier but "there are certain rules of courtesy, diplomacy" (...) "These are delicate issues," he said. He explained that "as regards an important state - and here we are speaking about an important state and an important person, good manners would require to divulge the information in due time," Rotfeld said. He added that press leaks of this type undermine Poland's credibility. Olechowski was finance minister in the right-wing Jan Olszewski government and foreign minister in the government of Waldemar Pawlak. He also runs for presidency but lost to Aleksander Kwasniewski.

Headquarters of multinational force in Iraq to be moved

Warsaw, Sept. 8: The Polish Defence Ministry is planning to speed up moves designed to move the headquarters of the Polish-led multinational force in Iraq from the Camp Babylon. Under the plans the headquarters are to be moved before elections planned for late January 2005, the Defence Ministry reported on Wednesday. The headquarters will be probably moved to Ad Divaniyah in the Quadisiyah province, the ministry said.

Gov't plane with aid for Ossetia leaves on Thursday

Warsaw, Sept. 8: A plane with assistance for victims of tragic events in Beslan, Northern Ossetia will leave for the republic capital on Thursday, PM Marek Belka told reporters on Wednesday. The military plane will carry 3 tons of medicines and other equipment of everyday use such as sheets. The assistance will go to hospitals that are treating the wounded in the terrorist attack in Beslan and in the ensuing attack of Russian anti-terrorist troops. The same plane will take on board coordinator of the assistance from the PM's Chancellery Jerzy Ciszewski. Ciszewski told PAP the transport had been assembled in one day. Medicines and equipment come from the military hospitals' surplus reserve and the plane was made available by the Polish army general staff. According to the PM the assistance had been coordinated with the local authorities of Ossetia and a Polish priest of a local parish. Belka assured the government would try to come with more assistance if the need arises. Assistance for Ossetia has been also prepared by non-governmental organisations.

Russian Embassy thanks Poles for sympathy

Warsaw, Sept. 8: Charge d'affaires of the Russian Federation Embassy in Warsaw Vladimir Sedykh thanked Poles who in the days of mourning the victims of the terrorist act in North Osetia expressed sympathy with his country. Each day Warsaw inhabitants visited the Russian Embassy in Warsaw to pay homage to the massacred children of Beslan, whole families came with flowers, candles and symbolic gifts for child victims of tragedy, Vladimir Sedykh wrote. "Russian will never forget this," the Charge d'affaires vowed.

President's wife admits PKN Orlen supported her foundation

Warsaw, Sept. 8: PKN Orlen was one of the so-called golden sponsors of "Communication without Barriers" foundation, Jolanta Kwasniewska, the wife of Poland's president said Wednesday. She explained that the concern transferred to the foundation, set up and run by her, 350 thousand zlotys (97.2 thousand USD) for the construction of a hematology and oncology clinic for children in Gdansk. Kwasniewska added that at a meeting on November 26, 2002 the foundation council discussed a preliminary budget of the construction cost and decided to appeal to several dozen of companies to become in 2003 and 2004 its golden sponsors and transfer 400 thousand zlotys. She added that a letter with a similar appeal she sent to then PKN Orlen CEO on October 9, 2002. On November 6, 2002 PKN Orlen replied it would support the construction. "Orlen foundation has transferred to us 150 thousand zlotys in May of 2004 and 200 thousand zlotys in July 2004," Kwasniewska explained. The president's wife did not want to comment on interest shown by the Sejm special committee for PKN Orlen in her foundation. On Tuesday committee chair Jozef Gruszka decided to ask the foundation for files on financial transfers. According to Kwasniewska, a foundation's accountant describes ways of funds acquiring in a detailed way. She announced she would make available materials requested by MPs. Kwasniewska also explained that Andrzej Kratiuk, member of the PKN Orlen supervisory board between February and April, 2002 worked for her foundation as a volunteer. The president's wife declared the foundation would publish the list of sponsors to which it is obliged under the Polish law.

Gilowska: EU budget as big as possible

Warsaw, Sept. 8: The EU budget for 2007-2013 should be as big as possible to enable equal growth chances for all members and cope with global competition, Citizens Platform (PO) executive and parliamentary public finances committee vice-chairman Zyta Gilowska said Wednesday at a conference on Polish-French EU partnership organized by the French embassy in Warsaw and the Polish foreign ministry. Earlier today the government's European Committee debated Poland's position on the EU budget. Gilowska stressed that the budget had to be streamlined with EU goals and criticized proposals to cut EU contributions to 1 percent of its members' GDPs, recently lodged by Germany, France, Britain, Austria, Holland and Sweden. Can we really speak about pursuing great civilizational goals with an annual financial plan not exceeding 1 percent of the GDP?, Gilowska asked, pointing out that such sums were "a lot of money when it came to building roads (...) but not much for uniting Europe into one economic organism based on common civilizational roots and basically similar ethical foundations". The EU budget should be as big as possible to meet the task we have set ourselves: to do everything to equalize development chances in the EU countries. Only then will the EU be able to cope with global competition, Gilowska said. Office of the Committee for European Integration (UKIE) head Jaroslaw Pietras said today that Poland accepted the EC's proposal for EU contributions in 2007-2013 to amount to 1.14 of the EU members' annual budgets but was "open to debate" on the issue.

Polagra Food to attract 1,000 exhibitors

Warsaw, Sept. 8: Close to 1,000 exhibitors will take part in this year Polagra Food International Fair held in Poznan, western Poland on September 21-24, fair deputy CEO Przemyslaw Trawa told a news conference here on Wednesday. He said that this year has seen a considerable growth in interest in the fair with big companies returning to it after few-year break. "Interest in the fair has been shown by firms from EU countries as well as from Eastern Europe. In total products from 29 countries will be presented including those from China, India, Russia, Belarus and Argentina, Trawa stressed. He underlined that this year fair would feature 100 new original products. The visitors would have the opportunity to taste them and express their opinions. Sideline events envisage more than 20 conferences and addresses devoted to consumer issues, new shop designs and food safety

Poland, Lithuania may contribute to shaping EU's eastern policy

Nowy Sacz, Sept. 9: President Aleksander Kwasniewski said Poland and Lithuania have experiences and possibilities which should be taken advantage of during the process of shaping EU's eastern policy. Kwasniewski, addressing a Forum of Young Leaders, said that EU's eastern policy is just beginning to be shaped. He stressed that Poland as well as Lithuania have been a place of meeting of various traditions, cultures and mentalities since the beginning of their statehood. These experiences and knowledge may be a good base for building a rational and responsible EU eastern policy. President stressed that the goal is not only the creation of a EU eastern policy, but also further enlargement of the community by such countries as Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia and in further perspective Ukraine, Moldova and even Belarus. Visiting Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus referring to prospects of young people in view of world globalization stressed that these young people bear the responsibility not only for the present situation in their countries but also for their future shape. He added that Poland and Lithuania are a good example of how two states can cooperate and solve arising conflicts.

Economic Forum underway in Krynica

Warsaw, Sept. 9: Former PM Jerzy Buzek has officially opened the 14th Economic Forum in Krynica. Present were Lithuanian and Polish Presidents Valdas Adamkus and Aleksander Kwasniewski and former central bank governor Hanna Gronkiewicz- Waltz. This year's forum is held under the motto: "European challenges - security, solidarity, efficiency." Before the start of the forum, Zygmunt Berdychowski head of the Foundation of Eastern Studies Institute, the organizer of the event, stressed that Krynica has a chance to become a place of shaping EU's eastern policy, the more so that the forum is visited by guests from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Tajikistan, Kazahstan, Kirgizstan, Georgia and Armenia. The forum is attended by some 1,400 politicians, businessmen, scholars and experts from Europe, the U.S. and the Middle East. This year's debates will focus on macroeconomics, business, power industry, international policies, science and culture.

12th World Forum of Polish media abroad continues in Gdansk

Gdansk, Sept. 9: The 12th World Forum of Polish-language media abroad moved its debates to Gdansk where over 150 journalists working outside Poland were greeted by local authorities. This year's forum is devoted to challenges and chances connected with Poland's EU membership. The programme of the Gdansk part of the forum provides for a pro- European meting on Friday headlined "Media-Pomerania-Europe 2004- Poland in the EU" and a meeting with former president Lech Walesa. The forum will close its debates after a meeting with Senate Speaker Longin Pastusiak. According to the Malopolska Centre of Cooperation with Poles Abroad MCWP, which is the initiator of the forum, there are about 500 Polish-language media abroad, including newspapers (70 percent), radio stations or Polish programmes at national radio stations (20 percent) and tv stations or Polish programmes at national televisions (10 percent).

SdPl's Banach on implementation of party agreement with PM

Warsaw, Sept. 10: It seems that Prime Minister Belka has been implementing an agreement signed with the Social Democracy of Poland (SdPl) and this has been a condition of the party's support for his government. In June Belka asked SdPl to support his cabinet in the confidence vote and accepted SdPl's expectations vis a vis his government. Belka also promised to hold another confidence vote in his cabinet in the autumn after a budget plan for 2005 has been sent to the Sejm. Belka's staff policy has been accepted by the public opinion.

Cimoszewicz to attend EU council meeting in Brussels on Sept. 13

Warsaw, Sept. 10: Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz will take part in a meeting of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels on September 13, 2004, the foreign ministry reported Friday. The General Affairs session is expected to adopt a European Parliament resolution and discuss EU financial prospects for 2007- 2013. The External Relations session will focus on the latest developments in the Middle East, Iraq, Iran, Sudan as well as EU relations with the Republic of Korea as well as preparations for an ASEM summit.

Sejm for ratification of protocol to Child Rights Convention

Warsaw, Sept. 10: The Sejm on Friday unanimously voted for the ratification of the protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child introducing a ban on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. There were 415 votes for, no votes against and no abstentions. The Convention on the Rights of the Child was passed by the U.N. General Assembly on November 20, 1989. Poland, which was an initiator of the convention, ratified it on July 7, 1991.

Research unstreamlined with industry, ministry says

Warsaw, Sept. 9: Scientific research conducted in Poland does not answer to industry's needs and ties between research centres and producers are insufficient, concluded participants in a conference on regional innovation projects in the science ministry in Warsaw. The meeting, hosted by the ministry, the Polish Lisbon Strategy Forum and the Market Economy Research Institute, discussed regional strategies to combine the efforts of science and industry in introducing novatory technological solutions in Poland. According to the participants hi-tech projects launched by scientists and industrialists will be an important step in upgrading Poland's technological infrastructure and making Polish industry more competitive.

Gronicki: RPP will support next year's budget

Warsaw, Sept. 10: Finance Minister Miroslaw Gronicki told he had been assured by the central bank governor that the bank would help achieve the next year budget target of 3 percent annual average inflation. He added that the present reference rate is insufficient for achieving the target annual average inflation at the end of next year. The reference rate currently amounts to 6.5 percent. According to Gronicki the to-date RPP policy has been reasonable. The minister added that failure to achieve 3 percent inflation would affect the budget implementation

President thanks farmers during Harvest Festival

Spala, Sept. 12: Poland's EU entry was a good decision also for farmers, President Aleksander Kwasniewski said in Spala where he attended a Harvest Festival. The president thanked formers for this year's crops. "Today we form a European family of 450 million people. Today we are building a safe, democratic and wealthy community. Poland has already received twice as much EU funds, compared to what it contributed to the common budget. Various fears, bad forecasts did not materialise," the president stressed during the celebrations. He said that four months after Poland's joining the EU, over 1.4 million farmers applied for direct payments which means that over 95 pct of areable land will be covered with them. They will amount to over 8 billion zlotys. The president said that Polish food is conquering Europe and is able to meet strong competition.

President on Sept. 11 attacks' anniversary

Warsaw, Sept. 12: Three years after tragic events in the United States, a war with terrorism brought no expected effects. The Beslan crime showed once again how unpredictable terrorism is, and that its symptoms cannot be attributed to operations of only one organisation, or only one conflict, President Aleksander Kwasniewski wrote in a special statement on the anniversary of terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. The president wrote that 2004 confirmed that terrorism "became a tool of criminals and madmen, who are outside the margin of social acceptance in every nation, international community, and every religion." "It is with sadness, sorrow and shock preserved in memory that we commemorate thousands of victims who died in New York, Washington, Pennsylvania," the president wrote. The president recalled that 2004 "saw more terrorist attacks - in Madrid, Moscow, Djakarta, in the sky over Russia, in Israel and Iraq." "Every attack reduces support for terrorists and increases the determination of states and nations to fight terrorism." The president stressed that Poland honours its international commitments. "We share the responsibility for peace and safety in the Euroatlantic zone and other parts of the world. We support the operations of the anti-terrorist coalition. (...) Polish troops carry out their difficult and dangerous duty in Iraq where the Polish stabilisation mission brings effects in the form of higher stability and safety," the president wrote.

Iraqi president starts visit to Poland

Warsaw, Sept. 12: President of Iraq Ghazi Al-Yaver arrives in Poland on Monday for a two-day official visit during which he will meet President Aleksander Kwasniewski, Prime Minister Marek Belka and Sejm Speaker Jozef Oleksy. The guest is scheduled to address a joint meeting of the Sejm and Senate foreign affairs committees. President Al-Yaver, together with the Iraqi ministers of industry, commerce and transport, will also meet with representatives of Polish companies operating on the Iraqi market. Both sides are expected to discuss prospects of Iraq's political and economic reconstruction, especially general elections schedule for January 2005, the role of the U.N., EU and NATO in the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq and Poland's partictipation in these processes. Poland wants to continue to develop economic relations with Iraq recalled that in the past a number of Polish experts have worked in Iraq, while significant number of young Iraqi people have studied in Poland. Polish side will want to discuss Iraq's debt towards Poland, which, according to various estimates, reaches almost one billion USD.

Foreign ministry on Sejm compensation act

Warsaw, Sept. 10: This issue should be resolved in dialogue with our German partners (...) not only for Poland's and Germany's benefit but in the interest of uniting Europe, Poland's foreign ministry said in a statement on the Polish Sejm's resolution on Polish and German war compensation claims. The Polish government notes true social concern over claims forwarded by revanchist circles (...) in Germany, nonetheless it stands in favour of resolving the problem through dialogue and in cooperation with our German partners. This is not easy as we are dealing with varying legal standpoints, nevertheless the Polish government believes a solution to the claims issue lies not only in the common interest of Poland and Germany but the interest of uniting Europe, which is badly served by insecurity and conflict, the statement read. The statement's authors also mention German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's address on the matter during last August's celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, which according to them was "a step towards finding solutions (...) constituting a final and irrevocable end to the issue. Germany was and will remain a key partner for Polish foreign policy, the statement declares. Prime Minister Marek Belka said today that the claims issue should be resolved in such a way as not to harm Polish-German relations. I understand the Sejm's concern about (...) German compensation demands. We didn't start this spiral, the other side did, but I wish to stress that the governments of Poland and Germany are seeking solutions that will shelve this problem once and for all, Belka said in Krynica, south Poland.

Oleksy on Sejm resolution on war reparations and Iraq

Warsaw, Sept. 13: Sejm Speaker Jozef Oleksy believes that the Sejm resolution on war reparations passed by the Sejm will not hurt Polish-German relations. Oleksy said that the resolution was a warning for Germans and at the same time a beginning of a discussion on the subject that will be settled in a historical and moral way. The Polish government declared that it viewed the question of reparations as closed and added it was determined to not to burden Polish-German relations with this issue. Last Friday the Sejm passed almost unanimously the resolution on Poland's rights to German war reparations and called property claims by the German groups groundless. It also appealed on the German government to consider these claims groundless and illegal. Asked whether it was time to withdraw Polish troops from Iraq Oleksy said that the pressure was growing not because more Poles were killed but because prospects of Poland's presence in Iraq were growing unclear. According to the Sejm Speaker it is necessary to clear "our further strategy in Iraq". The discussion concerning Poland's presence in Iraq grew more intensive after three Polish soldiers were killed in Iraq on Sunday.

Belka names Radziwill deputy education minister

Warsaw, Sept. 12: Prime Minister Marek Belka has appointed Anna Radziwill deputy education minister, Mieczyslaw Grabianowski, the ministry spokesman announced on Sunday. Radziwill was previously deputy education minister in the Tadeusz Mazowiecki government.

Belka: time for questions on EU future

Nowy Sacz, Sept. 10: Poland has a firm position in the EU and may now turn to questions about the future of united Europe and Europe's position on the global map, Polish PM Marek Belka Friday told a Young Leaders Forum in Nowy Sacz, south Poland. Young Poles today should be asking themselves about Europe's social, economic and political shape. Of course I have no ready answers to such questions, Belka said. According to the PM the EU should concentrate on raising its economic leverage to cope with American and Asian competition and this could prove an opportunity for the new member states with their economic potential and success-hungry societies. Enlargement will give Europe energy. The community has gained about 80 million people, mainly younger societies, well educated, ambitious and hungry for success. It is no coincidence that European corporations today are eager to employ central and east Europeans, Belka reminded.

PM: Europe cannot build its identity on anti-American sentiments

Krynica, Sept. 12: Europe should not build its identity on anti- American sentiments, PM Marek Belka said Saturday during the 14th Economic Forum in Krynica. "An attempt to define European identity in anti-American categories is no good. Or even - from the point of view of present world challenges - it is silly, short-sighted, leading to Europe's marginalisation and making a fool of itself," the PM said during a panel discussion on "European challenges: safety, solidarity and efficiency." He said that EU member states should clearly specify their foreign policy, which should be compatible with U.S. policy, towards, for instance, the Middle East, which is particularly important in view of Turkey's plans to join the EU.

PM aware of Arab investors' interest in Poland

Krynica, Sept. 12: PM Marek Belka is aware of Arab investors' interest in various spheres of investment in Poland. The PM said so during Friday's meeting with Saudi Arabia's industry and trade minister. "At present we are working on a bilateral protocol. But equally important are discussions held by businessmen," he said, refusing to elaborate. From the early 1960s Arab countries played a significant role in Poland's foreign trade. The cooperation reached the highest level in the 1970s and 1980s. The most important Polish partners in the region at that time were Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Libya and Morocco. The the 1990s cooperation with Arab countries seriously deteriorated due to Poland's economic transformation, and new political priorities, the NATO and EU entry. At present the Polish trade with Arab countries is at a very low level. In 2004 Poland's exports to Arab countries constituted 0.8 pct, and imports 0.3 pct of the overall trade (1.1 pct and 0.3 pct respectively in 2000).

Hausner: No strong reasons for further interest rate hikes

Krynica, Sept. 12: Justification of further monetary policy tightening with inflationary threat is not quite convincing. Reasons for rate hikes are not obvious, Deputy PM Jerzy Hausner said. According to Hausner, there are no reasons to believe that inflation will be growing in the coming months. "There are no reasons to believe that the present inflation level will be raising. Justifications of further monetary policy tightening with an inflationary threat is not quite convincing," Hausner said. He added that August's inflation will not be higher than July's. July's inflation was 4.6 pct y/y."Inflation rise tendency was halted," Hausner said."One thing is certain. Inflationary pressure in the Polish economy is not growing, oil prices are not growing, there is no wage increase pressure, the EU effect expired," Hausner added. Therefore there are no strong reasons to continue a rate hike policy.

Demand for PKO BP shares will be sufficient, Socha

Krynica, Sept. 12: According to Treasury Minister Jacek Socha demand for shares in the privatised PKO BP bank will be sufficient, Socha told. "I believe that the offer is well prepared and interesting for the market. I also believe we will see sufficient number of possible buyers. Our analysis shows that demand will be good enough as to sell all the shares. I think it will be considerably higher but this will depend on the market situation, sentiments and approach," Jacek Socha said. The public offer of PKO BP shares comprises 300 million C series shares including between 258 million and 285 million shares of the basic offer and between 15 million and 42 million shares as part of an additional offer. C series shares sold via public offer account for 30 percent of PKO BP capital. The offer will be conducted by BGZ bank brokerage office.

Citizens Platform starts collecting signatures

Warsaw, Sept. 12: The Citizens Platform (PO) has started to collect signatures under a motion calling for a referendum on four changes to the constitution on Sunday. The party is calling for the liquidation of the Senate, cutting by half the number of deputies, setting up single mandate constituencies in general elections and the liquidation of parliamentary immunity. PO head Donald Tusk said that PO-proposed changes to the constitution would cause that Poland would have "less politicians, less regulation and less absurd expenditures" and this means "more benefits for people." The present Senate counts 100 senators while the Sejm is composed of 460 deputies.

LPR Congress: "Poland deserves more" electoral programme

Warsaw, Sept. 12: Corruption fighting, verification of past privatisation deals and protection of state treasury's interests are the main tenets of the electoral platform of the League of Polish Families (LPR). The party presented the "Poland Deserves More" programme during its extraordinary congress on Saturday. LPR leader Roman Giertych warned that each party member would have to adhere to the programme or else would be dismissed from the party

Kwasniewski: Poland will fulfil stabilisation mission in Iraq

Warsaw, Sept. 13: Poland will be persistent and will fulfil its stabilisation mission until the end, President Aleksander Kwasniewski said after Monday talks with visiting Iraq's interim President Ghazi al-Yawer. Kwasniewski recalled that the Polish contingent would be scaled down as of next year. The president told journalists that a 11 million USD worth contract for equipping the Iraqi armed forces was reached on Monday. He added that negotiations on another contract for modernising, jointly with Ukraine, of Iraqi T-72 tanks were progressing smoothly. Its value is estimated at 100 million USD. "We are nearing completion. We've done 90 percent of the job," the Iraqi president said and added that he would ask for help those who doubt in the sense of the stabilisation mission. Al-Yawer extended condolences in connection with the death of three Polish soldiers last Sunday. Kwasniewski believes that the stabilisation process is smoother than it could be expected as Iraq has managed to draft an interim constitution and plans to hold elections in January. "It is our objective to give Iraq back to the Iraqis," the Polish president recalled. Al-Yawer announced that companies from countries participating in the stabilisation mission would get a lion's share of contracts for reconstruction. "Poland may also count on these contracts," he said. So far Polish firms clinched deals worth some 70 million USD. The Iraqi president also assured journalists that questions related to the Iraqi debt to Poland (estimated at one billion USD) will be solved in line with both countries interest.

Iraqi President meets MPs

Warsaw, Sept. 14: We are heading towards democracy in an evolutionary way, although there are some circles that want to halt this process, President of Iraq Ghazi Al-Yavar told a joint meeting of the Sejm and Senate Foreign Affairs Committees. Al-Yavar said those members of Iraq's security services, recruited according to new principles, already counts 55 thousand people. The final level is 80 thousand. According to participants in the meeting the setting up of these forces as well as the staging of elections in January 2005 will allow to considerably limit the size of the Polish military contingent in Iraq. President Al-Yavar also met with Sejm Speaker Jozef Oleksy. Earlier, he received a group of Polish businessmen representing companies present in Iraq.

Kwasniewski receives RSA deputy President

Warsaw, Sept. 13: President Aleksander Kwasniewski on Monday received visiting deputy President of the Republic of South Africa Jacob Zuma. During the meeting, President Kwasniewski stressed that Poland is in a growing degree interested in the development of relations with Africa, including with the Republic of South Africa, the presidential press office wrote in a communique issued after the meeting. The president stressed the stabilization role of RSA's policy on the African continent and the need for the development of economic and political cooperation between Poland and the RSA. Deputy President Jacob Zuma referred to Poland's successes in its foreign policy, including the accession of the EU and shared Kwasniewski's view that mutual economic possibilities allow both sides for the deepening of cooperation in all possible fields.

PM, RSA deputy president discuss cooperation in politics

Warsaw, Sept. 13: Poland and the Republic of South Africa have undergone slightly similar, drastic but peaceful transformation processes. Similar experience make both countries an important link in partnership between Africa and Europe, it was stated at a meeting between His Excellency Jacob Zuma, the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa and Poland's PM Marek Belka in Warsaw on Monday. The meeting started the deputy President two-day official visit to Poland, the first at such a high level in the past 12 years. Addressing journalists Zuma thanked the Polish government for support Poland had granted to people fighting the atrocities of apartheid in RSA. He congratulated Poland on integration with the European Union saying that Poland's presence in the EU increased the value of the union. The two discussed also the latest developments on the African continent and in the Middle East. PM Marek Belka said economic co-operation between the two countries was developing smoothly but was still falling short of both country potentials. Jacob Zuma expressed the hope that his present visit would give a new dynamics to economic relations between Poland and RSA and would contribute to the influx of investments. On Tuesday the deputy President will lay flowers at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and at the foot of the Monument to Warsaw Rising. The agenda of his visit also provides for meetings with Speakers of the Sejm and Senate Jozef Oleksy and Longin Pastusiak as well as Warsaw President Lech Kaczynski

Kwasniewski: Farmers first to benefit from EU accession

Warsaw, Sept. 13: Inhabitants of rural areas are the first to benefit from accession to the European Union, President Aleksander Kwasniewski said during a meeting with representatives of European agricultural organisations Monday. He recalled that the national referendum in June last year showed that farmers had been the group most sceptical about accession. "Exports of Polish foodstuffs has increased and farmers will soon receive subsidies to farmed land from the EU aid funds" Kwasniewski said. "Polish agriculture has changed a lot in recent years and becomes ever better and advanced to meet the European standards, the president told farmers from several European countries, representatives of the COPA/COGECA, Europe's largest lobby organisation in agriculture who were guests to the Sunday Harvest Festival in Spala. COGECA president, Christer Elliasson of Sweden also stressed that Poland made an enormous progress in improving food products quality and safety. He added that his country renders help and advice to Poland as regards cooperative farming. The Union of Polish Farmers' Circles and Organisations (KZRKiOR) is the only Polish COPA member and its leader Wladyslaw Serafin is COPA vice-president.

PM: compensation debate Tuesday

Warsaw, Sept. 13: The government at its Tuesday sitting will debate a recent Sejm resolution on Polish war compensation claims against Germany and its influence on Polish-German relations. This was a very important resolution and could have considerable import on Polish-German relations. And precisely because the resolution is a major document and the whole situation is one that can not be ignored, a serious debate on the matter must be held by the government in place of of ad-hoc opinions, Belka said. In a Friday resolution the Polish Sejm appealed to the German government to "recognize the groundlessness and illegality of German compensation claims against Poland and cease instructing German citizens to launch legal proceedings against Poland". The document also called on the Polish government to "take determined measures aimed at Germany's recognition of its liabilities regarding damages suffered by German citizens in result of post- war resettlement and property loss foreseen under the Potsdam Treaty and subsequent resettlements". The resolution has evoked a broad response in Germany. German foreign ministry spokeswoman Sabine Stoehr said today that Germany's official stand on the compensation issue was convergent with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's statements on the matter on August 1 in Warsaw. Schroeder, in Warsaw for the 60th anniversary of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising against the Nazis, said at the time that there was "no place" for restitution claims in contemporary German policy.

PM meets archbishop Michalik

Warsaw, Sept. 13: The most significant social, economic, ethical and moral questions were discussed Monday during a meeting of Prime Minister Marek Belka and chairman of Poland's Episcopate archbishop Jozef Michalik, the Government Information Centre and the Episcopate Press Office reported. The PM informed the Episcopate chairman about the work of the government. Discussed were also preparations for a meeting of the Joint Commission of the Government and the Episcopate. Much attention was paid to the appointment of the Commission co- chairman for the government side. The sides also exchanged information and views of unemployment, problems of assistance to families with many children and school youth, and humanitarian aid to civilian population in regions of armed conflicts. This was the first meeting of PM Belka with the Episcopate chairman and had a working character.

Treasury to dispose of minority stakes in 2005

Warsaw, Sept. 13: The draft of the directions of the privatisation of State Treasury assets in 2005 shows that the ministry plans to dispose of minority stakes, that is below 50 pct of the share capital of a company. The Treasury stakes in KGHM and PKN Orlen will be excluded from the ministerial programme. The nominal value of minority stakes of shares and stocks held by the ministry was over 5.3 billion zlotys at mid-2004, of which stocks or shares free from encumbrances totalled 4.3 bn zlotys. Not all minority stakes could aid the state budget. The transferability of some Treasury-held stakes is restricted because under the law on commercialisation and privatisation, they have to be offered for company workers, farmers and planters or or they cannot be sold due to restitution claims. The other solution of the Treasury plan to dispose of minority stakes under consideration is a Sejm-prepared bill on free transfer of Treasury stocks and shares to local government entities.

Over 4.4 bn zloty privatisation revenue to go to budget in 2005

Warsaw, Sept. 13: Some 4.4 billion zlotys out of next year's privatisation revenue plan of 5.7 bn zlotys will aid the budget. Under the original scheme the Treasury Ministry plans 2005 IPOs of PGNiG, Ene and Lotos Group, the ministry said in a document on the directions of privatisation of Treasury assets in 2005. The ministry plans that a new share issue of PGNiG will be held in the first phase of the programme. In the 2nd phase, the Treasury would offer a minority stake in PGNiG within six months from their bourse debut. Under the ministerial programme for the electroengineering industry, five power plans from western Poland were consolidated into Energetyczna Enea SA Group. Consolidation of the W-5 group, comprising power distributors in southern and western Poland (EnergiaPro Koncern Energetyczny SA), and of the K-7 group of central and southern companies (Enion SA) has been completed in the energy distributing sector this year. More consolidation projects are underway, and they will result in the setting up of L-6 Group (energy producers from eastern Poland) and G-8 Group (companies from northern and central Poland). They will go private till 2006. Consolidation of Lotos SA Group will go on in 2005, and after the process is completed in mid-2005 the ministry has plans to privatise it on the bourse. The ministry assumes that the WSE may also take place next year although no specific date has been set. The ministry will also continue to privatise the pharmaceutical sector. The Treasury will hold at least 70 pct Polski Holding Farmaceutyczny SA. Sale of Przedsidbiorstwo Zaopatrzenia Farmaceutycznego Cefarm Krak"w SA is also planned for 2005. The ministry wants to privatise all distilleries in the year. According to Treasury-made estimates, direct privatisation revenue will be below 300 mn zlotys in 2005.

SdPl mulls over PO-proposed amendments to constitution

Lodz, Sept. 13: The Social Democracy of Poland (SdPl) is against plans to cut the number of MPs by half and opts for limiting the parliamentary immunity instead of lifting it. The party is ready to discuss the liquidation of the upper chamber of the Polish parliament, the Senate, SdPl senator Zdzislawa Janowska told a news conference in Lodz. Janowska's statement came as a reply to a Citizens' Platform (PO) initiative, presented Sunday to collect signatures under a motion for a referendum on changes to the constitution of Poland. The PO wants Poles to say whether they want to liquidate the Senate, cut the number of MPs by half introduce one-mandate constituencies in elections to the Sejm and lift the parliamentary immunity. She stressed that the introduction of one-mandate constituencies would lead to the development of corruption, as electoral campaigns would be more likely to become sponsored by private people. SdPl strongly objects the cutting the number of MPs as it would make difficult for the voters to reach to their parliamentarians.

Warsaw to seat resettlement research secretariat

Berlin, Sept. 13: Warsaw will seat the secretariat of a European network of institutions researching 20th-century forced resettlement and migration, German culture minister Christina Weiss said Monday in Berlin. The network is to be complete by year's end. Poland, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria sponsor the project. Weiss said Warsaw's good communication routes were instrumental in its choice

President Kwasniewski starts visit to Switzerland

Zurich, Bern, Sept. 15: "Poland and Switzerland have great possibilities for development. Cooperating closely we can do a lot for common prosperity, for Europe and the world," President Aleksander Kwasniewski said speaking at the Federal Council of Switzerland. According to Kwasniewski Poland's EU membership opens new, more favourable possibilities of Polish-Swiss cooperation. EU accession boosted both political and economic relations with Switzerland. During the first day the Polish president met his Swiss counterpart Joseph Deiss and members of the Council. President Deiss spoke with appreciation about Poland's transformation crowned with the EU accession. The objective of the Polish visit is to boost Swiss investments in Poland and Polish exports to Switzerland. Switzerland places 15th on the list of biggest foreign investors in Poland. This is President Kwasniewski's second visit to Switzerland, and the first after Poland joined the EU and Switzerland the UN.

PMs of Denmark and Poland on EU budget and Iraq

Copenhagen, Sept.15: The new EU budget for the years 2007 to 2013, situation in Iraq and bilateral cooperation were the leading subjects of talks held here by the prime ministers of Poland and Denmark. Denmark and Poland shared the view that the new EU budget should correspond with the goals put forward by the EU for implementation in those years. Denmark wanted to support activities, like for instance scientific research and education, leading to an improvement in the European competitive power while Poland believed that this should be coupled with the implementation of another very important goal, namely greater cohesion of the EU. Both prime ministers also reviewed the situation in Iraq where Poland and Denmark station troops. Rasmussen said that it was necessary to support the Iraqi government in building new institutions of the state and Denmark would extend the mission of its troops there into 2005. They agreed that a withdrawal of mutlinational troops from Iraq right now would be very dangerous for the country.

Cimoszewicz will talk with Armitage on easier travel to USA

Warsaw, Sept. 15: The new kind of passport clearance being introduced at the Warsaw international airport represents the first step towards greater liberalisation of the Poles' travel to the USA, foreign minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz told newsmen here Wednesday. He added he would hold further talks on other liberalisation moves with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage due to start his three-day Polish visit on Wednesday. The Immigration Advisory Programme for travellers to the USA starts at the Warsaw Okecie airport Wednesday. Passengers who may be turned back by U.S. border authorities will be warned about the risk still before they board the U.S.-bound plane in Warsaw. This will save them expenses and problems. Cimoszewicz said that the new mechanism will be evaluated after three months. However, the talks will focus primarily on such topics as international security, fight against terrorism, Iraq and the development of the situation in various important countries. He emphasized that this was the first step in "what we have defined as strategic partnership" between Poland and the USA that applied to "global political issues". Never in the past had such mechanism functioned between out two countries.

Hausner: Poland shocked by attack in Beslan

Moscow, 15 Sept. Deputy Prime Minister Jerzy Hausner on a visit to Moscow conveyed to the Russians a message of sympathy from the Polish government in connection with the terrorist attack on the school in Beslan in North Osetia. Hausner declared that Poland is ready to offer concrete assistance to the families of the victims and persons injured in Beslan. He added that Poland has already sent several tonnes of medicines, blankets and other necessities to Belsan.

Poland to get 12 bn euros for infrastructure in 2004-06, Schreyer

Olsztyn, Sept. 16: In the years 2004-2006 Poland can get 12 bn euros from the EU budget for infrastructure modernization, education and economic development, EU Commissioner for budget Michaele Schreyer said Wednesday. The EU Commissioner visited Olsztyn to get acquainted with transborder cooperation in the EU north-eastern region. The 200- kilometre-long land border between Poland and the Kaliningrad district is going along the border of the warminsko-mazurskie province. A financial project for the years 2004-2006 is being implemented now. The EU Commissioner stressed that Poland had already prepared a few general projects. They concern development and modernization of road infrastructure, environment protection as well as education and business.

CBOS: Poles still pessimistic about country's situation

Warsaw, Sept. 16: In September the assessment of the general country development got worse marks. The majority of Poles described the political situation as bad and half of the polled criticized the economic situation, indicates a recent CBOS poll. Sixty percent of Poles believed Poland was developing in a bad direction, 27 percent voiced the opposite opinion (down 4 percentage points from August). Poland's political situation was positively assessed by 4 percent of Poles (unchanged) and the number of people expressing negative opinion was 59 percent (down by one percentage point). Thirty four percent of the surveyed assessed the country's economic situation as average. 50 percent said expressed critical opinions and 10 percent expressed satisfaction. Twenty four percent said living standards in Poland would deteriorate within the coming 3 years, 16 percent hoped for an improvement of their material status, 52 percent expected no changes. Twelve percent of Poles (down 4 percentage points) expect the political situation to improve, and 17 percent (up by 5 percentage points) believe it will worsen in the coming year. Some 50 percent think it will not change.

Sejm, Bundestag to debate compensation

Cracow, Sept. 16: Sejm Speaker Jozef Oleksy Thursday announced that the Polish Sejm was ready to discuss the war compensation issue with delegates of the German Bundestag. Oleksy also called the Sejm's recent resolution on the matter "necessary from a moral- historical point of view". The idea for a war compensation debate with the Polish Sejm came Wednesday from German FDP deputy Otto Solms. According to Solms such a discussion would "calm down emotions" around the compensation subject aroused by last Friday's adoption by the Sejm of a resolution demanding war damages from Germany. This will be a general dialogue between representatives of two societies, a dialogue on issues which give rise to concern and irritation, and to determine which of them are the effect of plain clumsiness and which a result of heretofore undiscovered historical circumstances, Oleksy said.

Poland wants UN, NATO role in Iraq – Oleksy

Cracow, Sept.16: Poland wants the United Nations and NATO to have a role in stabilising the situation in Iraq and will be drafting a scenario of withdrawing its forces, Sejm speaker Jozef Oleksy said here Thursday. "Our position is determined by three factors: firm expectation of the UN presence in Iraq, of NATO's participation in training and infrastructure development in Iraq and, thirdly, drafting of a timetable for reduction and withdrawal of our troops," he told a press conference held after a congress of historians. He said that recent calls for withdrawing the troops home were "not mitigated by the requirements of the reason of state and foreign policy." The talks held with the president of Iraq in Warsaw recently showed that for the Iraqis "the issue is clear: Poland is helping their country in transforming from a dictatorship to a democracy."

Decisions on Iraq had legal basis - foreign ministry

Warsaw, Sept.16: Decisions made by the international coalition in Iraq had legal basis, the Polish foreign ministry said reacting to U.N. secretary general Kofi Annan's interview for the BBC Thursday. Annan said the invasion of Iraq was illegal because it violated the U.N. Charter. The Polish foreign ministry recalled in its statement that the Polish government "referred to the U.N. Security Council resolution No 1441 of 8 November, 2002" when submitting the motion to send Polish troops to Iraq. The resolution gave Iraq the last chance of meeting disarmament obligations. In addition, the U.N. Security Council reminded that all its previous resolutions on Iraq "constitute a binding standard" which Iraq had to conform to. "Iraq was obligated to immediately, unconditionally and actively start cooperating with U.N. inspectors and the Security Council warned in the resolution that unless it met the U.N. imposed obligations it would face 'serious consequences'," the foreign ministry statement went on. It also pointed out that two other U.N. Security Council resolutions, no 678 of 1990 and no 687 of 1991, also provided legal basis for using force against Iraq.

Szmajdzinski to attend informal meeting of EU defence ministers

Warsaw, Sept. 16: Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski will attend an informal meeting of EU defence ministers in Noordwijk in Holland. The programme of the meeting provides for signing a letter of intent on establishing the European Gendarmerie Forces (EGF). The project has been supported by France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Holland. The Polish defence minister will also attend the ceremony of signing documents of the West European Group for Armaments (WEAG) and a meeting of the Governing Council of the European Defence Council. Planned is also the first session on the ALTHE operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Moldovan foreign minister to visit Poland

Warsaw, Sept. 16: Foreign Minister of the Republic of Moldova Andrei Stratan will pay an official visit to Poland on September 18-20 at the invitation of the Polish foreign minister, the Foreign Ministry reported on Thursday. This will be the first visit to Poland by Moldova's foreign minister after the two countries established diplomatic relations in August 1992. The talks will focus on bilateral relations, current international questions, including the European and transatlantic defence policy, the EU policy towards Moldova and prospects concerning the republic's EU membership. During his stay in Poland the Moldovan foreign minister will meet with President Aleksander Kwasniewski and Senate Speaker Longin Pastusiak. The Polish and Moldovan foreign ministers will chair plenary talks of the two delegations. On Monday the two foreign ministers will hold a joint press conference.

Situation on labour market is bad, 91 pc of Poles say

Warsaw, Sept. 16: Ninety one percent of Poles believe that the situation on the labour market is bad, including 50 percent who describe it as very bad, according to a recent CBOS poll. Only 6 percent think it is good. Twenty seven percent of the respondents say there are no jobs in the place they live (3 percentage points down), while 49 percent declare that it is difficult to find any job at all. Fifty three percent of the respondents think that the situation on the labour market will not change this year and 20 percent believe it will deteriorate (up by 3 percentage points), 16 percent hope it will change for the better. Fifty one percent of the polled said they were not afraid of losing their job (down by 4 percentage points) whereas 43 percent voiced the opposite (up by 3 percentage points). CBOS ran the poll on September 3-6, 2004 on a representative sample of 969 adult Poles.

Rotfeld and Armitage hold consultations

Warsaw, Sept. 17: Transatlantic relations, the situation in the Middle East and the Polish-U.S. economic cooperation as well as the question of U.S. visas for Poles were discussed Friday by deputy Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage. I promised President Aleksander Kwasniewski today that I would do everything I could to make it easier step by step for Poles to obtain U.S. visas. We want Poles to visit the U.S., Armitage told reporters. Referring to a statement by U.N. secretary general Kofi Annan in an interview for the BBC Thursday that the invasion of Iraq was illegal because it violated the U.N. Charter, Armitage said he did not agree with this opinion. I believe that our actions in Iraq had legal grounds and the stabilization mission had been based on the U.N. Security Council resolution, he stressed.

Kuwaiti-Polish parliamentary group visits Senate

Warsaw, Sept. 17: The Kuwaiti-Polish parliamentary group led by Marzuk Faleh Al-Hubajni Al-Azemi paid a visit to the Senate on Friday and met with Senate Speaker Longin Pastusiak, the Senate Chancellery reported. Pastusiak stressed that Polish-Kuwaiti relations, especially political ones, were very good. He expressed the hope that the visit would help intensify economic and parliamentary contacts. The head of the Kuwaiti delegation thanked Poles for the support granted to Kuwait during the war against Iraq and for the current presence of Polish troops in Iraq. He added that the Polish- Kuwaiti relations were going in the right direction and that the opening of a Kuwaiti embassy in Poland would surely have a good influence on their development. Al-Azemi stressed that Poland must launch a promotion campaign in Kuwait and that Polish businessmen must present their offers to Kuwaiti partners.

Szmajdzinski attends informal EU defence ministers meeting

Warsaw, Sept. 17: Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski has taken in a two-day informal meeting of European Union defence ministers in Noordwijk on September 16-17, the Defence Ministry press office announced on Friday. During the event the Polish defence ministers has signed the Document 1 of the European Research Grouping (ERG-1) - a vital element of the European Understandings for Research Organization, Programmes and Activities (EUROPA) signed by Poland on May 16, 2002. The agreement concerns cooperation in the implementation of joint, international scientific research and projects covering development of technology for the needs of the defence sector.

PiS: govt should withdraw from stand on reparations

Warsaw, Sept. 17: The Law and Justice Party (PiS) Friday demanded the government's withdrawal from its to-date stand on Poland's war reparaton claims from Germany. In case of the government's refusal PiS wants the PM to move for speeding up an autumn confidence vote on the government. The resolution stated clearly that Poland's claims to war compensation from Germany were as yet unsatisfied and we expected this position to be supported in Poland's official dealings with Germany. The government, however, has come out with the exact opposite.

Bumar signs 40 mn USD arms delivery deal to Iraq

Warsaw, Sept. 17: The Bumar foreign trade enterprise signed a 40 mn USD contract to deliver arms and ammunition to Iraq. Two weeks ago Bumar signed the first part of this contract worth 11 million USD. Part of the arms will be produced in Mesko and in the arms factory in Radom. Bumar's CEO Roman Baczynski said earlier that arms deliveries as part of the contract will begin this year.

Plaque commemorating Henryk Slawik unveiled in Katowice

Katowice, Sept. 17: A plaque commemorating Henryk Slawik, who during World War II helped saving around 5.000 Jews and helped thousands of Polish refugees, was unveiled at a cemetery in Katowice on Friday. Today we are paying homage to the Pole whose life was a proof of friendly Polish-Jewish relations during the Holocaust, which was the most painful and difficult exam for the two nations. Let this place and memory of Henry Slawik be for us and for future generations a memento that tolerance, loyalty and devotion are the most significant values, Prime Minister Marek Belka said during the ceremony. In 1939 Slawik managed to leave Poland and reach Hungary where he became a head of the Committee for Polish refugees. Thanks to his courage and engagement it was possible to save thousands of Jews who received false documents and baptism certificates. He was arrested by the Nazis and executed in the Mauthausen concentration camp in August 1944. In 1990 he was posthumously granted the title of the Righteous among the Nations.

PO has collected 100,000 signatures under referendum motion

Warsaw, Sept. 17: The Citizens Platform (PO) has already collected around 100,000 signatures under a motion calling for a referendum on introducing four amendments to the Constitution, PO's head Donald Tusk said Friday. The party is calling for liquidating the Senate, cutting by half the number of deputies, setting up single mandate constituencies in general elections and liquidating parliamentary immunity. The Senate has 100 senators while the Sejm is composed of 460 deputies.

Belka government loosing support, poll shows

Warsaw, Sept. 17: Twenty-two percent of Poles in a CBOS poll expressed support for the Marek Belka government, a 8-percent fall from August's 30 percent. The number of Belka's opponents fell from 27 to 23 per cent. PM's personal ratings went down with 31 percent of pollees declaring they were pleased with his work (down 4 pp points) 37 percent said they were dissatisfied with the prime minister. The government's economic policy has been criticized by 48 per cent of those polled (up 6 pp). CBOS ran the poll on September 3-6 on a random group of 969 adult Poles.

President meets with Jordan's Zaid Al-Rifai

Warsaw, Sept. 20: President Aleksander Kwasniewski received the visiting delegation of the Senate of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan headed by Senate Speaker Zaid Al-Rifai in the Presidential Palace, the Presidential Chancellery reported. Political contacts developing dynamically between Poland and Jordan were discussed during the meeting. Stressed was the significance of Poland's and Jordan's peaceful foreign policies on the European continent and in the Middle East region. The sides also discussed current situation in Iraq. Zaid Al-Rifai expressed recognition for the Polish troops' participation in the stabilisation mission in Iraq and the long-time presence of Poland in the UN peacekeeping force in the Middle East.

Polish, Jordanian Senate heads discuss economic cooperation

Warsaw, Sept. 20: Economic cooperation, the Middle East crisis and the role of senates of Poland and Jordan in development of democracy were discussed by Senate Speaker Longin Pastusiak with Zaid Al-Rifaim, Speaker of the Senate of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Pastusiak told newsmen that he also discussed the idea of opening a Jordanian embassy in Warsaw and the necessity to sign a consular agreement between Poland and Jordan. A consular agreement on bilateral relations is needed because of developing tourism and many people travelling from Poland to Jordan, and the fact that 200 Poles reside in Jordan. Al-Rifaim described Poland as a "friendly and dear" country and stressed that his visit is another country step towards closer cooperation between the two countries. He informed reporters that he invited Pastusiak to visit Jordan "at the nearest possible date." Al-Rifaim added that he discussed with Pastusiak the role of the senate as a foundation of democracy, a bridge between countries and nations and a body guarding peace in the region and the world. He also suggested to create a Polish-Jordanian group in both senates.

Cimoszewicz: Poland supports Moldova's EU aspirations

Warsaw, Sept. 20: Moldova made a strategic choice to join the EU in future, and Poland fullly supports these aspirations, Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz assured after talks with his Moldovan counterpart Andrei Stratan. Cimoszewicz declared Poland's assistance in training cadres for Moldova and in adjusting regulations of that country to the EU standards. With this aim in view the foreign ministries of the two countries signed a plan of cooperation next year. Stratan announced that Moldova will present its plan of actions in Brussels in October, aimed to tighten Moldova's cooperation with the EU within three years. The ministers also discussed the problem of the Trans-Dnestr separatist region. Stratan said Moldova will strive to make the problem an international issue and apart from have the EU, the USA and Romania to join along with Russia and Ukraine the efforts to solve the problem. According to Cimoszewicz, situation in the Trans-Dnestr region threatens security in Europe. The Moldovan delegation also called on the Senate. Minister Stratan stressed that Poland's support for Moldova's EU aspirations is of great importance for his country. In his opinion the Trans-Dnestr issue is the main obstacle in the development of Moldova, and that his country is most often left alone in its strivings. Senate Speaker Longin Pastusiak said that Moldova should make international opinion take interest in the problem and suggested the delegation of Moldova to draft a related resolution which the Polish delegation would willingly present at the nearest NATO parliamentary assembly in Venice still his year.

Cimoszewicz on Polish report on U.N. reform

Warsaw, Sept. 20: A report on the U.N. reform compiled in Warsaw will be handed over to all delegation heads attending the 59th U.N. General Assembly session in New York, foreign minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz told before departing for the session. He said that necessary changes must not always imply revisions of the U.N. Charter. The solutions can have the form of reinterpretations of the Charter's provisions or their supplementing with political agreements. Poland has proposed the adoption of the so-called Political Act for the United Nations. It would help the organization to better perform its functions in cooperation with non-state entities. Poland will also take part in the division of duties between individual EU states. He will also attend the meeting between EU foreign ministers and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. Talks are also scheduled between Cimoszewicz and officials from three Jewish organizations.

Iraq: division command debates troop changes

Warsaw, Sept. 20: The 2005 withdrawal of stabilization troops from Karbala province is among the troop changes considered by the military staffs of countries serving in the Polish-led south- central Iraq stabilization force. Polish General Staff spokesman Zdzislaw Gnatowski said that the moveout from Karbala was one of several reorganization options currently under consideration by military commanders in Iraq. He added that the withdrawn forces may be redeployed to Al-Quadisiyah. Earlier today Bulgaria, who has a battalion in the south-central force, sent a protest note to the Polish foreign ministry in connection with plans to withdraw its unit from Karbala.

Walesa to battle for U.S. visa ban

Gdansk, Sept. 20: The abolishment of visas for U.S. travelling Poles will be one of the main topics of talks between Polish ex- president Lech Walesa and U.S. politicians during Walesa's U.S. visit starting September 22. In the U.S. Walesa will visit Washington DC, San Francisco, Hartford, Boston and Chicago. Walesa told that he planned to meet over the visa issue with U.S. Senators but was unsure whether to discuss it with President George W. Bush as this could lead to its misuse in the ongoing presidential campaign. Last week Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry spoke out for abolishing U.S. visas for Poles and promised to pursue the matter if elected.

President & PM on health, abortion, church fund, budget

Warsaw, Sept. 21: New public health laws, abortion, the Church Fund and next year's budget were the main topics of talks between president Aleksander Kwasniewski and prime minister Marek Belka. Kwasniewski, who signed a new health law replacing legislation ruled unconstitutional on January 7, said the act was "one of the PM's most important promises" and assured it would bring stability to Poland's ailing health system. Belka announced plans to modernize Poland's public hospital system. He added that 619,000 USD have been earmarked in next year's budget for loans to public clinics. Commenting recent debates around abortion laws Kwasniewski said he was against changing current legislation. I believe the compromise we achieved in this sphere a few years ago serves (...) Poland well, although it certainly doesn't solve all problems, Kwasniewski remarked. The PM announced talks with the Polish Episcopate on a planned SLD bill liquidating Poland's Church Fund. Kwasniewski and Belka also discussed Poland's 2005 draft budget. Kwasniewski called it "serious and difficult" and praised its "realistic assumptions". Belka stressed that the budget had been planned in consideration of Poland's obligation to pay full EU contributions and co-finance EU projects as of 2005.

Kwasniewski: I wish Walesa success

Warsaw, Sept. 21: I wish Lech Walesa success in convincing as many people as possible, president Aleksander Kwasniewski said commenting the ex-president's plans to change the U.S. Administration's stance towards lifting visas for Poles during a U. S. visit. Abolishing entry visas for U.S. travelling Poles will be one of the main topics of Walesa's U.S. talks. The former Polish president will remain in the U.S. until October 2. Walesa told that he planned to discuss the matter with several U.S. Senators. U.S. presidential candidate John Kerry recently pledged to take the visa issue up after his election.

Vote of confidence in gov't on October 15

Warsaw, Sept. 21: The Sejm will discuss a government vote of confidence motion on October 15, PM Marek Belka said on Tuesday. "We have agreed with the Sejm Speaker that the Sejm will meet October 15 to discuss a government vote of confidence motion", the PM said after meeting with President Aleksander Kwasniewski. Kwasniewski said he expects the government to win the vote of confidence, which means that general elections will be held in late May 2005.

Oleksy for joint presidential candidate of left parties

Poznan, Sept. 21: Sejm Speaker Jozef Oleksy would like the left to have a single candidate for president in the future elections. Oleksy said that a joint candidate should be selected after conclusion of internal discussions in individual parties. However talks on a joint candidate should start as early as possible "because further delay may be harmful to the left." The Sejm Speaker told reporters that he would like "an internal plebiscite on various candidatures" to be held in the Democratic Left Alliance SLD. He believes that thanks to this the SLD would attain "a consolidation of views and put the criteria in order."

Funds received from EU higher than Polish contribution

Warsaw, Sept. 21: Poland received 958 million euro more than it had contributed to the EU budget to the end of August, government spokesmen Dariusz Jadowski told. He also said the government plans that Poland's current account balance with the EU will continue to be in the black. Experts predict that the level of EU funds received should be higher than Poland's contribution by 993 million euros at the end of the year.

FinMin plans 19 pct foreign capital gains tax

Warsaw, Sept. 21: The Ministry of Finance plans to introduce a uniform 19 percent tax on foreign capital gains. Investors have up till now paid the tax according to the progressive rate. Neneman added that the ceilings of donation amounts will be raised in 2005. The ministry has started work on introducing changes of the excise tax on imported cars. "For the time being this is a non-contentious issue between Poland and Brussels. The regulations will be altered. The idea is to introduce the new solutions in early 2005. Intensive work is underway at the moment", the Deputy Finance Minister said. "My private idea is to make the tax dependent on three parameters: mass, engine cubic capacity and horse-power. One of the options is to make it dependent on exhaust gas emission, the other on whether it meets Euro2 or Euro3 norms".

Church to receive 15 pct of confiscated literature

Warsaw, Sept. 21: Only fifteen percent of 12,000 books confiscated from Church libraries by Poland's communist authorities in 1960 will be returned, father Krzysztof Gonet from the Federation of the Polish Church Libraries (FIDES) told. In 1960 communist censors assisted by police confiscated around 12,000 books from 67 church libraries Polandwide. Father Gonet said that only 1,804 volumes will be returned to their original libraries as many of the books have been lost. The idea to return the books to their original locations originated in the Polish interior ministry's confessions department in 1997. FIDES was founded in March 1995 by the Conference of the Polish Episcopate and currently groups 85 religious libraries in Poland.

Israeli officers at a Jewish cemetery in Lublin

Lublin, Sept. 21: Israeli officers cleaned up a Jewish cemetery in Lublin as part of an Israeli army's educational programme. The Lublin cemetery was visited by some 30 soldiers who cleaned up the site, and paid tribute to those buried there. "We are trying to do anything to show that the cemetery is not a place that can be destroyed. Everything that is done against these graves hurts us as our parents and grandparents are buried here," Ehud Levy Haim said. The Lublin Jewish cemetery, one of the oldest in Poland, was founded in the 16th century. Some 200 tombstones are left today.

PM Belka to pay working visit to Berlin on Sept. 27

Warsaw, Sept. 22: Prime Minister Marek Belka will pay a short working visit to Berlin on September 27 at the invitation from German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, the Government Information centre reported. The two politicians are expected to discuss bilateral relations and European issues and hold a press conference.

Gross: relations with Poland are Czech foreign policy priority

Warsaw, Sept. 22: Czech Prime Minister Stanislav Gross said in Warsaw that political and economic relations with Poland were one of the most significant elements of the Czech foreign policy. "The fact that I am paying my first foreign visit as Czech PM to Poland has not been accidental. This has been a symbol of significance attached to the Polish-Czech relations," Gross said after meeting Prime Minister Marek Belka. PM Belka told that their talks focused on European issues, including a new EU budget for 2007-2013, prospects of cooperation within the Visegrad Group and bilateral relations. Belka also said they confirmed plans to join in 2007 at the latest the group of countries included in the Schengen treaty.

Sejm, Senate speakers discuss European affairs with Czech PM

Warsaw, Sept. 22: Sejm and Senate Speakers met with visiting Czech PM Stanislav Gross to discuss the European constitution and EU enlargement. Sejm Speaker Jozef Oleksy told that he also discussed with Gross the EU new budget as well as bilateral relations. Oleksy stressed that as new EU member countries Poland and the Czech Republic should be more active on the international arena. Senate Speaker Longin Pastusiak said that his talk with the Czech guest focused on the two countries' stand on EU enlargement, especially by Turkey. Pastusiak added that both Poland and the Czech Republic will back Turkey's integration aspirations.

PM: Privatisation decisions rest with government

Warsaw, Sept. 22: PM Marek Belka said in a radio interview that privatisation decisions are taken by the government with deputies only having a right to discuss the issue. In September the Sejm obliged the cabinet to halt some privatisation decisions by the time the Sejm debates the issue. In a resolution adopted early in September, the Sejm asked the government to urgently present the privatisation guidelines of PKO BP, Polskie Gornictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo, Gielda Papierw Wartosciowych, Wydawnictwa Szkolne i Pedagogiczne, electricity, gas and heat production and transmission plants, coal companies and chemical plants. Under the resolution the government is also to present the guidelines for selling and handing over state treasury-owned shares in PZU, BGZ and KGHM Polska Miedz and Orlen. The guidelines have to take into account the state strategic interests. By the time the Sejm debate is held, the government is to halt final privatisation decisions relating to these companies. "If the Sejm's intention is to discuss, it is welcome to do so, but deciding is out of the question, it is the responsibility of the government," Belka said.

Govt oks social integration plan

Warsaw, Sept. 22: The government has passed a National Action Plan for Social Integration expected to help counteract poverty and activate socially alienated groups. Social policy minister Krzysztof Pater said that the plan was part of a broadscale scheme to build a comprehensive European social policy. The plan is the result of a memorandum on social integration signed by Poland and the EC in December 2003 and based on a National Social Integration Strategy adopted by the government in summer.

EC approves Polish public aid programmes

Warsaw, Sept. 22: The European Commission has accepted Polish public aid programmes and motions to grant individual financial support for companies, Elzbieta Anders, spokeswomen for the Consumer Protection and Competition Office, said. The EC has approved a total of 441.5 million euro to be earmarked for public aid offered to companies employing and training new staff and companies starting new investments as well as for two direct aid programmes.

OBOP: lower support for Iraqi mission and global engagement

Warsaw, Sept. 22: The prolonged war in Iraq results in a falling support for Poland's presence in that country and for this country's engagement in global policy, according to a recent TNS OBOP poll. Over a half of the respondents want Polish troops to withdraw from Iraq immediately, without waiting for a completion of the entire mission by the U.S. and its allies. According to 71 percent of Poles Poland made a mistake having sent its soldiers to Iraq and in the opinion of 23 percent it was a good decision. Sixty percent think that Polish troops should be withdrawn from Iraq as soon as possible and 36 percent disagree with this opinion and believe that their mission should be completed. Forty seven percent of the respondents think that having sent its troops to Iraq Poland has spoiled its image and 38 percent voice the opposite. In June 2003 when Poland was granted the command of a stabilization zone in Iraq 51 percent of Poles said it would be good for Poland and 30 percent expressed the opposite opinion. Fifty five percent said Poland should take part in global policy (in June 2003 it was 64 percent) and 36 percent said it should not (in June 2003 it was 22 percent). TNS OBOP ran the poll on September 2-5 on a representative sample of 1,004 adult Poles.