Riyadh, Jan. 4: Polish conjoined twins who have been succesfully separated remain in an intensive care unit of the King Abdul-Aziz Medical City for the National Guard in Riyadh, Poland's Ambassador in Saudi Arabia Adam Kulach said on Tuesday morning. The 15-month old Daria and Olga, born joined at the spine, intestines, urinary systems and sexual organs, underwent a 18-hour operation on Monday. The surgery was performed by a 60-person medical team. The two girls would be released from the ICU after two weeks if no complications occur. They will then begin the rehabilitation period. They are expected to return to Poland in two-three months. Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz al Saud offered to pay medical and travel expenses for the twins and their mother.

Sejm elects Cimoszewicz Sejm speaker

Warsaw, Jan. 5: The Sejm on Wednesday morning recalled Jozef Oleksy from the post of Sejm Speaker. 379 deputies voted for recalling Oleksy, 17 were against and 48 abstained. The Sejm elected Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz a new Sejm Speaker. There were 223 votes for appointing Cimoszewicz. The absolute majority required to appoint a new Speaker was 223. Another candidate for the post, Jozef Zych, got 219 votes. During its three-day sitting the Sejm will decide if to hear a government report on renegotiations concerning the gas treaty with Russia. The daily agenda includes also Senate amendments to the law on national and ethnic minorities and a report on the work of the National Health Fund in 2003.

Belka's Libyan visit to boost economic cooperation

Tripoli, Jan. 5: Prime Minister Marek Belka's visit to Libya is to help launch economic contacts of Polish firms with Libya. Belka is accompanied on his visit to Tripoli by representatives of Polish firms, including fuel companies, who will discuss cooperation with Libyan partners. Head of the National Economic Chamber Andrzej Arendarski will sign a cooperation agreement with the Libyan industrial and trade chamber. The deal is to pave the way to operations in Libya of Poland's medium-sized and small firms. Despite a tradition of economic cooperation of the 1980s when Libya was Poland's chief trade partner in Africa, the present cooperation is poor. Last year's trade turnover was USD 9.5 million, compared to for instance USD 220 million in 1988.

Zych meets Hor Namphong

Warsaw, Jan. 4: Deputy Sejm Speaker Jozef Zych met with deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia Hor Namphong.

We highly assess todate bilateral relations and we hope they will further develop, Zych said after the meeting. Minister Hor Namphong thanked Poland for its aid to Cambodia after the collapse of the Red Khmer regime and stressed his country was interested in consolidating bilateral economic and political contacts. On Wednesday Hor Namphong will meet with Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz. The two ministers will hold a press conference. Later in the day the minister will be received by President Aleksander Kwasniewski.

4th Iraq shift new-outfitted

Zagan/Bygdoszcz, Jan. 4: The 4th shift of Polish Iraq stabilization troops will be equipped with new gear and weaponry to meet the new conditions in Iraq, Polish military chief of staff Czeslaw Piatas said at a farewell ceremony for Iraq- departing soldiers from the 11th Lubusz Armoured Division in west Poland. Piatas said that the Polish Iraq force has also received new armoured vehicles and 6 heavy combat helicopters, bringing its total chopper fleet to 16.

We have also improved nightwork conditions, the troops will also get modern minesweeping gear, Piatas said. The present shift of Iraq troops numbers 1,700 soldiers, 700 will remain in Poland in reserve. Poland currently has 2,500 troops in Iraq. Also departing to Iraq is a 200-strong unit from the 1st Pomeranian Logistic Brigade in Bydgoszcz whose task will be maintaining order during the country's approaching elections. Your mission is pure and noble - you are to create conditions enabling the Iraqi population to elect their authorities in peace. It is no secret that this is no easy mission, defence minister Janusz Zemke told the troops during a farewell ceremony Tuesday. Commenting planned depletions of Poland's Iraq force, Zemke said the force will be cut down to 1,700 troops after the Iraqi election and not before mid-February. Until that time the force will number 2,500 men, Zemke said. The first soldiers from the previous Iraq shift have left Camp Echo in Divaniyah for Kuwait, from where they will fly to Poland.

Number of missing Poles down to 29

Warsaw, Jan. 5: The number of Poles missing after December 26th quake and tsunami disaster in Thailand has gone down to 29 from 36, Polish Ambassador in Thailand Bogdan Goralczyk said on Wednesday. Goralczyk added that four Polish forensic experts had already left for the island of Phuket where they would collect DNA samples from bodies of foreigners. The ambassador said that there was still hope that more Poles would be located alive and added that so far the authorities had confirmed that only one Polish citizen had been dead. The death toll from the Asian tsunami, triggered by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake off Indonesia, stood Wednesday at 145,073 people.

Belka: tsunami victims need financial aid

Warsaw, Jan. 4: To-date public collections in Poland have yielded around 4 million zlotys (1.3 mn USD) and 13 tons of aid articles for Asia's tsunami victims, prime minister Marek Belka said . Belka said the disaster victims were most in need of financial aid and that the Polish government has already channelled 1 million zlotys to the region. He added that if necessary more funds could be mobilized from a special government pool. For many years we were recipients of international aid. This is slowly changing and as OECD and EU members we must take upon ourselves the task of helping countries in true poverty and touched by disasters, Belka said.

Govt on energy policy until 2025

Warsaw, Jan. 4: The government passed a document regulating Poland's energy policy until 2025. Among others the act defines energy safety as a country's capability of securing fuels and energy at reasonable prices and by environment-friendly means, deputy economy minister Jacek Piechota informed . The document also sets Poland's energy priorities as meeting EU and Maastricht gas emission and renewable energy requirements, raising effectiveness in the energy sector and freeing the energy market. Piechota said Poland's energy market will be totally free as of July 1 2007.

Economy Ministry: GDP up 5.7 pct in 2004

Warsaw, Jan. 4: According to a November macroeconomic report of the Economy Ministry, GDP went up 5.7 percent in 2004, against a 3.8-percent growth in 2003. The Central Statistical Office (GUS) said that in the first three quarters of 2004 Poland's GDP was up 5.9 pct. Gross value added in the national economy rose 5.5 pct in the three quarters of 2004, mainly thanks to a high growth in industry (11.4 percent). The report stressed that November's production data show that the zloty appreciation did not result in a lower growth rate of exports. In November 2004 industrial production went up by 11.3 percent year-on-year. According to experts, prices of goods and services are not going up very fast now (...) So one should stress that there are no signs of negative influence of inflation on pay rises, the report said.

President thanks Saudi prince for help in operation

Warsaw, Jan. 4: Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski in a special letter Tuesday thanked Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah for his personal help in yesterday's successful separation of Polish Siamese twins in a Saudi clinic. The spine-connected girls, 15-month-old Daria and Olga Kolacz, were separated Monday in an 18-hour operation in the King Abdul Aziz National Guard Hospital in the Saudi capital Riyadh. I wish to express my admiration of the medical skill displayed by doctors at the (...) hospital. Daria, Olga and their family will preserve in their grateful memory this noble and selfless help. The operation was followed step by step by entire Poland, Kwasniewski wrote in the letter. The operation ended Monday at 23.30hrs Polish time. Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah covered all medical and travel expenses for the twins and their mother after being informed of the case by a Saudi doctor, who learned about the twins from an Internet discussion forum.

SLD proposes a motion to investigate PZU privatisation

Warsaw, Jan. 4: The Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) put forward a motion with the Sejm speaker to set up a parliamentary committee to investigate the privatisation of the PZU insurer, head of the SLD parliamentary caucus Krzysztof Janik said. Janik believes that the work of parliamentary investigators would not overlap with that of the Sejm committee for constitutional accountability which has conducted an inquiry into PZU privatisation for nearly two years now. Janik said that the constitutional accountability committee focuses on the responsibility of the minister, whereas the new committee will seek to clarify all the accompanying circumstances and the role of various persons whose constitutional accountability is out of the question, such as former PZU head Wladyslaw Jamrozy, former PZU Life head Grzegorz Wieczerzak or former Solidarity Election Action leader Marian Krzaklewski. He added that the job of the accountability committee is to establish guilt or innocence while the inquiry committee will focus on "showing mechanisms." Meanwhile deputy Sejm Speaker and head of the constitutional accountability committee Jozef Zych said that the committee's report would be ready in March. According to Janusz Dobrosz of the League of Polish Families, the committee found that not only former treasury minister Emil Wasacz was guilty of irregularities in connection with the privatisation of PZU, TP SA telecoms company and Domy Towarowe "Centrum" department stores but also former treasury minister Aldona Kamela- Sowinska. Also on Tuesday the Warsaw District Public Prosecutors' Office said it would resume the investigation into the sale of 30 percent of PZU that was discontinued in March 2002. Monday's Rzeczpospolita daily wrote about irregularities accompanying the privatisation of PZU in 1999-2001. The paper cited a statement by former Eureko (PZU's buyer) president Joao Talone for an international arbitration court made in 2003. Talone revealed many unknown facts and described irregularities he had witnessed.

German president to attend observances at Auschwitz-Birkenau

Berlin, Dec. 4: President Horst Koehler of Germany will take part in the central ceremonies at the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp site on January 27. He will be accompanied by a group of survivors from Germany, Poland and Holland. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder will deliver a speech at the ceremony opening the events in Germany marking the 60th anniversary of liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp on January 25, the International Auschwitz Committee (MKO) announced on Tuesday. The ceremony will take place in Deutsches Theater in Berlin. A speech will also be delivered by Israel Singer, Secretary General of the World Jewish Congress (WJC.)

Rotfeld appointed new foreign minister

Warsaw, Jan.5: Adam Daniel Rotfeld was appointed new foreign minister at a ceremony at the presidential palace. Rotfeld was deputy foreign minister under Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, who was elected Sejm speaker. President Aleksander Kwasniewski said Rotfeld was a worthy successor to Cimoszewicz, man of exceptional values, great brains and knowledge, great political and diplomatic talents, extensive international connections and very warm in personal contacts. Rotfeld said he would continue the policies pursued by Cimoszewicz in the last three years. The priorities he listed were: best possible use of Poland's EU membership, cultivating good relations with the USA, eastern policy, i.e. supporting Ukraine and mending relations with Russia, and cooperation with developing countries. Kwasniewski also said he would try to persuade Cimoszewicz not to withdraw from politics after the end of the Sejm's present term. "I see him as one of the possible presidential candidates of the left wing, but it is a decision for him to make," Kwasniewski said.

Cimoszewicz: effectiveness remedy for Sejm prestige

Warsaw, Jan. 5: Effective work is the only way to rebuild the Sejm's prestige, newly-appointed Sejm speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz told . There will be no trickery here, Cimoszewicz said. According to the new speaker the Sejm's tarnished public image could improve if it spent its remaining time on constructive work and less political jousting. Asked about his plans Cimoszewicz said the priority tasks were completing the Sejm's unfinished legislative work, setting a parliamentary work schedule and launching consultations on the introduction of new debate rules with MPs.

Kwasniewski: Borrell made explanations over phone

Warsaw, Brussels, Jan. 5: President Aleksander Kwasniewski said that he had received a phone call from the president of the EU parliament Josep Borrell Wednesday who declared he had not criticised Poland in public for its role in Iraq and in Ukraine. "Borrell phoned me today impressed by the press coverage he got here and explained that it was a misunderstanding and he would call a press conference today with Polish newsmen to clarify the situation," Kwasniewski told newsmen in the presidential palace. "He also expressed respect for Poland and for me personally for our involvement in Ukraine. I accepted his words and asked him to repeat all that in public," the president said. According to the Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper, Borrell "criticised Poland for its role in Iraq and Ukraine" in the course of a conference held in Madrid Dec.21. Kwasniewski told newsmen that Borrell claimed "it was a misunderstanding, that he did not make any such statement. I think there is no point in continuing this issue and the fact Borrell did phone and apologized is in itself a positive thing. Let us look at it that way," Kwasniewski said. "Mr Borrell told me he was surprised by the way of reporting on what he had said," Polish EU commissioner Danuta Huebner said . "I think he sees it as distorting his words and intentions." Borrell assured Huebner he would meet Polish EuroMPs soon and try to clear up the matter. Borrell said his statements carried by the Polish press on Wednesday were untrue or taken out of context, according to Marek Siwiec, Polish EuroMP who met Borrell Wednesday asking for an explanation to media reports.

Belka on prospects for Polish-Libyan cooperation

Tripoli, Jan.5: Preliminary plans of Polish-Libyan cooperation have assumed "concrete shape", said prime minister Marek Belka when summing up Wednesday the first day of his visit to Libya. A bilateral agreement on cooperation in non-proliferation of mass destruction weapons was signed here this evening. Belka emphasized that Poland was the first country to sign such an agreement with Libya. Poland made concrete offers to Libya, including assistance in repositioning chemical plants from military production to civilian one and assistance in destroying stockpiles of chemical weapons. Belka said the Polish oil industry had chances of entering the Libyan market by taking part in another round of tenders for oilfield licences. There were also prospects of cooperation in the defense industry, Belka remarked. In particular, Polish firms could repair and modernize military gear such as Mi-2 helicopters bought in Poland many years ago.

President receives Cambodian deputy PM

Warsaw, Jan. 5: President Aleksander Kwasniewski received visiting deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Namhong . During the meeting sides discussed international affairs and the state of bilateral cooperation between Poland and Cambodia, the presidential press office wrote in a communique issued following the meeting.

President Kwasniewski declared Poland's active participation in EU's Asian policy. The sides also discussed the situation in the tsunami hit areas. President Kwasniewski and Minister Namhong reviewed the state of bilateral political and economic ties as well as cultural and scientific cooperation.

More soldiers leave for Iraq

Wroclaw, Jan. 6: A group of 169 soldiers, mainly from the 11th Lubuska Armoured Division from Zagan, western Poland, left for Iraq on Thursday. The group includes 56 Lithuanian troops. Present at the farewell ceremony were Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski and Chief of Staff general Czeslaw Piatas. "You are going to Iraq at the time which is of fundamental significance for the changes taking place in that country. Plans provide for the first democratic elections which will be decisive to the future of Iraq. This will be a real test for the Iraqi security forces. You will be only monitoring the situation," Szmajdzinski told the Iraq-departing soldiers of the 4th shift of Polish Iraq stabilization troops and wished them good luck. The minister admitted that the situation in Iraq was difficult. He also said that the 4th shift of Polish Iraq stabilization troops will not be the last one. There will be also the 5th shift. But I think that its tasks will be different, he added. The main tasks of the 4th shift are to ensure security, continue aid programmes and train Iraqi security forces.

Number of missing Poles down to 21

Warsaw, Jan. 5: The number of Poles missing after December 26th quake and tsunami disaster in South-East Asia has gone down to 21, the Foreign Ministry announced. The ministry said that the nine Poles have been found by the ministry in close cooperation with Poland's national police headquarters. Meanwhile, Poland's Ambassador to Thailand Bogdan Goralczyk reported that four Polish forensic experts had already left for the island of Phuket where they would collect DNA samples from bodies of foreigners. The ambassador said that there was still hope that more Poles would be found alive.

Saudi Crown Prince calls on Polish twins in Riyadh hospital

Warsaw, Jan. 5: Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah who sponsored the operation of separation of conjoined Polish twin girls, visited the little patients recovering in a clinic in the Saudi capital Riyadh. The Prince termed the successful operation as "a message of humanism of Islam and Saudi Arabia to the friendly Polish people and the world." "When the Prince entered the room one of the girls, Olga extended her little hand to him," Adam Kulach, Poland's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia told . He added that the Prince was deeply moved and showed concern for the health and moods of the Polish twin girls.

Poland wants to repay all its debt to Paris Club

Warsaw, Jan. 5: Poland plans to pay off up to 12.3 billion euros it owes to the Paris Club creditors, the finance ministry said .The actual scale of repayment was still not known: it hinged on the readiness of individual creditors to accept early repayment. "The whole operation of early repayment will be financed from foreign bond issues staged gradually over the next 12 to 18 months," the ministry said. "Financing to the tune of 6 bn euros has already been secured." Poland's debt to the Paris Club now stands at 12.3 bn euros. This year's planned instalment is 2.1 bn euros. The planned early repayment of the entire debt was meant to improve public debt to GDP ration and influence Poland's ratings, the ministry added.

RPP member on inflation, interest rates, growth

Warsaw, Jan.5: Inflation will start falling in April, 2005, according to a member of the Monetary Policy Council (RPP) Dariusz Filar. In an interview he also said that inflationary expectations would react to that fall in May or June, making it possible to change RPP's bias in monetary policy. The present bias is restrictive. Asked if another hike in interest rates was still possible, Filar replied: "Very significant pay rises would have to materialize this year in order for a hike to happen, rises much above current inflation." Filar believes that the so-called natural interest rate in Poland was about 4 pc or slightly above 4 pc and this meant that there was not much room for possible interest rate cuts. "Assuming that inflation goes down to 2.5 pc the room for cuts is not great, it is moderate," he said. The present basic NBP rate is not less than 6.5 pc and RPP's inflation target is 2.5 pc. Filar believes that the recent fall in the zloty exchange rate was but a correction in the appreciation trend. He confirmed earlier NBP predictions of GDP growth this year of 4.5 to 5.5 pc.

Charity foundation to hold another fund-raising action on Jan. 9

Warsaw, Jan. 6: The Grand Christmas Aid Orchestra, a charity organisation set up on March 2, 1993, will hold another fund- raising project on Sunday, January 9. Fairs, concerts and auctions will be held all over Poland and abroad, including Athens, Berlin, Los Angeles, Detroit, New York, Chicago, Brussels, Cairo, Vienna, Stockholm and the Polish military base in Iraq. The funds raised by the charity are spent on medical equipment for infants and babies, including incubators, emergency ambulances, electrocardiographs and equipment for victims of car accidents, children with heart failures, cardiac and kidney patients. So far the foundation has bought nearly 16,000 medical apparatuses for hospitals and medical centres all over Poland. Last year the Grand Christmas Aid Orchestra raised 27,244,441 zlotys (ca. 9 million USD) during its twelfth fund-raising nationwide project on January 11, 2004. During the twelve years of its work the charity organisation raised over 53 million USD.

Kwasniewski-Bush meeting on Feb. 9

Warsaw, Jan. 6: President Aleksander Kwasniewski will meet with U.S. President George W. Bush in Washington on February 9, the presidential chancellery announced on Thursday. The two leaders are to discuss a wide range of international and bilateral issues, including ways of strengthening co-operation between the United States and Europe, the chancellery wrote in a Thursday press release.

Foreign Minister to pay visit to Lithuania

Warsaw, Jan. 6: Foreign Affairs Minister Adam Rotfeld has accepted an invitation from his Lithuanian counterpart Antanas Valionis to visit Lithuania. The visit is planned for early February, a Foreign Ministry representative told on Thursday. According to Lithuanian BNS press agency Valionis invited Rotfeld for a meeting in Druskininkai during a phone talk on Wednesday. Minister Valionis was to express the conviction that Poland's and Lithuania's EU and NATO membership will strengthen the strategic partnership of the two neighbouring countries. Valionis stressed that active steps by both countries will help in the introduction of the EU Neighbour Policy. Directions of Polish-Lithuanian co-operation in 2005 and EU's eastern policy where among topics of a meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Polish and Lithuanian President in Vilnius on Thursday. President Aleksander Kwasniewski is expected to pay an official visit to Lithuania in early March.

SdPl, UP will not agree on joint ticket with SLD

Warsaw, Jan.6: The Socialdemocracy of the Republic of Poland (SdPl) will not talk to the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) about a joint electoral ticket, SdPl leader Tomasz Nalecz told newsmen in parliament Thursday. SdPl can talk to the SP Programmatic Platform if it breaks away from SLD, he added. Nalecz was reacting to a proposal made by SP Thursday to ask President Aleksander Kwasniewski to open talks with all left-wing parties on their possible joint election ticket. Nalecz said he could not envision such a joint ticket in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. "A joint list of candidates for MPs would run counter to the need for a renewal of the left wing, the idea that lay at the foundation of SdPl establishment," he claimed. "SdPl and SLD are divided on a sea of issues today," Nalecz also claimed. "SLD failed to draw conclusions from what happened on the left, it has no programme of mending its affairs, it has a programme of simple continuation with a slight makeup," he charged. "The SP platform is interesting, it is something new (.) If they want to reform the left wing and will severe the umbilical cord to SLD we can meet all right," Nalecz added. The Union of Labour (UP) will not refuse to talk to the president on an integration of the left wing, but it is sceptical about the possibility of creating a joint electoral list in the parliamentary elections, said UP leader Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka. UP was ready for all kinds of talks, but did not see any possibility to contest the elections in tandem with the SLD, she added.

MPs criticise health bill

Warsaw, Jan. 6: Most of the Sejm Thursday criticised a public- backed health bill prepared by an expert team under known cardiologist Zbigniew Religa. MPs of the opposing Law and Justice Party (PiS) moved for the act's rejection in its first reading. The bill foresees the creation of five public health funds guaranteeing payment for medical service. The funds' obligations would be taken over by the government. All patients would be entitled to state-financed emergency medical aid; uninsured persons would be required to reimburse their treatment costs. Health minister Marek Balicki said the new laws would wreak havoc in Poland's health system, Wladyslaw Szkop (Social-democracy for Poland) and Boleslaw Piecha (Polish Peasant Party) protested against the bill's planned health insurance hike to 9 percent of the insuree payroll (currently 8.5 pct). Krystyna Herman (Democratic Left Alliance) pointed out that the bill said nothing about patient remedies in case of a fund's bankruptcy. Elzbiera Radziszewska (Citizens Platform) said the act contained no medical schemes for uniformed services and no clear listing of refunded and chargeable medical services. According to Alicja Lis (Samoobrona) the new laws would change nothing except making expensive medical services easier accessible for top-bracket earners. Stefan Ciesla from a public committee, which submitted the act to the Sejm, said the new laws would not revolutionise Poland's health system.

December unemployment at 19 pct

Warsaw, Jan. 6: Unemployment in Poland in December rose to 19.0 percent from 18.7 pct in November but may fall to 18.8 percent this month, deputy economy minister Piotr Kulpa told Thursday. At the end of December economy minister Jerzy Hausner predicted at end of 2004 unemployment at 19 percent. Kulpa said there were 2 million 990 thousand unemployed in December 2004, 57.1 thousand more than in the previous month. He added that the rise was probably a seasonal phenomenon and reminded that December 2003's unemployment was 79,000 persons above the November figure. Over the entire year Poland's unemployment sank 5.5 percent, or by 76,000 persons, Kulpa said.

Pietras: Poland to seek high EU budget in 2007-2013

Warsaw, Jan. 6: Poland will seek a high EU budget for 2007-2013 and supports European Commission's position on the issue, head of the Office of the European Integration Committee Jaroslaw Pietras said. "We are in favour of a high budget and we are looking for allies for this budget," Pietras said. The allies are chiefly new EU member states. Pietras added that "for the time being we are keeping the position that rejects the demands of the six," including France, Germany and Britain whose proposals are less advantageous for Poland that the proposals of the Commission. Pietras noted that Polish demands met with understanding and was hopeful that decisions will be taken during the Luxemburg's presidency in the first half of 2005. Poland supports plans to allocate less funds for region financing in developed countries.

EU funds for railway reforms

Warsaw, Jan. 6: Railway upgrades in Poland will be financed from a 1-billion-euro EU fund and cofinanced by the government, deputy infrastructure minister Grzegorz Medza said Thursday in the Sejm. Medza, asked about the Polish railways' financial situation by the Samoobrona Farmer Party, said a 550-million-zloty (177.4 mn USD) government grant for the railways would finance local railway projects and cofinance EU-funded rail upgrades. 150 million zlotys of the sum will be channeled to the PKP Regional Railways enterprise, Medza said. Medza added that the railways would also receive a government- guaranteed 300-million-euro loan.

Miners' trade unions want new collective labour agreement

Katowice, Jan. 6: The miners' trade unions want to sign a new collective labour agreement with employers that would be binding for the entire industry and preserve existing pay benefits. Employers meanwhile say that a new accord is necessary, but one that will make pay rules more flexible. The inaugural meeting of the sides took place here Thursday and was attended by representatives of 9 trade unions, including the largest ones: Solidarity of Miners and ZZGwP. The next meeting has been scheduled for Feb.7 Both trade union and employers' delegates said unofficially that if there was no good will the talks could last in perpetuity, or at least more than a year. The former collective labour agreement for the entire industry was signed in 1991 and terminated by employers in 1999. The agreement became invalid in January, 2001.

Poles help build Swedish satellite

Warsaw, Jan. 6: The Space Research Centre of the Polish Academcy of Sciences (PAN) will help in the construction of Sweden's Nanospace satellite designed for geological and electromagnetic field research. The 10-20 kilo satellite will be built from experimental materials and will feature latest nanotechnology. Once in orbit Nanospace will collaborate with the earlier-launched Swedish satellites Viking, Freya and Astrid.

Witold Gombrowicz year yields fruit in many countries

Warsaw, Jan. 6: The book on Polish writer Witold Gombrowicz, titled "Gombrowicz ou l_atheisme generalise" by French author Jean- Pierre Salgas has appeared in Polish translation in Poland a few days after the Gombrowicz Year has ended in Poland. The Sejm declared Gombrowicz Year in 2004 and the writer's birth centenary was also on the list of anniversaries celebrated by the UNESCO, which has considerably boosted international interest in the writer's output. In Italy the first volume of Gombrowicz's "Diaries" was published last November, and the second is due out in 2005. Also in 2004 Feltrinelli publishers brought out the first Italian pocket editions of Cosmos, Trans-Atlantic, Bacacay and Ferdydurke. Bacacay, a volume of short stories were published in the USA last year. The Washington Post critic writing on these "effervescent and amusing stories" placed Gombrowicz side by side of Kafka and Celine. The US Embassy in Warsaw last September hosted a theatre from Washington with the happening "I, Gombrowicz" based on the writer's texts. Some 80 Polish and foreign scholars attended an international conference, which was devoted to the Polish author. Last year also saw a film adaptation of Gombrowicz's novel "Pornography" by Jan Jakub Kolski. An exhibition devoted to the author of "Ferdydurke" was opened in Buenos Aires last year. Gombrowicz came to Buenos Aires in 1939, shortly before the Second World War broke out. He decided to stay in Buenos Aires. Warsaw's Teatr Dramatyczny on a tour of Brazil next week will present in Sao Paulo "A Diary" based on Gombrowicz's story. Recently, Andrzej Wolski, Polish movie director living in France, received Grand Prix of the Festival du Film d'Art for his story about Gombrowicz. The festival was held in Paris under the patronage of UNESCO.

PM Belka pays tribute to Polish soldiers fallen in Tobruk

Tobruk, Jan. 7: On the last day of his official visit to Libya PM Marek Belka visited Tobruk where he paid tribute to Polish soldiers of the Carpathian Brigade SBSK in command of general Stanislaw Kopanski who fought in 1941 to defend the town. Tobruk was besieged by the Afrika Korps in early August. The Polish Carpathian Brigade was assigned to defend the toughest eastern defence sector behind the Ras el Madauar hill. With their Australian comrades, the Poles successfully defended Tobruk, repulsing numerous German attacks. When the 8th army again went on the offensive, the Carpathian Brigade took Medauar hill, and White Knoll hill. The brigade continued in pursuit of the enemy, with operations for the continuation of the North African war. Belka laid a wreath at the monument to Polish soldiers at the military cemetery where 133 fallen Polish soldiers were buried after the battle of Tobruk, and opened an exhibition staged to commemorate the Brigade. After the ceremony at the cemetery Belka told that such places as Tobruk "remind him of Poland's difficult history and make him think of the road Poles have gone along as a nation since those difficult times." Summing up his visit to Libya the Polish PM said that "Libya can be an attractive partner for Polish businesses, know-how and specialists." According to him, Polish businessmen are interested in cooperation with Libya while the first after twenty years visit by Polish top officials constitutes a political impulse to boost economic cooperation. "Such an impulse is more significant in countries like Libya than in European countries," he added. During his visit to Libya PM Marek Belka was accompanied by a group of Polish businessmen representing oil, chemical, armaments and construction industries.

Putin to attend Auschwitz liberation anniversary observance

Warsaw, Jan. 9: Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed he would attend ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi concentration camp scheduled in Poland at the end of January. Putin talked over the phone with President Aleksander Kwasniewski. According to the communique both leaders confirmed the will to continue the strengthening of good, friendly bilateral relations. Both presidents stressed the "excellent results achieved in economic cooperation (an 80 pct growth of Polish exports in 2004) as well as in cultural contacts.

Rotfeld on Poland's relations with Germany and France

Warsaw, Jan. 7: Poland's involvement in Iraq had a negative influence on this country's relations with other EU countries, mainly with Germany and France, but now the sides are aiming not only at restoring the previous state of these contacts but also at giving them some new quantity, Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld said. For example, new French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier is coming to Poland on January 13, Rotfeld told and stressed that one of the goals of the visit was to improve bilateral relations. Speaking about relations with Germany, Rotfeld said they were also changing for the better. Before German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder had delivered a speech in Poland on August 1, 2004 (the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of Warsaw Rising) he met with President Aleksander Kwasniewski to present him his address, he said. It is very rare in relations between states that significant statements are agreed upon before they are presented in public, Rotfeld stressed.

Rotfeld on Borrell's remarks on Poland

Brussels, Jan.9: The controversial statements on Poland and Lithuania made by the chairman of the EU parliament in December could have some positive effects, too, according to Adam Rotfeld, the newly appointed Polish foreign minister. "There is a certain positive aspect to this affair - Mr Borrell and other politicians now know what is acceptable," Rotfeld said. "Mr Borrell demonstrated to himself and everybody else that as the president of the EU parliament he must control his opinions." "He belongs to a formation that treats the U.S. as the evil empire and states maintaining close relations with the U.S. naturally risk being criticised" by Borrell, Rotfeld said. "However, now a certain border line has been drawn" of what could be accepted in statements by European officials such as Borrell, he added.

Borrell claims his statements were distorted

Brussels, Jan. 9: The chairman of the EU parliament Josep Borell claimed his opinions on Poland voiced during a December 10 conference in Madrid had been distorted in a report issued by the Polish foreign ministry. In a letter to the Law and Justice (PiS) euroMPs Borrell wrote that he understood their emotions after reading a press article on the matter which "was based on a diplomatic dispatch" from the Polish embassy in Madrid to the foreign ministry in Warsaw. The dispatch "distorted my statements in a fundamental way," Borrell claimed. "I sent my firm protest to the foreign minister and expect a public correction," Borrell added.

Szmajdzinski, Colston review Poland's military capabilities

Warsaw, Jan. 7: Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski and visiting NATO's Assistant Secretary General for Defence Planning and Operations John Colston discussed Poland's military capabilities. A visit by a group of experts for NATO defence planning process is connected with a review of military capabilities of all NATO member states held every four years. Colston said he welcomed with satisfaction the upgrading of Poland's system of defence planing as well as the financial stability of the defence ministry's budget allowing for the continuation of work aimed at increasing Poland's military capabilities and the implementation of allied obligations steming from EU and NATO membership. Both Szmajdzinski and Colston expressed the conviction that the informal meeting of defence ministers of NATO states and Russia planned to take place in Nice in February will be an important development allowing to assess the involvement and prospects of implementation of missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Iraq by NATO member countries.

Szczuka: 15-year eurobonds to be issued next week

Warsaw, Jan. 7: Next week's issue of 1-1.5 billion euros worth of eurobonds will be in full allocated to repay Poland's debt towards the Paris Club of creditors, deputy finance minister Wieslaw Szczuka said. On January 5 the finance ministry said that Poland plans to repay early up to 12.3 billion euros it owes to the Paris Club. The operation will be financed from foreign bond issues within 12 to 18 months. Poland's debt towards the Paris Club now stands at 12.3 bn euros with 2.1 billion euros to paid off in 2005.

Sejm wants access to EU markets

Warsaw, Jan. 7: The Sejm EU Committee demanded the government to press the "old" EU members to open their labour markets for Poles within Poland's first 2 EU membership years. The EU countries may impose a maximum 7-year transition period on employing Poles which may be lifted or prolonged after 2 years. What we want is more government pressure (...) on the old EU countries to open their labour markets for Poles, said commission chairman Robert Smolen. Only Britain, Ireland and Sweden have no transition on employment for Poles.

Poland-Germany: courage in facing problems

Warsaw, Jan. 7: Openness and courage in facing past and present problems in Polish-German relations and building foundations for future ties will be the main guidelines in the work of Polish-German cooperation commissioner Irena Lipowicz and her German counterpart Gesine Schwan. Schwan and Lipowicz officially took up office today during Schwan's visit to Poland on an invitation by Warsaw University. According to Schwan Polish-German relations were "asymmetrical" as Poles knew much more about Germany than Germans about Poland, also more Poles spoke German than Germans Polish. Both also promised more oppennes in discussing historical and current conflicts in relations between both countries. We consider it important that (...) there are no taboo subjects, Lipowicz said.

Thailand: Death of one Pole officially confirmed

Warsaw, Jan. 7: The Polish embassy in Bangkok has officially confirmed the death of one Polish citizens in result of the December 26th tsunami, the Polish Foreign Affairs Ministry announced. The ministry said that 12 Polish citizens are still being searched for.

Polish army receives first Rosomak armored vehicles

Warsaw, jan. 9: The Polish army received the first nine Rosomak armored modular vehicles made by Finnish Patria during a ceremony in Siemianowice Slaskie. This year the army is to receive 89 such vehicles and a total of 690 to the end of 2013 worth almost 1.6 billion USD. The Military Mechanical Plant in Siemianowice Slaskie are the Polish partner in the production of Rosomaks. The first batch of vehicles has been produced in Finland, but the vehicles includes a number of Polish elements.

Charity foundation holds 13th annual fund-raising action

Warsaw, Jan. 9: The Grand Christmas Aid Orchestra, a charity organisation raising funds for children hospitals, has staged another nation-wide action. Funds were collected directly by young volunteers, during numerous open air concerts, fairs and auctions, including e-auction. Donations were collected across Poland as well as abroad, in many European capitals, the U.S. as well as in military camps in Iraq. During the past 12 one-day actions, the organisation raised over 53 million USD in medical equipment for children at some 650 hospitals and other social institutions. This year, funds will be spent on diagnostic medical equipment for treating premature babies and infants.

Yushchenko named Man of the Year by Wprost weekly

Warsaw, Jan. 7: Leader of Ukrainian opposition and Ukraine's president-elect Viktor Yushchenko has been honoured by the Wprost weekly with the Man of the Year title. Ukrainian MP and former Foreign Minister Borys Tarasiuk on behalf of Yushchenko thanked for the award during a ceremony held in Warsaw. Tarasiuk read-out a letter from Yushchenko in which the president- elect thanked President Aleksander Kwasniewski, the Polish government, parliament, politicians and millions of Poles for "support so needed by Ukraine in the time of trial of its democracy." The first Wprost Man of the Year title has been granted to 14 year ago.

Poll: Poles are reluctant to join trade unions

Warsaw, Jan. 7: Poles are very reluctant to join trade unions and very rarely work for social organizations, according to a recent CBOS poll. Fifty one percent of the polled work in firms which do not have any trade union organization and 39 percent admit they there are trade unions operating in their companies. 54 percent of them are trade union members. The biggest number of trade unions has been registered in transport and communication companies. Next come education, health service, mining and industry. The majority of respondents (45 pct) believe that trade unions defend all employees and 19 percent claim that they care only for union members. CBOS ran the poll on November 5-8 on a representative sample of 988 adult Poles.

Kwasniewski: 2005 a year of important decisions

Warsaw, Jan. 10: President Aleksander Kwasniewski meeting the diplomatic corps at the traditional New Year meeting said that 2005 will be a year of important anniversaries for Poles, as well as important political decisions. Kwasniewski recalled that this year Poles would vote in parliamentary and presidential elections and possibly take part in a referendum on the EU Constitution. The president said he is convinced that regardless of the results of the elections the top priority directions of Poland's foreign policy will be continued. President Kwasniewski stressed the importance, which Poland attaches to the deepening of partner ties with the USA. He assured that within the EU - Poland will be developing best possible relations with all EU member states. The president added that Poland turns with unflagging attention and interest to its eastern neighbours. We see good prospects for development of our relations with Russia and "we value the historic weight of transformations which have taken place in Ukraine recently," stressed President Kwasniewski.

President and PM meet

Warsaw, Jan. 10: President Aleksander Kwasniewski met with PM Marek Belka. The two politicians discussed the current situation in Poland and the most significant tasks facing the government in 2005. Much attention was paid to the preparations for commemorations marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp on January 27. The PM informed the president about the current economic situation and plans for signing a few significant agreement with foreign investors in the near future. The PM also presented to the president the results of his recent visit to Libya and plans concerning his visits to Japan, Singapore and Vietnam, to take place on January 11-19. Discussed was also the international situation, with special emphasis on Sunday's Palestinian Authority elections and the forthcoming elections in Iraq.

Kwasniewski congratulates Abbas

Warsaw, Jan.10: President Aleksander Kwasniewski congratulated Mahmud Abbas on his election to the post of president of the Palestinian National Authority. "I am convinced that under your leadership, Mr President, the aspirations of the Palestinian nation to live in a sovereign, democratic and secure state will become reality," Kwasniewski wrote in his congratulatory message. He also voiced the hope that "traditionally friendly Polish- Palestinian relations will continue to develop to the benefit of our nations." This objective should be served by the establishment in January, 2005, of the Representation of the Republic of Poland at the Palestinian National Authority in Ramallah, Kwasniewski added.

Kwasniewski meets with Chief Rabbi of Russia

Warsaw, Jan. 10: President Aleksander Kwasniewski met with Berel Lazar, the Chief Rabbi of Russia, in the Presidential Palace. The two discussed ceremonies being prepared to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp in Oswiecim, and expressed the hope that the ceremonies will convey in a dignified way the full knowledge about the past to the whole world.

Cardinal Lustiger to represent pope at Auschwitz commemorations

Vatican City, Jan. 10: The archbishop of Paris, Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, will be John Paul's special envoy at ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp's liberation on Januray 27, the Vatican said in a statement. Lustiger's parents were killed in Auschwitz. The commemorations of the 60th anniversary of the Nazi death camp's liberation by the Red Army will be attended by 35 state leaders and a dozen or so foreign ministers. Former Auschwitz inmates and Red Army veterans are also expected to attend the ceremonies.

French Foreign Minister to visit Warsaw on January, 13

Warsaw, Jan. 10: Poland is an important partner for France, like Italy or Great Britain. There are certain differences between our countries but they must be overcomed in favour of a positive and constructive partnership, French Ambassador to Poland Pierre Menat told ahead of the visit to Poland by French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier. The French Minister will visit Warsaw to discuss "common European problems", including the ratification of the EU Constitution, EU budget plans for 2007-2013, as well as bilateral relations and preparations for the French-Polish summit meeting planned in Paris on February 28. The meeting is to be attended by the Polish and French presidents and PM's. Ambassador Menat recalling that France is planning to stage its referendum on the EU constitution "before the summer of 2005" said that although Poland has not yet decided on the date of the vote still both sides plan to hold a series of conferences in the forthcoming months to "openly debate" on the future of the EU constitution. The ambassador expressed the conviction that France and Poland will also manage to reach an agreement on the future shape of the EU budget. Referring to bilateral relations, Ambassador Menat noted that the last several years saw some difficulties steming from basic differences in stands on such issues as the policy towards Iraq but also from lack of necessary dialogue. Ambassador Menat assessed that this dialogue is starting to develop in the political as well as in other spheres of life. The French ambassador highly assessed Poland's mediation during the crisis in Ukraine.

Polish euroMP calls on Borrell to step down

Brussels, Jan. 10: Miroslaw Piotrowski, an euroMP from the League of Polish Families (LPR), called on Josep Borrell, the head of the EU parliament, to step down in connection with his statements on Poland. Borrell once gain denied having criticised Poland. "I firmly demand Borrell's resignation from his post," Piotrowski said during parliamentary debates in Strasbourg. "If anyone should resign then certainly not me," Borrell replied. "Perhaps someone at the Polish embassy in Madrid should." The embassy made a report on Borrell's address to a conference held in Madrid in December 2004, claiming that he had criticised the Polish role in Iraq and Ukraine. "The memorandum compiled at the embassy is 80 pc not based on facts," Borrell claimed. "I have asked the Polish foreign ministry for a public correction." Borrell wrote foreign minister Adam Rotfeld asking for explanations on the embassy memorandum.

Truszczynski appointed secretary of state

Warsaw, Jan. 10: Jan Truszczynski has been appointed by the PM Secretary of State at the Foreign Ministry. Truszczynski, up to now deputy secretary of state, will fill the vacancy left by Adam Rotfeld who has been appointed Poland's foreign Minister last week.

Unemployment under 17 pct possible

Warsaw, Jan. 10: Poland's unemployment could go down to 17 percent by the end of this year, deputy PM Jerzy Hausner told. Last week deputy economy minister Piotr Kulpa informed that unemployment in December 2004 had risen to 19 percent from 18.7 percent in November. This year's budget assumes an 18.2-percent end-year unemployment rate. Unemployment could close at under 17 percent, or 2.6 million people. This is my goal and I believe it is attainable, Hausner said.

Annual inflation to drop below 3 percent in 2005, Gronicki

Warsaw, Jan. 10: The annual average inflation should drop below 3 percent in 2005 from 3.5 percent in 2004 while the GDP growth should stand at 5 percent against 5.6-5.7 percent recorded in 2004, Finance Minister Miroslaw Gronicki said. "(The minister) confirmed optimistic expectations as to the economic growth that in 2004 probably stood at 5.6-5.7 percent and may be around 5 percent in 2005. At the same time the inflation should go down from the average 3.5 percent in 2004 to below 3.0 percent at the end of 2005," the Finance Ministry said in a communique issued following Gronicki's meeting with foreign investors. November's inflation was 4.5 percent and the December data will be released by Central Statistical Office GUS on January 17.

Reserve assets down in December

Warsaw, Jan. 10: The official reserve assets went down in December by 1,183.9 million euros to 26,966.5 million euros from 28,150.4 million euros in November, the National Bank of Poland NBP has said. Since 2004 the data on official reserve assets have been calculated in the euro and not in the USD as before.

Rzeczpospolita: Walesa to become EU advisor

Warsaw, Jan. 10: Slovak EU Commissioner Jan Figel has asked former Polish president Lech Walesa to become a special EU advisor, Rzeczpospolita said quoting an unofficial source. According to the source, Walesa accepted the proposal. "I will keep repeating in Brussels that is was Poland and Poles who made it possible for Europe to unite," Walesa told. "Europe should be based on Christian values and the Decalogue. (...) I am going to warn against transforming European structures into oligarchy," he stressed. For Polish eurodeputy Janusz Lewandowski this proposal has been a proof of treating Walesa as a symbol of the Polish bloodless revolution. "This is the best way to use his political talent and prestige he is enjoying abroad," Lewandowski said.

Rokita on Polish approach to EU constitution

Warsaw, Jan. 10: Poland should refrain from taking a clear-cut position on the EU Constitutional Treaty and hope for a chance of its renegotiation later, leader of the Citizens Platform (PO) and prime ministerial hopeful Jan Rokita believes. Asked why PO's euroMPs will abstain from voting during the forthcoming debate on the Constitutional Treaty scheduled in the EU parliament, Rokita said: "We believe that Poland's clear-cut position is premature." In his opinion Poland should wait for a chance of renegotiating the Treaty that might surface if and when it is not ratified by any one of the EU member states. "Sooner or later the Treaty will fall in one of the EU countries," Rokita claimed. "At that moment we should seek its renegotiation, make it more advantageous for Poland and only then ratify," PO leader said. At present one can discuss the Treaty in terms of its approval or rejection, he continued. "It is in Poland's interest to be neither for nor against the Treaty, but to be for something that can be renegotiated," Rokita explained. If a referendum on the Treaty's ratification is held in Poland this year, it may prove an obstacle to a later renegotiation by Poland, Rokita claimed. "Poles will most likely support the Treaty and Poland will be excluded from the renegotiation process," he warned.

Over 7 million USD in Sunday fund raising event

Warsaw, Jan. 10: Over 23 million 218 thousand zlotys, or an equivalent of nearly 7.5 million USD were collected during the last Sunday's finals of the 13th Grand Christmas Aid Orchestra (WOSP) nationwide fund-raising campaign in Poland, WOSP Foundation vice president, cardiac surgeon Bohdan Maruszewski told. The final sum raised will be known at the end of February as the counting of money still continued. The Sunday charity campaign was also held abroad, including in the USA, Great Britain, Germany, Greece and Polish military camps in Iraq. The money will be destined for the purchase of diagnostic equipment for neonatal intensive care units and pediatric wards.

Borrell: I await reaction from Polish authorities

Strasbourg, Jan. 11: European Parliament President Josep Borrell wants the Polish authorities to acknowledge that he never spoke critical words about Poland. Borrell uttered his expectations during his talks with PAP and TVP reporters. Borrell has been sharply criticised recently over his alleged critical remarks about Poland during a press conference in Madrid on Dec. 10.

Cimoszewicz: Vote on shortening Sejm term may be held May 5

Warsaw, Jan. 11: The vote of the resolution to cut short the Sejm term might be held on May 5. The resolution, if adopted, would open the way to announce early elections, which could take place on June 19, Cimoszewicz said after his meeting with PM Marek Belka. Earlier Cimoszewicz said that the second half of June would not be a bad date for general elections. In an interview for Radio Bialystok he spoke in favour of cutting short the present term of parliament and early spring elections. The speaker recalled that Poland is organising a summit of the Council of Europe in Warsaw in May - "potentially the most important political development in Europe in the entire 2005." Cimoszewicz added that "we would compromise ourselves...if we call off the summit or organise the elections directly near (the summit's) date, as in such situation a number of politicians ... would not decide to come to Warsaw to avoid getting involved in any way in the election campaign."

Polish general responsible for training Iraqi soldiers

Warsaw, Jan. 11: General Bronislaw Kwiatkowski will be responsible for training at the NATO command centre for the new Iraqi Army but not the centre's commander, defence minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski explained. Kwiatkowski will assume his duties at the start of February for the period of three months. The NATO centre will be supervised by a U.S. general. Kwiatkowski, 54, was the commander of the 6th landing-assault brigade for 4 years, since April 2004 was working in the Training Centre of NATO Joint Forces in Bydgoszcz and next was deputy commander of multinational force in Iraq. Before leaving for Iraq the general will undergo a two-week training in Naples.

General Tyszkiewicz awarded with U.S. Bronze Start Medal

Warsaw, Jan. 11: General Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, former commander of the multinational centre-south division in Iraq has been decorated with the U.S. Bronze Star Medal. General Tyszkiewicz, currently deputy commander of land forces, was decorated by U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe during a ceremony held in Warsaw. The Defence Ministry wrote in a press release.

Number of missing Poles in Asia down to 10

Warsaw, Jan. 11: The number of Poles missing after December 26th quake and tsunami disaster in South-East Asia has gone down from 12 to 10, the Foreign Ministry reported. "We managed to get in touch with a man who was not answering his cellular phone. He is all right. A missing woman who was travelling in Asia returned to Poland," Ministry's spokesman Aleksander Checko said in a communique. The Ministry continues to be in touch with families of all missing Poles, the communique said.

Belka before commission

Warsaw, Jan. 11: A special parliamentary commission to deal with corruption around the PKN Orlen oil concern will question PM Marek Belka, the PM will probably appear before the commission this March. I'm a bit short for time. This is not fear on my part but a feeling I'll be wasting time, which is something I haven't too much of, Belka told journalists asked if he feared the commission. Belka is to be questioned in connection with his 2002 negotiations with Orlen shareholder Bank of New York as Polish finance minister. Commission chairman Jozef Gruszka said that the commission will present a report on to-date investigations into the illegal 2002 arrest of Orlen CEO Andrzej Modrzejewski next week.

Poland sells three billion euros' worth of Eurobonds

Warsaw, Jan. 11: Poland has sold 3 bn euros' worth of 15-year Eurobonds with demand at 5.5 billion, finance minister Miroslaw Gronicki told. We sold 3 billion euros' worth of Eurobonds. Demand was at 5.5 billion, Gronicki said. Securities were rated at 27 base points above average swap quotations. Poland originally planned to sell 1.5 bn euros' worth of Eurobonds.

Socha: privatisation adviser for WSE still this week

Warsaw, Jan. 11: Treasury Minister Jacek Socha said that his ministry could select privatisation advisor for the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) by the end of the week. The Polish operation of Rothschild investment bank and a consortium of McKinsey & Company Poland, CDM Pekao brokerage and Ernst & Young Audit have submitted bids for the job. According to Socha, sale of the company to a strategic investor would go more smoothly than a floatation of the WSE on its own floor. Unofficial sources say the two scenarios could be combined.

Food for poverty-stricken Poles

Warsaw, Jan. 11: Poland's poorest will receive 44.1 mn USD worth of food products under an EU-financed poverty relief programme, head of the programme-coordinating Agricultural Market Agency (ARR) Roman Wenerski informed. This will be the second EU poverty programme in Poland. Under the scheme ARR, which also ran Poland's first food aid scheme, will distribute tranches of cost-free food products to selected companies, which will pass them on to charity organisations.

Russia raises pork quotas

Warsaw, Jan. 11: Russia has raised its pork import quotas to 467.4 thousand tons from 450 thousand tons in 2004, the Product.ru portal informed Tuesday. The Import quotas for EU pork have been set at 236 thousand tons, the quota for U.S. meat is 53.8 thousand, and from other countries at 176.6 thousand tons. Earlier this month Russia decided to distribute 25 percent of the quotas among importers in proportion to the quantity of pork they provide. As of September 1, 2004 Polish meat exporters to Russia need special certification for their products.

Almost 3 thousand policemen to protect Auschwitz ceremonies

Cracow, Jan. 11: Almost 2.8 thousand policemen will look after the security during observances of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi concentration camp to be held on January 27. The ceremonies are to be attended by 37 heads of states, including over 20 presidents. Head of the Malopolska province police Andrzej Wozniak said that local police force will be reinforced by some 800 policemen from other provinces.

Theatre Studio from Berlin on guest performances in Warsaw

Warsaw, Jan. 11: Students of the German Transform Schauspielschule theatrical school operating as part of the Polish-German Studio Theatre in Berlin will come to Warsaw with the production of Tadeusz Rozewicz's "White Marriage" in Warsaw's Theatre Academy Collegium Nobilium students' stage. "White Marriage" is part of the project "Rozewicz: Warsaw-Berlin". Last October students of the Theatre Academy of Warsaw presented Rozewicz's "The Files" in Berlin. The project is sponsored by the Berlin senate and the Polish-German Cooperation Foundation. Rozewicz's play was directed by Janina Szarek, former actress of a Wroclaw Theatre now for some 20 years in Germany. Currently she is the artistic director of Berlin's Studio company.

Achim Freyer to conduct workshops in Warsaw

Warsaw, Jan. 11: Achim Freyer, the German painter, stage director and designer will conduct workshops "Warten auf Traume" (Waiting for Dreams) in Warsaw's Grand Theatre National Opera between January 22 and 25. The Polish audience will also have an opportunity to take part in the rehearsals of the Freyer-Ensemble founded by Achim Freyer in 1988. The group is composed of actors, acrobats, musicians, dancers and stage designers. Achim Freyer is considered the most versatile artists in the contemporary theatre. His production in the musical theatre made his name most famous. "The Magic Flute" in Hamburgische Staatsoper in 1982 was acclaimed as the production of the century and "Turandot" and "Persefona" in Teatro La Fenice brought him the prize of the Italian critics for the best production of the year. His most recent production of Hector Berlioz's "The Damnation of Faust" prepared for the Los Angeles Opera in cooproduction with Warsaw's Grand Theatre met with enthusiastic reception of critics and audience in Los Angeles (2003) and Warsaw (2004).

Kwasniewski, Yushchenko may travel to Davos together

Warsaw, Jan. 12: It is not excluded that Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski and Ukrainian President-elect Viktor Yushchenko will travel together to Davos for the World Economic Forum at the end of January, Oleh Rybachuk, Yushchenko's closest aide said. Rybachuk recalled that Yushchenko is scheduled to visit Poland to take part in ceremonies marking the 60th anniversay of the liberation of the Nazi Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp to take place on January 27. After the ceremonies the two leaders may leave together for Davos. Referring to the situation in Iraq, Rybachuk assured that the Ukrainian contingent will not make "Spanish style" exit from Iraq. There will be consultations with our allies, instead of one-sided steps said Rybachuk. Commenting on his country's relations with Russia, Rybachuk said Ukraine will propose Russia pragmatic cooperation.

Chalas appointed new infrastructure deputy minister

Warsaw, Jan. 12: PM Marek Belka appointed Marek Chalas deputy minister for infrastructure, the Government Information Centre announced. Chalas (b.1949) graduated from mathematics and sociology faculties at Lodz Uniwersity. A businessman, he is member of the Lodz Business Club. Married, with two children.

Regional Partnership discusses support for Ukraine, Belarus

Warsaw, Jan. 12: Common support for the process of reforms taking place in Ukraine was discussed at the meeting in Warsaw of foreign ministers of six states cooperating within the Regional Partnership (RP.) At a press conference the foreign ministers of Poland, Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovenia agreed that Ukraine should be supported in such areas as development of market economy, striving for WTO membership and liberalisation of the visa regime. The ministers also discussed the EU plan for Ukraine. Polish Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld observed that the plan does not take into account change in the situation in that country. The Regional Partnership states will favour the working out of a document which the EU will present to Ukraine in nearest future. Rotfeld said the document will open new vistas for Ukraine. The ministers also discussed EU neighbourhood policy and contacts with Belarus in this context. Rotfeld said situation in Belarus arouses concern in the whole of Europe, and above all in Poland. Changes in Belarus should be supported by all of us. Poland will certainly support them at the non-governmental organisation level and any other form, Rotfeld declared. The RP ministers stressed the necessity to support strivings of the west Balkan countries to EuroAtlantic integration and welcomed the decision to start accession negotiations with Croatia in March, 2005. The ministers pointed to other areas of cooperation in reacting to humanitarian catastrophes and natural disasters, like the one that has just hit South-East Asia. The Warsaw meeting was the fifth in the series of regional consultations of the RP foreign ministers.

Borrell affair media-driven, minister says

Warsaw, Jan. 12: The recent publicity around EP chairman Josep Borrell's criticism of Poland was mainly media-driven and it is the media that owe an apology in the affair, Polish foreign minister Adam Rotfeld said commenting public reactions to the statements. On December 21 during a speech at Madrid's prestigious Foro Nueva Economia Foundation Borrell allegedly accused Poland of having "closer ties to Ukraine than the EU", criticised Poland's Iraq operation and complained about anti-European moods in the country. Among others he stated that "Turkey is no threat to the EU's integrity considering it accepted Britain and Poland". In a letter to Rotfeld Borrell wrote that his words had been quoted out of context and misinterpreted, he also voiced surprise at the Polish press's treatment of the issue. According to Rotfeld the whole affair was blown out of proportion by the media. There is no reason for either side to roll out any guns, he said.

French Foreign Minister on one-day visit to Poland

Warsaw, Jan. 12: French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier is starting a one-day working visit to Poland to discuss with his Polish counterpart Adam Rotfeld questions linked to the European integration process, transatlantic relations, eastern policy and situation in the Middle East. Bilateral relations, including France's presence in Poland and preparations for a visit by Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski in France scheduled for February 28 as well as a Chirac-Kwasniewski meeting on January 27 during commemorations of the 60th anniversary of the Auschwitz-Birkenau nazi death camp liberation will also figure on the agenda of the talks.

Italian minister for Europe on visit to Warsaw

Warsaw, Jan. 12: Italian Minister for Europe Rocco Buttiglione on a visit to Poland at the invitation of his Polish counterpart Minister Jaroslaw Pietras will discuss in Warsaw the future EU budget, the Constitutional Treaty and the Lisbon Strategy. This is a matter of an opening of a political character. We have good contacts with Italians but we would like to give them a political stamp, Pietras told. For him this is all the more important that on many points, eg. the future EU budget, Polish and Italian stands are different.

Polish peace troops off to Iraq

Wroclaw, Jan. 12: A group of 160 soldiers of the 4th shift of the Polish stabilisation troops left for Iraq. Major-General Waldemar Skrzypaczak, the new commander of the International Division of Stabilisation Forces in Iraq departed with the soldiers. Skrzypczak said that he was only afraid of terrorist attacks in Iraq. "But I hope we will return in the same line-up that we are departing," he stressed. He added that the 4th shift of the Polish stabilisation troops was best prepared because "it was built on the experience and wisdom of predecessors." There will be 1,700 soldiers in the 4th shift of the Polish stabilisation troops. They will be leaving to Iraq until mid-February.

Iraq: Polish zone smaller after Ukrainian pullout

Divaniyah, Jan. 12: The province Wasit will be excluded from the Polish-commanded stabilization zone in south-central Iraq after Ukraine's withdrawal from Iraq, Polish general Waldemar Skrzypczak said in Camp Echo in Divaniyah. 1,300 Ukrainians are currently serving in the 5,500-strong south-central stabilization force controlling the Iraqi provinces Babil, al-Kaddisiyah and Wasit. Outgoing Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma ordained the preparation of a pullout plan for Iraq-stationed Ukrainian troops. Kuchma said all Ukrainian forces should be out of Iraq by midyear.

SdPl: EU constitution referendum with June elections

Warsaw, Jan. 12: The Social Democracy of Poland (SdPl) wants a referendum of the EU Constitution to be held together with early parliamentary elections, SdPl leader Marek Borowski said. Borowski told that SdPl wanted to cut short the current term of office of Polish Parliament and that elections should be held on June 19 or 26. The SdPl leader appealed to all parties to agree to hold the EU Constitution referendum on the same date. If it is not possible SdPl will ask the president and Senate to announce the referendum together with the June elections, Borowski said. He also said that a referendum proposed by the Citizens' Platform on amendments to the Constitution could be also held at the same time (PO 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). Borowski stressed that putting off the moment when Poles are to present their opinion on the EU Treaty was harmful as it was "pushing Poland to the second line" in the EU. We should be in the first line if we want to play a significant role in union, he added.

Preparations for Auschwitz camp anniversary underway

Warsaw, Jan. 12: "Some 10 thousand guests are expected to arrive in Oswiecim on January 27 to attend ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. Among them kings, presidents, PM's and heads of parliaments from some 40 countries. "Specialists from Israel arrived in Cracow yesterday for a reconaissance. Earlier Cracow was visited by representatives of the security services from other countries, including Russia" the Gazety Krakowska reported. The daily went on to say that the Russian president will arrive in a special plane, will be driven in his own limousine, and will be under protection of Russian services. France's president Jacques Chirac will come only for one day. No details have been released as yet about a dinner to be attended by world leaders.

Polish and Russian border cooperation

Szczecin, Jan. 12: Data and personal exchange and joint operations are foreseen under cooperation plan for Polish and Russian border guards. A schedule of future projects signed in Szczecin by Poland's and Russia's border guard commanders forsees exchanges of liaison officers, mutual visits by patrol vessels and joint safety operations in the Polish-Russian border area. The schedule covers 2005 and 2006.

Forum 500: Poland to major service provider

Warsaw, Jan. 12: Poland could develop into a major service provider for the EU, mainly thanks to its cheap labour, according to former General Electric CEO Jack Welch who attended the Forum 500 business conference in Warsaw. Launched for the first time on Forum 500 will group Poland's top company executives in debates on pressing economic issues. Welch, one of the world's best managers, was a special guest at the meeting. According to Welch Poland's main strength on the EU service market was its cheap and well-skilled labour force and closeness to the EU countries.

Eugenio Barba of Odin Teatret comes to Poland

Wroclaw, Jan. 12: Eugenio Barba, the founder of the famous Odin Teatret of Denmark will take part in the 14th session of the International School of Theatre Anthropology (ISTA) to be held in Wroclaw and Krzyzowa, southwest Poland, in early April. ISTA has its seat in Holstebro in Denmark. Its international core is composed of practitioners and theoreticians engaged in the study of anthropology of the theatre. The Polish programme is prepared in cooperation with the Centre for Study of Jerzy Grotowski's Work and for Cultural and Theatrical Research in Wroclaw. The Polish session may be attended by actors, dancers, choreographers, theoreticians and theatre critics from all over the world.

Balicki most influential person in health service - poll

Warsaw, Jan. 12: Health Minister Marek Balicki was the most influential person in Poland's health service in 2004 according to a poll conducted by Puls Medycyny bi-weekly. "I'm happy that finally it is the head of the Health Ministry who is the most influential person," Balicki told. Renowned heart surgeon, Professor Zbigniew Religa was named second most influential person. Deputy PM Jerzy Hausner closed the top three. The poll was carried among doctors, pharmacologists, members of health-related social organizations. Meanwhile, 61 per cent of Poles taking part in a CBOS poll said they were dissatisfied with the level of health service.

Terrorism: shootdown procedures in force

Warsaw, Jan. 13: A government decree specifying procedures necessary to shoot down terrorist-controlled aircraft came in force in Poland. Under the new law decisions to blast such machines will lie with the defence minister. We've practiced such situations and I know how the whole procedure works. This will certainly be one of the toughest decisions to make, defence minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski told. Today's decree is based on a 2004 amendment to Poland's border control laws.

Belka visits Toyota

Tokyo, Jan. 13: PM Marek Belka visited the headquarters of the Toyota car company in Nagoi. Belka was shown around the company by Toyota's founder and honorary president Shoichiro Toyoda, he also met Polish employees of a Toyota engine plant in Walbrzych, south Poland, in Japan for training. PM Belka was also received by Japan's crown prince Naruhito and discussed Polish-Japanese economic cooperation with Toyota supervisory board head Hiroshi Okuda. Belka stressed that Poland was ready to provide good conditions for Japanese investors, he also announced the opening of an investment consulting centre in Japan by Poland's Information and Foreign Investment Agency (PAIiIZ). Accompanying the PM in Japan are among others finance minister Miroslaw Gronicki and treasury minister Jacek Socha.

Cimoszewicz commemorates anniversary in Lithuania, meets Adamkus

Vilnius, Jan. 13: Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz paid tribute to the victims of the storm on the Vilnius television tower in 1991 at the start of his two-day visit to the capital of Lithuania. Cimoszewicz laid flowers at the Antokol Cemetery on the 14th anniversary of the tragic events. Earlier in the day Cimoszewicz met with President Valdas Adamkus. Cimoszewicz's programme also includes a dinner with his Lithuanian counterpart, Sejmas speaker Arturas Paulauskas at whose invitation he had come to Vilnius. On January, 14 Cimoszewicz will meet with Paulauskas and Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas.

Rotfeld: Poland's and France's stands identical on key issues

Warsaw, Jan. 13: On everything connected with bilateral issues on the political and multilateral level - with regard to the EU, the OSCE and the UN - Poland's and France's stands are identical, Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld assessed after his talks with French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier. Barnier on his part said that due to historical, cultural and economic reasons cooperation between Poland and France should be consolidated. Ministers Barnier and Rotfeld attended the ceremony of inaugurating a new French Embassy building in Warsaw. The French minister added that the Polish-French dialogue should become more effective in order to make it possible to better understand each and remove earlier misunderstandings. Barnier stressed the significance of the Polish-French cooperation on the EU forum, especially with regard to explaining the importance of the EU Constitution and EU eastern policy. According to Barnier, "a proof of European success" has been visible in Polish-French relations. And we still have a lot to do together, he added. The French minister also appreciated Poland's role in solving the political crisis in Ukraine. Poland has played an important role increasing credibility of the Union's activities in this part of Europe, he stressed. Rotfeld expressed the hope that Barnier's talks in Warsaw "will have an influence on France's and Poland's decisions within the EU about the new financial prospects," he said referring to the EU draft budget for 2007-2013. Speaking to journalists former foreign minister, Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz said Poland should intensify dialogue with France concerning EU's common foreign policies, especially the eastern policy. Cimoszewicz expressed the hope that Barnier's visit and the meeting of the two countries' presidents scheduled for February will lead also to a discussion on the eastern policy. The future of the EU eastern policy depends on Poland, France and Germany coming to common conclusions, Cimoszewicz said. According to Barnier cooperation between Poland and France should cover the work on the EU budget for 2007-2013, winning European societies for the EU constitution, changes in Ukraine, political and economic reconstruction of Iraq, support for the peace process in the Middle East and cooperation in coping with natural disasters like the one that hit South-East Asia. The French minister assured of France's readiness to conduct talks on the future EU budget in a sincere and constructive way. He also recalled that a special working group in France deals with the problem of opening the French labour market to Poles. Numerous meetings, including those at the highest level will provide an opportunity to tighten Polish-French contacts. President Jacques Chirac and Barnier are to be among guests to the ceremonies of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp. Minister Barnier congratulated President Aleksander Kwasniewski his commitment to effective mediations in negotiations with the view to overcoming the political crisis in Ukraine and stressed Poland's significant role in the region. Barnier confirmed that President Chirac will be represented at the EC summit in Warsaw in May. The meeting highly assessed the present bilateral political dialogue and the development of bilateral economic, scientific and cultural contacts, and stressed the need to intensify Poland's and France's cooperation within the postulated "new opening" in mutual relations.

Polish troop cuts in Iraq not to weaken multinational force

Sofia, Jan. 13: Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski and his Bulgarian counterpart Nikolai Svinarov discussed the situation in Iraq and the two countries' participation in the multinational coalition there. According to Szmajdzinski who paid a one-day working visit to Bulgaria, Poland's plan to cut its military contingent in Iraq by 700 troops following Iraqi elections in mid-February will not affect the multinational force. Szmajdzinski expressed satisfaction over military cooperation of both countries in Iraq and confirmed the Polish force cut to 1,700 troops from the present 2,500 men after Iraqi elections. The minister told that the troops cut was accompanied by the increased number of helicopters and armoured vehicles and a cut down on logistics, so the overall military readiness would not be affected. Svinarov said Bulgaria would decide by March whether to withdraw its troops from Iraq or keep them there until the end of 2005.

Buttiglione: Italy opts for "big" EU budget

Warsaw, Jan. 13: According to Italian Minister for Europe Rocco Buttiglione his country is in favour of the EU draft budget for 2007-2013 as authored by the EC. Smaller budget would not make it possible to achieve EU's planned objectives. Speaking about the Commission-proposed draft Buttiglione said "we believe it is sensible because it ensures support for the new member countries and ensures economic development of less developed countries in the whole Union, he said. Buttiglione is on a three-day visit to Poland. On Wednesday he gave a lecture in the Catholic University in Lublin, eastern Poland, and on Thursday he came to Warsaw at the invitation of his Polish counterpart Minister Jaroslaw Pietras. During the talks in Warsaw Pietras pointed out that in questions of the policy of coherence and agricultural policy Poland and Italy have much in common. "We must seek good compromises," Battiglione declared. He believes that it is no good to create coalitions over some issues, it is better to conduct an open dialogue with as many countries as possible representing similar stands, he said. In his opinion coalitions aimed to exclude or diminish the role of other countries are "no good" for the Union. The Italian guest also spoke in favour of the EU Constitutional Treaty.

Walesa: eastern countries could help EU

Riga, Jan. 13: The eastern European countries, which have experienced communism, could help make EU procedures more effective, ex-president Lech Walesa said in Riga opening a conference on the new EU members's role in the Union. It's good that we are in the EU but we plan to use our experience to change it. We will be able to tell this wonderful Europe which direction to take, Walesa said. Latvian politician and former dissident Dainis Ivans called Poland's 1980 Solidarity movement a symbol of all east-European freedom struggles. Asked if he planned to run in the coming presidential elections in Poland Walesa said he saw "no room" for himself in the ballot. In Riga Walesa opened a Paths to Freedom exhibition devoted to important historical events in Poland and east Europe. Walesa and Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberg laid wreaths underneath a monument to the 1905 revolution.

Declarations of Paris Club creditors next week

Warsaw, Jan. 13: Declarations of respective creditors grouped in the Paris Club concerning the consent for possible early repayment by Poland of its debt are to be known by the end of next week, deputy Finance Minister Wieslaw Szczuka said. Poland plans to pay off up to 12.3 billion euros it owes to the Paris Club creditors. The whole operation of early repayment will be financed from foreign bond issues staged gradually over the next 12 to 18 months.

Pengab falls 0.6 point to 28.8 points

Warsaw, Jan. 13: Pengab, banks sentiment indicator fell in January 0.6 point from the December figure to 28.8 points, indicates a recent Pentor survey commissioned by the Union of Polish Banks and published on January, 13. Despite the fall, Pengab has the highest value reported in January since 2001 and is up 3.7 percentage points from January 2004, Pentor said. According to bankers, last year's economic growth had the best influence on the condition of the Polish banking sector. Other positive factors include Poland's joining the EU and the level of interest rates whereas negative factors are the high unemployment rate and competition between banks. Forty eight percent of banks reported a rise of cash deposits on current accounts in zlotys (1 percentage point down from December). Time deposits rose in 52 percent of banks (up 3 percentage points from December). 50 percent of banks expect growing deposits on current accounts (3 percentage points less). Forty seven percent of banks expect time deposits to grow and 13 percent believe they will fall. Sixty four percent of banks reported a bigger number of credits granted in zlotys and 17 reported a fall. Seventy eight percent of banks expect to grant more credits and 5 percent expect the opposite. Fifty six percent of bankers believe that 2005 will be better for the sector than 2004.

Value of investment funds market may grow to 14.5 b USD

Warsaw, Jan. 13: The value of the Polish market of investment funds may grow to 14.5 billion USD in 2005, according to Daniel Kingsbury, CEO of Pioneer Pekao Investment Management. Zbigniew Jagiello, CEO of Pioneer Pekao TFI said that by 2007 the market may be two times bigger than in 2003. Jagiello said he expects that the number of funds will continue to grow in the near future. According to Jagiello their number may grow to from the present 150 to over 200 in 2005.

Can-Pack to open 35 m USD can plant in Romania

Cracow, Jan. 13: Can-Pack Group, a Cracow-based maker of cans will open a new plant in Romania in the first half of 2005. The 35 million USD plant is to produce aluminium beverage cans. The plant will produce 1,700 cans per minute. It will employ some 200 people. Malgorzata Podrecka of Can-Pack SA said the decision to build a can plant in Romania was made in light of good prospects of the development of the Balkan region markets. Can-Pack Group is a subsidiary of American F&P Holding Inc.

President on shooting down terrorist-controlled aircraft

Warsaw, Jan. 14: President Aleksander Kwasniewski admitted that the decree granting a defence minister the right to issue an order to shoot down a terrorist-controlled aircraft was a very dramatic solution. I think that many states will adopt such regulations for situations posing the highest threat to security when it is obvious that a plane is controlled by terrorists planning to destroy something very significant, the president told. The government decree specifying procedures necessary to shoot down terrorist-controlled aircraft came in force in Poland. Under the new law decisions to shoot down such machines will lie with the defence minister. The decree is based on a 2004 amendment to Poland's border control laws.

Kwasniewski for January 30 elections in Iraq

Warsaw, Jan. 14: President Aleksander Kwasniewski is firmly in favour of going ahead with Iraqi elections on January 30. He told that resignation from this date would be a form of encouragement for terrorists and a certain form of their victory. According to the president it is possible, thanks to an enormous effort on the part of stabilization forces and the Iraqi people, "to stage at least good elections, that is such which would allow to form a government with a more or less good mandate for this first stage." Referring to a decision of the Ukrainian president to withdraw the Ukrainian contingent from Iraq, Kwasniewski said that "everyone wants to withdraw from Iraq. (...) We are also talking about pulling out, however the way and dates of withdrawal must be rational."

Kwasniewski: June election date "acceptable"

Warsaw, Jan. 14: President Aleksander Kwasniewski thinks that the June date of parliamentary elections is "acceptable," while the first round of presidential elections should take place together with a referendum on the EU Constitutional Treaty. Kwasniewski speaking for Polish Radio One said general elections could be held on June 19 or 26. The president noted that the question of the date of parliamentary elections is in the hands of MPs as they have to first decide to cut short the present term of parliament. President Kwasniewski was sceptical about the possibility of holding general elections, the first round of presidential elections and the referendum on one day.

PM talks on investments and cooperation during Japanese visit

Tokyo, Jan. 14: During his discussions in Tokyo PM Marek Belka presented Poland as a fast growing market, the biggest and most dynamic among the ten new EU member states, full of new chances for Japanese investors. In similar words Poland was characterised by head of the Japanese-Polish Economic Committee Tetsuo Sekija, who opened a Polish-Japanese economic seminar in Tokyo. Poland has a strategic position, cheap and qualified workforce, Sekija stressed. We encourage Japanese investors to increase their involvement in Poland, Marek Belka told. He added he also counted on tighter political cooperation. Poland also sees chances for dialogue with Japan within the Europe-Asia Forum. The two countries support UN reform. Recently a new field for cooperation opened in Ukraine, where Poland and Japan put forward a new initiative in education. The talks of the Polish PM with his Japanese counterpart Junichiro Koizumi focused on bilateral relations and international situation. The Japanese PM said that Poland's EU entry opened new chances of bilateral cooperation. Also discussed were the consequences of the Asian tsunami disaster. The Polish PM was received by Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

Polish PM begins visit to Vietnam

Hanoi, Jan. 16: A Polish delegation headed by PM Marek Belka spent, the first day of its visit to Vietnam, in the seaside locality of Ha Long in the Quang Ninh province. The Polish PM met with head of the People's Committee of the Quang Ninh province, Vu Nguy Nhiem. In attendance were representatives of shipyard and coal corporations. The delegation went on a cruise on the famous Ha Long Bay, which is ranked as one of the wonders of the world, because of a spectacular seascape of limestone rocks. On January, 17 Marek Belka will hold talks with Vietnam's PM Phan Van Khai, President Tran Duc Luong and Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Van An and Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nong Duc Manhm. During the three-day visit in Vietnam the Polish PM will also take part in a Poland-Vietnam Business Forum and meet Vietnamese graduates of Polish universities. During the visit an agreement on cooperation in agriculture, on development of rural areas and agricultural markets as well as an agreement on cooperation in education and sport in 2005-2008 will be signed. The Polish PM spent also several hours in Singapore where he met Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong for talks on bilateral relations and some problems of international situation. At a press conference after the meeting the two PM's stressed new chances for cooperation between Poland and Singopore after Poland's joining the EU and the Europe-Asia ASEN Forum. Also raised was the issue of boosting economic relations and increasing of Singaporean investments in Poland.

Initiative to setup Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian assembly

Vilnius, Jan. 14: Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz and his Lithuanian counterpart Arturas Paulauskas discussed the setting up of a Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian Parliamentary assembly and problems of Poles living in Lithuania. Similar bilateral assemblies are functioning in all the three countries. Cimoszewicz said that their heads should discuss the idea of setting up of a trilateral assembly. "Without doubts Poland and Lithuania should continue to lead a very active policy of supporting all positive political transformations in Ukraine. If parliaments may join this (policy) in such form than of course it is a very good idea," said Cimoszewicz. According to him Poland and Lithuania should convince all their partners in Europe that "good neighbourly relations with our eastern neighbours are important for the entire Europe, not only for Poland or Lithuania."

Iraq: Ukraine not in Spain's footsteps

Gdansk, Jan. 14: We have good faith in Ukraine's declaration, that it won't repeat the Spanish scenario, Polish defence minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski said commenting Ukraine's recent decision to withdraw its 1,600-strong force from Iraq's Polish-controlled south-central stabilization zone. Spanish PM Jose Luis Zapatero announced Spain's withdrawal from the Iraq operation without warning on April 18 of last year, one day after taking office. Szmajdzinski said he hoped Ukraine's pullout from Iraq would be consulted with other allies and better planned. We are waiting until after the new president is sworn in and a new Ukrainian government appointed. From what we hear the whole operation will be consulted with the allies, which, as I understand, means us too, Szmajdzinski said. Ukrainian president elect Viktor Yushchenko has promised that Ukraine's withdrawal from Iraq will be one of his priorities after taking office. 17 Ukrainians have died in Iraq since the operation began in August 2003.

Polish troops did not damage ancient ruins of Babylon

Warsaw, Jan. 16: Defence ministry spokesman Colonel Piotr Pertek rejected charges by the British Museum that Poland-led multinational division damaged the ancient city of Babylon. "Neither Polish nor any other soldiers from the Poland-led multinational force ever performed any tasks that would ruin the monuments, cause devastation or any other harm," he said. Polish troops consulted Iraqi authorities on all work done at the military camp in Babylon, Patek added. A report released by the British National Museum said that troops, including the multinational division led by Poland that stationed in Babylon till mid-December were responsible for inflicting damage to the ruins of Babylon. The colonel recalled that the Polish troops took over responsibility for Babylon in September 2003 from U.S. soldiers and moved out of Babylon to Diwaniyah on in December 2004, handing care of the site to Iraqi archeologists. Patek announced that the Polish culture ministry will soon release a report, prepared in cooperation with the defence ministry, and showing the situation in Babylon at the time when the multinational division took over control of it.

Minister Szmajdzinski to receive Latvia's medal

Warsaw, Jan. 14: Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski will receive a commemorative medal "Promoting Latvia's participation in NATO" during a ceremony at the Latvian Embassy in Warsaw on January, 17. The commemorative medal "Promoting Latvia's participation in NATO" has been awarded to Latvian and foreign officials, staff of the Defence and Foreign ministries, soldiers of the National Armed Forces, foreign military personnel, representatives of NGOs and mass media. The medal was established on 19 March 2004 when Latvia became a NATO member and since that time it has been awarded as a token of acknowledgement for contribution to the Latvian defence system and facilitation of Latvia's accession to NATO.

Americans view Auschwitz over telebeam

Bielsko-Biala, Jan. 14: A telebeam link enabled schoolyouth and teachers in Dallas, Texas, to watch a Polish programme about the Auschwitz concentration camp. Featured was a short documentary about the camp as well as fragments of its premises today, including the infamous Central Sauna where new inmates were admitted and segregated. Also recounted were true stories from camp life showing the sufferings of the prisoners and their inhuman treatment by the Nazis. The telebeam link was provided by the Holocaust Museum in Washington.

Confirmation: Pope definitely not to visit Poland in 2005

Vatican City, Warsaw, Jan. 16: Pope John Paul II will definitely not come to Poland in 2005 said father Pawel Ptasznik, director of Polish section of the Vatican State Secretariat and one of the Pope's closest aides thus confirming earlier statement to this effect by the Vatican City spokesman, Joaquin Navarro-Valls. Father Ptasznik made this official confirmation for the Polish Radio programme thus denying any earlier speculations about the lingering possibility of the Pope's visit still this year. A communique released by the press office of the Holy See earlier in the week that there were no plans for the Pope's Polish visit whatsoever was clear, Father Ptasznik explained.

Buttiglione on Ukraine resolution

Cracow, Jan. 14: The European Parliament's decision to launch EU membership consultations with Ukraine signified "acceptance of a reality that cannot be denied", Italy's Poland-visiting European minister Rocco Buttiglione said. In a resolution the European Parliament recommended the EU to prepare an EU-membership scheme for Ukraine. Asked if the EP's move would cause friction between the EU and Russia, Buttiglione admitted that this "could be problematic". Russia fears it will be isolated. We must underscore that Russia is Europe too. We must also think about how to integrate Russia with Europe, he said. Buttiglione, winding up a 3-day visit in Poland, also gave a lecture on democracy at Cracow's renowned Jagiellonian University in which he warned against "democracy without values" and totalitarianism as a major threat to 21st-century morality. He also stressed that Europe was reshaping and Europeans would have to decide themselves what form it was to have. Europe's future will depend on the struggle between valueless and value-based democracy and it is up to us which side prevails, Buttiglione said.

"Lulie the Iceberg" show dedicated to young Polish polar explorer

Gdansk, Jan. 16: About 100 artists took part in the European premiere of the musical tale "Lulie the Iceberg" by American composer Jeffrey Stock in Gdansk. The premiere was dedicated to the teenage Polish polar explorer, handicapped Jas Mela. Mela, the 16-year old secondary school student of Malbork, northern Poland, is the youngest man in history and the first handicapped to reach the two poles. He did so in a single year, accompanied by the experienced polar explorer Marek Kaminski in April, 2004 when they ventured to the North Pole, and in the recent expedition to the South Pole successfully completed on January 31, 2004. Stock's composition, with narration, of Lulie, an Arctic iceberg that breaks away from its "native" glacier, was inspired by the tale written by the Japanese Princess Hisako Takamado in 1998, and adapted for the stage. It describes an expedition of a young iceberg to the South Pole. The world premiere of "Lulie" took place in New York in 1998. The Gdansk premiere was accompanied by illustrations to the tale by Japanese artist Warbe Aska of Toronto, Canada, known as designer of UNICEF postcards.

New air connections from Gdansk to Oslo and Stockholm

Gdansk, Jan. 14: New air connections from the Lech Walesa Airport in Gdansk to Oslo and Stockholm will be launched at the end of March, Dominika Juniewicz from the Gdansk Airport press office said. The Gdansk-Oslo connection will be serviced by Air Lithuania with planes flying to Oslo five times a week. Flights to Stockholm will be serviced by Hungarian cheap carrier Wizz Air with flights to take place three times a week.

26 percent content with democracy

Warsaw, Jan. 14: Twenty-six percent of Poles in a CBOS survey said they were content with their country's democratic system, 63 percent claimed the opposite. Democracy critics have been in the majority in Poland since the early 1990s, CBOS said. 34 percent said democracy was superior to all other government forms, 14 percent that non-democratic government was sometimes necessary, 40 percent said they didn't care what government they lived under. Most democracy supporters were Citizens Platform (PO) and Law and Justice (PiS) voters. In a similar poll in May 2004, 21 percent were for and 68 percent against democracy. CBOS ran the poll from November 5-8 2004 on a random group of 988 adult Poles.

Platform leads January ballot

Warsaw, Jan. 14: Winner in a January election would be the opposing Citizens Platform (PO) with 26 percent support followed by Law and Justice (PiS) with 18 percent and the League of Polish Families (LPR) with 12, the CBOS rating institution announced. Samoobrona would have 11 percent, the Polish Peasant Party (PSL) 7 percent, the now-ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) and the Social-democracy for Poland (SdPl) 6 percent each. The Freedom Union (UW), SLD's coalition partner Union of Labour (UP) and the Polish Pensioner Party (KPEiR) would land below the parliamentary threshold. CBOS ran the survey on January 7-10 on a random group of 1,089 adult Poles.

President Kwasniewski sends congratulations to Mesic

Warsaw, Jan. 17: President Aleksander Kwasniewski has sent a congratulatory cable to Croatian President Stipe Mesic who won the second term in a runoff election, the Presidential Chancellery reported. "I am convinced that owing to your efforts Croatia will consolidate its international position and speed up the EU integration process," the Polish president wrote. "I think that your last year's visit to Poland has strengthened our determination to develop relations between Poland and Croatia on bilateral and multilateral planes, especially after Croatia has been granted an EU candidate status. I hope that close and friendly relations between our two countries will further develop and that contacts between our nations will be growing better and better".

40 foreign delegations to participate in Auschwitz commemorations

Warsaw, Jan. 17: Delegations of 40 countries have so far confirmed their participation in the commemorations marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp on January 27 in Oswiecim, Minister for International Affairs at the Presidential Chancellery Andrzej Majkowski told. The list includes, among others, Presidents of the State of Israel Moshe Katzav, the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, France Jacques Chirac and Germany Horst Koehller as well as U.S. Vicepresident Dick Cheney. President Aleksander Kwasniewski will hold bilateral meetings with the present heads of states. During a ceremony on January 27 in Cracow President Kwasniewski will decorate the five Soviet soldiers who took part in the liberation of the Auschwit-Birkenau death camp.

Former Auschwitz prisoners to sign appeal to world leaders

Warsaw, Jan. 17: A Charter of the International Centre of Teaching about Auschwitz and the Holocaust--an appeal to world leaders to prevent the Holocaust tragedy from repeating itself will be signed during the commemorations marking the 60th anniversary of the Auschwitz Nazi Death camp liberation on January 27 by former Auschwitz prisoners, Secretary General of the Council for the Protection of Monuments to Struggle and Martyrdom Andrzej Przewoznik told. Former Auschwitz prisoners Wladyslaw Bartoszewski and Simone Weil, who are expected to deliver speeches during the observances, will be the first to sign the charter. It will be also signed on behalf of the Roma people by Romani Rose, the chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma. The charter will be later handed to world leaders.

Polish PM holds talks in Vietnam, meets president

Hanoi, Jan. 17: Traditionally good political and economic relations between Poland and Vietnam have enter a new phase once Poland joined the EU and Vietnam embarked on radical economic reforms, PM Marek Belka summed up his talks with Vietman's leaders in Hanoi. A meeting between Belka and his counterpart Phan Van Khai was proceeded by a welcome ceremony in front of the Presidential Palace, where talks were held. During the meeting agreements on cooperation were signed between both countries agriculture ministries. Also, representatives of both countries' education ministries signed cooperation agreements for 2005-2008. The Vietnamese PM underlined Poland's contribution in the development of Vietnamese ship-building and energy-generating sectors and announced more intensive cooperation in culture, science, technology and education. Belka stressed that Poland supported Vietnamese exports to other EU countries while Vietnam helped Poland exports its commodities to eastern Asian markets. Belka added that Poland also advocated Vietnam's striving for gaining the membership of the WTO and granted credit assistance to that country which was mutually beneficial from the point of view of the two countries' economics. The Polish PM was also received by Vietnam President Tran Duc Luong, National Assembly chairman Nguyen Van An, and Secretary General of the Communist Party Nong Duc Manh. Belka attributed the utmost importance to economic relations and said the country remained in Poland's focus which may be attested to by the fact that Vietnam was the first beneficiary of EU direct assistance. He quoted the ship-building sector as an example of smoothly developing cooperation based on a Polish credit. The shipyard in Ha Long, constructed by Polish engineers builds and sells ships to Great Britain, among other countries, with 80 percent of parts for those ships being made in Poland. Similar situation had been reported by the power-generation sector. There are also prospects for new contracts in chemistry and defence sectors with Poland standing a chance for selling to Vietnam 10 Skytrack transport planes from Mielec. Belka noted that questions related to the observance of human rights had been constantly monitored by the EU.

Szmajdzinski on British Museum charges concerning Babylon

Warsaw, Jan. 17: Americans and Poles saved Babylon for the world civilization. If it were not for the U.S. troops Babylon's treasures would have been stolen as was the case with other Iraqi museums, Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski told. The British Museum said in its report released that the Polish-led force that was stationing in the ancient Mesopotamian capital by mid-December 2004 have inflicted widespread damage to the ancient centre of civilization. Szmajdzinski stressed that it was the Polish intention from the very beginning to return Babylon to archaeologists. The defence minister added that for the first time the military mission included also archaeologists who "took care to preserve the site". The charges by the British Museum do not concern the Polish-led force, was told by head of the Defence Ministry Information Centre colonel Piotr Pertek who said that no soldier in the multinational force performed any tasks that would ruin the monuments, cause devastation or any other harm. He recalled that the Polish military contingent took over the site from the U.S. in September 2003 and handed it to Iraqi archaeological services in December 2004 when it moved its headquarters to Diwaniyah. In the near future the Polish Culture Ministry will publish a 500-page report prepared together with the Defence Ministry with over 1,000 photos to document the state in which the site was taken over by the multi-national division.

NBP head criticises Sejm's blocking of work on Hausner plan

Cracow, Jan. 17: Governor of the National Bank of Poland NBP Leszek Balcerowicz criticised the blocking by parliament of the work on the austerity plan authored by deputy PM Jerzy Hausner. "Deputy PM Hausner's plan was very needed and I have personally supported it all the time, I thought it so good that it should be developed. The problem however lies in the fact that this has been blocked. There is a plan which is very needed and has been implemented only in part because of obstruction in the parliament work," Balcerowicz said. The Hausner austerity plan for the years 2004-2007 was designed to help save 5.5 percent of GDP, in budget expenditures. The parliament however has not completed work on four bills of the whole package.

Inflation may rise to 5 pc in 1st quarter - Hausner

Cracow, Jan. 17: Year to year inflation may rise to 5 pc in the first quarter of 2005 but this will only be due to statistical reasons, i.e. low reference figures from the 1st quarter of 2004, according to deputy PM Jerzy Hausner. He also said that wage growth in December as reported by GUS Central Statistical Office on Monday was very low. "Real wages have been growing too slowly," Hausner claimed. "The question is whether we have tools which can change this. I want to achieve something by raising the minimum wage in a way that will bring benefits to employees without increasing the cost of labour to employers," Hausner said.

Catholic Church marks Day of Judaism on January 17

Warsaw, Jan. 17: The Catholic Church in Poland celebrates the Day of Judaism on January 17, the eve of the Week of Prayers for Christian Unity established by the Conference of the Polish Episcopate in 1997. The central place of the celebrations this year is Katowice, southwest Poland. Father Waldemar Chrostowski, head of the Institute for Studies on Judaism at Cardinal Wyszynski University in Warsaw and member of the Conference of the Polish Episcopate Conference for Religious Dialogue told that the inter-religion dialogue and the future of Christian-Jewish relations "are to serve common commitment to the cause of building peace in the world." In Father Chrostowski's opinion the Catholic-Judaic dialogue is a relatively new reality and one should show an enormous patience and perseverance in it, especially so that we have to do with centuries-long negligence on both sides, he said.

"Pharaoh" by Boleslaw Prus published in Vietnam

Warsaw, Jan. 17: The Polish epic novel "Pharaoh" by Boleslaw Prus brought out in Hanoi enjoys considerable success in Vietnam for several months already. The novel was translated into Vietnamese by Le Ba Thu of Hanoi. Le Ba Thu said the translation took him nearly a year. The book appeared in Hanoi and sells well in the entire Vietnam. Local press carried news about the publication and some newspapers printed extensive reviews, Le Ba Thu told. The book is set in the ancient era of an invented ruler Ramses XIII of Egypt's empire. Made into a film in 1966 it has become an evergreen hit of the Polish cinema. Le Ba Thu, a graduate from Polish higher schools, also translated some other Polish books into Vietnamese, including those by Henryk Sienkiewicz, Wladyslaw Reymont, Slawomir Mrozek and Alfred Szklarski.

Jan AP Kaczmarek nominated for British film award

Warsaw, Jan. 17: Polish composer Jan AP Kaczmarek is among the nominees for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts BAFTA Awards for music for Mark Forster's film Finding Neverland. Finding Neverland received 11 nominations in various categories. The winnners will be annnounced on February 12. Kaczmarek's rivals are Howard Shore ("The Aviator"), Bruno Coulais ("Les Choristes",) Gustavo Santaolalla ("The Motorcycle Diaries") and Craig Armstrong ("Ray".) Last December Jan A.P. Kaczmarek was nominated for a Golden Globe award for Best Original Score to Finding Neverland, but lost to Howard Shore. He also received a Golden Satellite nomination for Original Score, and the Outstanding Film Music Composition award by the National Board of Review, the first major film composition award of the season. Jan AP Kaczmarek has been working in the USA as from early 1980's and writes music for Hollywood productions and Polish films.

Poll: Cimoszewicz top candidate for president

Warsaw, Jan. 17: Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz tops the list of candidates for president according to a survey carried out by CBOS polling centre. The results of the poll showed that 16.7 percent of Poles support Cimoszewicz as the left wing's candidate for president. Lech Kaczynski of Law and Justice was supported by 14.1 percent of the respondents, Donald Tusk of Citizen's Platform by 13.8 percent, Andrzej Lepper of Samoobrona (Self-Defence) by 10.7 percent, Janusz Wojciechowski of the Polish Peasant Party by 6.2 percent and Maciej Giertych of the League of Polish Families by 5.0 percent.

PM Marek Belka visits Sri Lanka

Colombo, Jan. 19: PM Marek Belka paid a short visit to Sri Lanka during his return trip from Hanoi to Warsaw to meet Sri Lankan authorities of the tsunami-hit regions. The Polish PM met with President of Sri Lanka Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. The meeting was held at an air base near the town of Hambantota in the south-eastern region of the island. Over 30,000 people have been reported dead in Sri Lanka and over 175,000 people have been reported dead around southern Asia and as far away as Somalia on Africa's eastern coast from an earthquake and massive tsunami that smashed coastlines on December 26.

Rotfeld to present foreign policy guidelines on Friday

Warsaw, Jan. 19: New relations with Ukraine, EU budget for 2007-2013 favourable for Poland and a new approach to Poland's involvement in Iraq are some of the main guidelines of the Polish foreign policy for 2005. The key guidelines will be presented by Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld in the Sejm on January, 21. His statement main lines were released by deputy Foreign Minister Jakub Wolski. Wolski explained that priority had also been given to "fostering privileged nature of our relations with the United States" and to the idea of Polish-German future relations free from past burdens. The foreign ministry is also to approach Poland's role in Europe and its foreign policy.

Cimoszewicz: I'm for cutting short Sejm's term of office

Warsaw, Jan. 19: Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz said that if he received a draft resolution on the dissolution of the Sejm he would put it to a vote on May 5. I do not know the result but I will vote for cutting short the current term of office, Cimoszewicz told. According to Cimoszewicz, if parliamentary elections were held in autumn it would be good if they were held together with presidential elections. This is a question of costs. (...) One should also remember that election turnout is going down when there are too many votings, he stressed.

Auschwitz Remembrance exhibition opens

Cracow, Jan. 19: Thirty posters devoted to the Auschwitz Nazi death-camp are on show at the Centre of Jewish Culture in Cracow. The Auschwitz Remembrance exhibition opened to mark the 60th anniversary of the concentration camp liberation, to be observed on January 27. The posters, which come from the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Oswiecim, were made by young people from schools of fine arts for a competition marking the 55th anniversary of the Auschwitz liberation five years ago. Barbed wire, camp posts, the Star of David and camp numbers are the chief motifs of the posters whose majority is black and white. "It is a real challenge for all of us, including artists, to speak of this subject," director of the Centre of Jewish Culture Joachim Russek told adding that the remembrance of Auschwitz depends on date of birth, historical conscience and cultural and civilizational distance. The exhibition will be on show until mid-February.

Translation errors in European constitution

Warsaw, Jan. 19: Polish translation of the European constitution contains cardinal factual errors which may not only delay the ratification of the treaty but also puts ratification chances in jeopardy. The treaty was due to be deliberated by the Sejm early in February. Now this will have to be delayed by at least three to four months until a correct Polish version is worked out. This decreases chances for a constitutional referendum to be held together with presidential elections in autumn. Some political groupings claim that this is the only date at which at least 50 percent of those eligible will take part in the referendum, a condition for the vote to be valid.

Polish-Czech 2004 turnover up 50 pct

Katowice, Jan. 19: Polish-Czech 2004 turnover reached 6 billion USD, 50 per cent higher on the 2003 level. On the rise is also the number of mutual investments and Polish and Czech companies entering neighbouring markets, Milan Peprnik, Czech Commercial Consul in Katowice told. Poland jumped from seventh to fourth place on the list of Czech's top trade partners. Peprnik said that both countries' joining the EU was no doubt one of the reasons of such growth. According to the consulate data Czech exports to Poland grew by the end of November by 48.6 pc. to 3 billion 111 million USD, imports from Poland went up by 51.3 pc to 2 billion 841 million USD. Total turnover after 11 month reached the value of 5 billion 952 million USD. Peprnik stressed that this data does not include the developing cross-border cooperation. Currently both sides are working on the setting up of two economic zones resembling economic euroregions to serve the exchange of know-how and promotion of branch projects.

Canada agrees to Poland's earlier debt repayment

Warsaw, Jan. 19: Canada has decided to support Poland in her attempt to make an earlier repayment of a 12.32 billion euro debt towards Paris Club creditors, spokesman for the Canadian Finance Ministry John Embury has announced. According to Bloomberg, Canada agreed to Poland's plan although previously it has been unofficially included in a group of states opposing earlier repayment. Poland owes Canada 1 billion 309 million euros.

Commission opens inquiry into support measures for FSO

Warsaw, Jan. 19: The European Commission opened a formal probe into the compatibility with EC state aid rules of a series of public authority measures for the restructuring of Warsaw FSO car maker. The commission has reservations to a sum of 100 million euros in aid which, according to the EC, is to be granted to FSO. The Commission has doubts whether a restructuring plan for FSO is compatible with EU state aid rules. Jonathan Todd, spokesman for the competition commissioner, said that according to the Commission's preliminarily assessment, majority of aid measures, estimated by the EC at 135 million euros, have not been granted yet and the EC must check this. Certain other aid measures (worth about 35 million euros) were actually granted before accession, according to the Commission's preliminary assessment, and so will not be examined by the Commission, Todd said.

Opoczno to be floated at WSE in mid-2005

Warsaw, Jan. 19: Shares in Opoczno SA, Poland's leading ceramic tile maker, are to be sold at the Warsaw Stock Exchange most likely in mid-2005 in line with a decision of its main shareholder Credit Suisse First Boston Ceramic Partners consortium, Opoczno representatives told. It will be one of the biggest private offers in the history of the Warsaw Stock Exchange, Zbigniew Prokopowicz, president of Opoczno SA supervisory board said. The consortium is willing to sell the entire batch of 99 percent of shares worth an estimated 645.2 million USD. Shareholders want the company to go public before PZU and PGNiG. Company CEO Slawomir Frackowiak said that in 2005 the company plans to increase sales revenues by some 20 pct and net profit by 15 pct.

Low-rate air carriers to increase number of flights in 2005

Warsaw, Jan. 19: Low-rate air companies operating in Poland declare they will launch new air connections and increase the number flights on existing connections. However, air carriers warn final decisions will depend on customers' interest. SkyEurope Airlines plans to launch summer connections with Copenhagen (6 times a week from Warsaw), Manchester (3 flights a week from Warsaw and 3 from Cracow), Nice (3 flights from Warsaw and 3 from Cracow) and Barcelona (3 flights a week from Cracow). Wizz Air announced his fleet will go up from 6 to 10-11 planes. Germanwings does not plan new flights from Polish airports but Centralwings, belonging to LOT Polish carrier will open its services as of Febraury 1. First passengers will leave from Warsaw and Cracow to Gatwick airport near London. EasyJet declares that new routes will be launched in line with market expectations.

Police report less killings, theft and robberies

Warsaw, Jan. 19: In 2004 Poland's homicide, theft and robbery rates went down against the previous year but there was a rise in muggery and rowdyism, the Polish police informed in an annual crime report. In the 2nd half of the year crime detectability was highest in the provinces Lubuskie, Mazowieckie and Opolskie and lowest in Silesia, Swietokrzyskie and Lodz. 48,636 robberies were recorded countrywide in 2004, down on 2003's 51,688. Also down were burglaries (from 294,654 to 266,591) and car thefts (from 54,292 to 51,150). There were also less rapes (from 2,300 to 2,100) and killings (from 1,039 to 980).

Heart valves implanted via IV method in Cracow

Cracow, Jan. 19: Heart valves have successfully been implanted via intravenal method for the first time ever on three patients of Cracow's John Paul 2 hospital, journalists were told at a press conference. The sole implanting procedure took less than one minute. The method allows for cutting short the surgery and the time of heart action stoppage to less than 10 minutes. Also, reduced is the risk of patients' suffering post-surgery side-effects. According to doctors, the new biological valve called 3F Therapeutics, worked out by a U.S. team led by James Cox and Tino Quijano, is a breakthrough step in cardiosurgery. The Cracow hospital is one of 12 medical centres in Europe and 6 in the United States taking part in a research project of a Lake Forest Centre in California.

Five percent more tourists each year

Warsaw, Jan. 19: Tourist traffic to Poland will rise about 5 percent annually in coming years, according to the Tourism Institute. Institute director Krzysztof Lopacinski told that 16.4 million tourists are expected in Poland in 2007 (14.3 mn in 2004), most tourists are expected from Germany, other EU countries and North America. Lopacinski said the tourist boom was part of a global high on the tourist market but warned that no major influx of visitors to Poland was to be expected due to the country's poor infrastructure. We still offer insufficient leisure options. Local leisure attractions are what draws tourists most, he stressed. Lopacinski said Poland's regions mainly lacked on restaurants, cafes and local entertainment.

Poll: Citizens' Platform ahead of Samoobrona and PiS

Warsaw, Jan. 19: If parliamentary elections were held in January the Citizens' Platform PO would get a 30-percent support and thus the biggest number of seats, according to the Pentor Political Outlook Barometer. The report shows that Samoobrona would be supported by 14 percent of the electorate, followed by Law and Justice PiS party (12 percent.) The Democratic Left Alliance - Union of Labour SLD-UP coalition with 10 percent of the vote would come fourth, followed by the League of Polish Families LPR (9 pct) and the Polish Peasant Part PSL (6 pct.) The Social-democracy of Poland SdPl scored 4 percent in January, not enough to get to parliament. Compared to a December poll the PO gained 4 points, the SLD-UP coalition 2 points and Samoobrona 1 point. The LPR lost 5 points, while PiS, PSL and SdPl 1 points each. The poll was conducted on January 8 and 9 on a representative sample of 1,000 persons.

President: National Development Plan to change Poland's image

Warsaw, Jan. 20: The properly spent funds foreesen in the National Development Plan (NPR) for 2007-2013 will be able to change Poland's image, President Aleksander Kwasniewski said. Consultations on the document adopted by the government last week began in Warsaw's Royal Castle. In attendance were the president, PM Marek Belka, deputy PM Jerzy Hausner, EU commissioner Danuta Huebner and around 300 guests. The president recalled that the plan envisions that 142 billion euros will be allocated to the development of infrastructure, human resources, to lessen disproportion in the development of regions and resolving problems of restructuring of rural areas. The president said that Poland's choice is either the road proposed in the plan or a "road of marginalisation, xenophobia, populism and irresponsibility." Over past 15 years Poland progressed more rapidly in every field of life than other central and east European countries, he stressed. The president believed it would be feasible to introduce the euro in Poland in 2009 or 2010. PM Marek Belka said that Poles, although tired and frustrated, are very open to changes, reforms, education and "hungry for success." These will allow Poland to use the chances offered by EU membership. Deputy PM Jerzy Hausner identified three strategic aims of the plan as keeping high economic growth, strengthening the competitiveness of regions, higher employment, as well as social, economic and spatial coherence. According to EU commissioner Danuta Huebner, the plan is a good tool for Poland to catch up with the richer European countries. The 142 billion euros will be distributed among sector programmes and 16 regional programmes.

President hopes Poland will remain America's strategic partner

Warsaw, Jan. 20: President Aleksander Kwasniewski hopes that Poland will remain United State's strategic political partner during George W. Bush's second term in office. "We expect that Poland will remain America's strategic political partner, that we will be discussing main plans in NATO relations, U.S.-European relations, issues relating to Eastern Europe and that we will be able to cooperate in such issues as the situation in the Middle East," the president said. He added that these topics will be raised during his talks with Bush in Washington on February 9.

President Kwasniewski to attend Yushchenko's inauguration

Kiev, Jan. 20: President Aleksander Kwasniewski will pay a visit to Kiev to attend a sworn-in ceremony of President-elect Viktor Yushchenko, to take place on January 23, Intefax-Ukraine agency reported.

Kwasniewski appoints new cabinet and security office heads

Warsaw, Jan. 20: President Aleksander Kwasniewski has officially appointed Waldemar Dubaniowski head of the presidential political cabinet and Jerzy Bahr head of the National Security Office. Dubaniowski replaces Marek Ungier who resigned from the post last December. Bahr, 61, a career diplomat, hitherto Ambassador to Lithuania, replaces Marek Siwiec who has been elected to the European Parliament on the Democratic Left Alliance electoral ticket. President Kwasniewski addressing the ceremony stressed that this year will be an exceptionally difficult year. Ahead of Poland are general elections, two rounds of presidential elections and a referendum on the EU Constitutional Treaty. Kwasniewski added that Poland will also take part in tough debates within the EU, important developments will also take place in Iraq where Polish soldiers are stationed.

Ecumenical prayer on Auschwitz anniversary

Warsaw, Jan. 20: Ecumenical prayers delivered jointly by representatives of various world religions will constitute part of this month's celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz in south Poland. Delegations from at least 43 countries will attend the event commemorating the liberation of wartime Europe's most infamous extermination camp. Taking part in the joint prayers will be Cracow bishop Franciszek Macharski, Paris archbishop Jean Marie Lustiger, Orthodox archbishop Jeremiah, Evangelic-Augsburg bishop Tadeusz Szurman, Evangelical-reformed pastor Lech Trenda, Poland's chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich and former head Rabbi of Israel Meir Lau.

Geremek to lead Polish delegation to UN special session

Warsaw, Jan. 20: Professor Bronislaw Geremek will head the Polish delegation to the UN General Assembly's special session devoted to the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps in the Second World War, to be held in New York on January 24. Geremek is President Aleksander Kwasniewski's special representative, Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksander Checko told. During the ceremony at the General Assembly the participants will be addressed by representatives of UN member countries, including Poland.

Sejm Foreign Committee supports democratic aspirations of Iraq

Warsaw, Jan. 20: The Sejm Foreign Affairs Committee in a declaration adopted unanimously expressed support for the democratic aspirations of Iraqi people and condemned any attempts to upset elections in Iraq scheduled for January 30. The Committee expressed the conviction that the elections will be "an extremely important event in the process of creating a new Iraq after the overthrow of bloody dictatorship, an essential step on the road towards building stabilisation, and a turning point in taking over responsibility for the state by the Iraqis deciding about their own fate in a sovereign way," the Committee stated. "The Committee...condemns any attempts to disturb the elections, especially the atrocious terrorist attacks aimed against civilian population, the provisional authorities and the coalition forces," the declaration reads.

Sejm okays National Capital Fund

Warsaw, Jan. 20: The Sejm adopted a law setting up the National Capital Fund KFK which will grant financial support to capital funds investing in research and development projects. The KFK, set up as a stock company dependant on Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego BGK will purchase shares in funds, investment certificates or bonds' issue. The KFK will be authorised to support exclusively firms not involved in rendering financial services, arms production and trading nor in trading in tobacco products, alcohol beverages, real estate, intoxicating substances. Now the law will be sent to the Senate.

750 thousand back referendum on constitutional changes

Warsaw, Jan. 20: The Citizens Platform (PO) has gathered 750 thousand signatures under a motion calling for a referendum on changes in the constitution. The signatures were presented to the Sejm Speaker. The PO wants citizens to have the right to decide, among other things on the liquidation of the senate, still this year. Other questions of the proposed referendum would concern the lowering of the number of Sejm deputies, introduction of single mandate electoral districts and the elimination of parliamentary immunity. PO head Donald Tusk meeting Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz pressed for holding such referendum together with this year's early general elections in order to cut costs. Speaker Cimoszewicz said that the Sejm should deal with the question whether and when such referendum should be staged in the near future. The speaker added that he personally is in favour of the liquidation of the upper chamber but negatively approaches the proposal of the total elimination of immunity, although he sees the possibility of its limitation.

EU: billion euros for Polish railways

Warsaw, Jan. 20: This year Poland may get over 1 billion EU euros to finance rail upgrade projects, deputy minister Grzegorz Medza told the Sejm. The projects are to be cofinanced by the government. Asked if some of the money would be channeled to modernise regional railways, Medza said regional rail systems lay in local government power and that local authorities had received modernization funds already. Most of the funds will be spent on rolling stock, Medza said.

Beer sales in Poland up to 26.8 million hectolitres in 2004

Warsaw, Jan. 20: Beer sales in Poland in 2004 rose 1.43 percent to 26.8 million hectolitres, the brewery sector reported. In the 4Q alone beer sales went up by 3.41 percent to 5.8 million hectolitres.

Poll: 69 pct of Poles for early elections

Warsaw, Jan. 20: Sixty nine percent of Poles believe that it is necessary to hold early parliamentary elections, with 27 percent voicing the opinion that they should be held as soon as possible (in January or February), according to a recent CBOS poll. In the opinion of 27 percent they should be held in March or April and 15 percent think they should take place in June. Only 15 percent of Poles think that the elections should be held in September or October. Sixteen percent did not have any opinion on the issue. CBOS ran the poll on January 7-10 on a representative sample of 1,089 adult Poles.

Over half of Poles speak negatively on Polish economy

Warsaw, Jan. 20: Fifty one per cent of Poles negatively assess Poland's present economic situation, 10 per cent had a positive view while 39 per cent avoided giving radical opinions, according to a poll conducted by Pentor. The Consumer sentiment indicator PENKON as well as the value of the household financial condition indicator OGD have increased in January November, while the domestic economic situation perception index PESK has increased, Pentor announced. PENKON has risen 6.0 points to minus 13.7 pts in the surveyed month, OGD grew 4.5 points to minus 10.2 points and PESK grew 7.6 pts to minus 17.2 pts. Thirty nine percent of the polled evaluate the situation as worsening and 17 percent as improving, with 44 percent seeing no major changes. The number of pessimists have dropped since December. Almost half of Poles (48 pct) thinks that the Polish zloty is strengthening, while 29 pct had an opposite view.

President: Jezioranski demise a loss for Poland

Warsaw, Jan. 21: Poland has suffered a great loss, gone is an outstanding person and patriot, Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski said commenting death of Jan Nowak-Jezioranski, former head of Radio Free Europe's Polish section and legendary wartime courier between occupied Poland and London. Jezioranski died on January, 20 in Warsaw aged 92. Kwasniewski said that Jezioranski was living proof that patriotism and faith in democracy and independence could go hand in hand with friendliness, openness and tolerance. Jan Nowak-Jezioranski was an outstanding Pole with a place in history's pantheon. I would wish his person to be an example for future generations, Kwasniewski said. According to PM Marek Belka Nowak-Jezioranski will remain "a gallion figure" for Poles. He was deeply respected by Poles. We will miss him, Belka said in the Sejm. He was a great patriot and human, a prince of the second republic, former president and Solidarity symbol Lech Walesa said in Rome. U.S. Ambassador in Poland Victor Ashe in a special letter today called Nowak-Jezioranski "a great Polish patriot and a great American citizen". It is with great sadness that I mark the passing of a truly great Polish patriot, as well as a great American citizen, Jan Nowak-Jezioranski. His courage during the Second World War and his staunch resistance to Soviet domination of his beloved Poland after the war could be the stuff of legend were it not altogether true, Ashe wrote.

Kwasniewski: I will discuss oil deliveries with Putin

Warsaw, Jan. 21: President Aleksander Kwasniewski said he would discuss a break in Russian crude oil deliveries to Poland during President Vladimir Putin's visit to Poland. The president added that PKN Orlen, which processes the oil and sells it on the market had asked him for raising the issue in talks with Putin. The president said he would not feel at panic as the mater can be solved. In December 2002 PKN Orlen reached a contract on crude oil deliveries with Swiss Petroval company, that held Russian Yukos Oil Corporation's assurance. Petroval pledged to deliver oil to PKN Orlen until 2009, with the option to prolong it for three successive years. In line with the agreement Petroval was to ensure deliveries at the level of 3 million tons annually on the average with the option to increase deliveries to 3.6 million tons annually as of 2004 and additional 1.6 million tons as of 2006. Yukos has recently reported he will be unable to honour all its long-term contracts for crude oil deliveries for the Russian government has seized the concern's main company extracting the oil. The declaration has prompted all its foreign recipients, including PKN Orlen, to seek for alternative sources of the raw material.

President Kwasniewski at Yushchenko's sworn-in ceremony

Kiev, Jan. 23: Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has a great chance to use the enthusiasm present for many weeks in Kiev and all over Ukraine for the good of the economic development and

democracy, President Aleksander Kwasniewski said. The Polish president attended a ceremony in Kiev during which Viktor Yushchenko was sworn in as president of Ukraine. According to President Kwasniewski, ceremony marked the end of a very significant stage in Ukraine's history. "Ukraine was a state and from today Ukrainians are becoming a nation that is aware of its goals, he stressed. And of course many things are just starting. And they are difficult, as for instance the division of Ukraine. And the Ukrainian economy as well as plans to include Ukraine in the European structures require true efforts, the Polish president said.

Rotfeld on Poland's foreign policy in 2005

Warsaw, Jan. 21: We will be doing our best to win such EU budget for the years 2007-2013 which be favourable and good for Poland, Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld told the Sejm presenting the tasks of the Polish foreign policy in 2005. It is our goal to ensure maximum outlays on the cohesion policy and agriculture in the new EU member countries. The new budget should make it possible to speed up the process of liquidating differences in the development of the EU states, Rotfeld said. Being a NATO and EU member Poland will be aiming at a new opening in the relations between the West and Ukraine, Rotfeld stressed and added that Poland's goal was to elevate the EU relations with Ukraine to the level of Strategic Partnership. Rotfeld declared that Poland would provide necessary help to new Ukrainian President Vikotr Yushchenko and the Ukrainian government and would share experience in developing and consolidating democratic and pro-European transformations.

Rotfeld hopes Poland and Russia will clear up misunderstandings

Warsaw, Jan. 21: Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld believes that a meeting of Poland's and Russia's presidents scheduled for January 26 will be an occasion to "clear up certain misunderstandings" and to return to normal relations based on partnership. Russia's president Vladimir Putin will take part in the commemorations of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp on January 27. Putin will come to Cracow on January 26 and will meet Kwasniewski then. Answering questions from deputies after Sejm's debate on foreign policy in 2005, Rotfeld said that Poland should not "sustain anti-Russian moods, russophobia, but on the other hand we cannot talk with Russia from a position of a country that is denied equal treatment."

Hausner: inflation to fall to 2.5 pct in 3Q, 4Q

Warsaw, Jan. 21: Deputy PM Jerzy Hausner believes that year-on-year inflation will fall to the target figure set by the Monetary Policy Council (RPP) of 2.5 percent in the 3Q or 4Q this year. Hausner's opinion is shared by Miroslaw Pietrewicz, member of the RPP. Pietrewicz said inflation is likely to quickly fall after the 1Q. According to Pietrewicz the RPP inflationary target may be reached at the end of this year, in the 3Q or 4Q. The central bank (NBP) inflationary goal is 2.5 percent +/- 1 percentage point. According to data of the Central Statistical Office GUS in December prices of commodities and consumption services rose 4.4 percent from December 2003 and 0.1 percent on November 2004.

Sejm divided over EU Constitutional Treaty

Warsaw, Jan. 21: The Sejm debated Poland's foreign policy in 2005, with a referendum on EU Constitutional Treaty being the subject of much controversy. During the debate, Democratic Left Alliance leader Jozef Oleksy came out in favour of holding the referendum on the Treaty together with Poland's presidential elections. Leader of the Social-Democracy of the Republic of Poland Marek Borowski was trying to convince those gathered that the Constitutional Treaty should be passed. Borowski called on politicians and NGOs to take efforts for the referendum and ratification of the Treaty to take place in 2005. Citizen's Platform leader Donald Tusk said that the referendum should be held possibly late to enable a broad discussion on its effects. He believed that Poland's political position in Europe would weaken after the Constitutional Treaty took effect. Kazimierz Ujazdowski of the Law and Justice maintained that the Constitutional Treaty was unfavourable for Poland and risky for the EU. Waldemar Pawlak of the Polish Peasant Party criticised the Constitutional Treaty as giving Poland to little say in EU decision making process. He said that Poles should decide in the referendum whether Poland would not lose too much of its sovereignty. Janusz Dobrosz of the League of Polish Families believed that ratification of the Constitutional Treaty meant a "deadly threat" for Poland and was incompatible with the Polish Constitution.

Plaque with names of 16 Polish soldiers killed in Iraq unveiled

Diwanijah, Jan. 23: A plaque with the names of 16 Polish soldiers who were killed in Iraq was unveiled in the Echo Base in Diwanijah. After the mission of Polish troops is completed the commemorative plaque will be moved to the Field Cathedral in Warsaw, commander of the Polish-run international division general Andrzej Ekiert said.

Polish troops caused no destruction to ancient Babylon

Warsaw, Jan. 21: Polish soldiers did not damage archeological monuments of the ancient city of Babylon, Iraq's deputy defence minister Ziad Cattan said in Warsaw. "Neither Polish nor American troops inflicted damage to archeological monuments in Babylon," Cattan said. On the contrary Polish and U.S. troops protected the priceless world culture heritage from plunder and smuggling, he stressed. The Iraqi minister emphasised that Polish soldiers showed deep understanding for Iraq's tradition and problems. In mid-January the British Museum charged the Poland-led multinational division with causing damage to the ancient city of Babylon.

Bumar sings 20 mn USD worth contract with Iraq

Warsaw, Jan. 21: A contract worth some 20 million USD for deliveries to Iraq of machine guns, ammunition and an armoured personnel carrier between Bumar and the Iraqi defence ministry was signed in Warsaw. Both sides reported that next month another contract worth some 40 million USD for the delivery, to Iraq, of a communication system made by Polish Radmor company will be signed.

GUS: January's sentiment in industry up to plus 9

Warsaw, Jan. 21: January's sentiment indicator in industrial processing rose to plus 9 from plus 7 in December, the Central Statistical Office (GUS) said. Twenty five percent of the surveyed firms said their economic situation improved (against December's 26 pct) while 16 percent said otherwise (against 19 percent). GUS said that the situation as regards the order portfolio was better than in December, a result of rise of domestic orders. Production growth is slightly faster than in December. Companies have no difficulties in paying their financial liabilities. Financial situation of companies is expected to improve a little, the GUS said.

President signs minorities law

Warsaw, Jan. 24: President Aleksander Kwasniewski signed a new minorities law permitting the official use of minority languages in communities where they are spoken by at least 20 percent of the population. The new law also allows minority-language versions of place and street names. To-date solutions in this respect have proven ineffective. There was no clear definition of ethnic minorities, neither did the legislation list how minorities are to exercise their rights", Kwasniewski said. According to minority representatives the new law had a symbolic character and would change little in minority life.

Rotfeld on Poland's support for Ukraine

Warsaw, Jan. 24: Poland's support for Ukraine must now include moves which are visible for Ukrainians on a mass scale, Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld said adding he had in mind actions designed to make it easier for Ukrainians to cross the border or to work in Poland. According to Rotfeld, Ukraine needs material moves and not only spiritual and moral support. The Polish minister stressed the role Ukrainians had to play in transformations in their own country. Rotfeld announced that President Aleksander Kwasniewski will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The relations between Poland and Russia are good enough to hold a bilateral meeting during which it will be possible to speak in an open way, he stressed. President Putin is coming to Poland to attend the commemorations marking the 60th anniversary of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp liberation on January 27.

Int'l Centre on Auschwitz and Holocaust to be set up

Warsaw, Jan. 24: Former inmates of Nazi concentration camps will sign a funding act of the International Education Centre about Auschwitz and the Holocaust during commemorations of the 60the anniversary of Auschwitz-Birkenau liberation. A related draft will be examined by the Council of Ministers. The founding act was adopted unanimously at the 9th Session of the International Auschwitz Council. The centre will be housed by the State Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau in the close vicinity of the former Nazi camp. That way it will be included in the system of guided tours, in the logic of demonstrating archival materials, using library and drawing on all type of the institution experience.

Exhibition of Felix Nussbaum works to open in Oswiecim

Bielsko-Biala, Jan. 24: An exhibition of works by Jewish painter Felix Nussbaum will open in the Oswiecim Culture Centre on January 27 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp liberation. Felix Nussbaum was murdered in Auschwitz in 1944. He was forty years old. The exhibition "Do not let my pictures die" has been prepared by the "Peace Towns" of Oswiecim in Poland and Osnabrueck in Germany in cooperation with Hannover. The exhibition will be open until February 17. Felix Nussbaum, born in Osnabrueck in 1904, studied fine and applied art in Hamburg and Berlin in the 1920s. At the end of the decade, and at the beginning of the 1930s, he had already enjoyed some success with his exhibitions in Berlin. His family and self portraits, as well as his paintings of towns and landscapes which appeared around this time were influenced by the works of Vincent Van Gogh and Henri Rousseau. In 1931, Nussbaum achieved his artistic breakthrough with the painting "The crazy place". In 1932, in recognition of his work, Nussbaum was awarded a Villa-Massimo scholarship in Rome. The seizure of power by the National Socialists in 1933 delayed his return to Germany. From this time onward, together with his wife-to-be Felka Platek, Nussbaum travelled through Italy, France and Belgium. In 1937 the couple took a flat in Brussels. After German army entered Belgium in 1940, Nussbaum was arrested and interned in the camp Saint Cyprien in southern France. He escaped from barracks in Bordeaux and in 1942 he disappeared with his wife in Brussels. While in hiding, every painting he created dealt with the fate of the Jews and gave him hope that he would survive. Nussbaum's best known paintings are "Self portrait with Jewish identity card" and "Triumph of Death", his last work. In 1944, Nussbaum and his wife were arrested, deported to Auschwitz and killed. The Felix Nussbaum Collection in Osnabrueck was started in 1970. The largest special exhibition of one hundered of Nussbaum's paintings took place in the Osnabruek Museum of Cultural History in 1990. His paintings were shown in Paris and Barcelona as part of the 1994 exhibition "La ville, art et architecture en Europe 1870 - 1933", at the Venice Biennal in 1995 and the exhibition "Art an Power - Europe under the Dictators" at the Hayward Gallery in London in 1995.

TV broadcasts of central ceremonies

Warsaw, Jan. 24: Polish Television will be the only producer of a tv broadcast of the main ceremonies of the observances of the 60th anniversary of Auschwitz-Birkenau camp liberation. Seventy public tv stations affiliated to the European Broadcasters Union as well as BBC, Reuters, Rai have already declared their will to cooperate. TVP will begin its broadcast of the central ceremonies on January 27 with "Let my People Live" International Forum organised by the European Jewish Congress and held in the Slowacki Theatre in Cracow. A special programme composed of addresses, prayers and a concert will be aired from the site of Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. There will be also a programme on the history of the camp. A live transmission will be available through the Internet (itvp.pl) to the Internet users all over the world. Apart from live broadcasts of the central ceremonies, TVP will present documentaries, feature films and other programs connected with the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp liberation anniversary.

Funeral of Jan Nowak-Jezioranski

Warsaw, Jan. 24: The funeral of the late Jan Nowak-Jezioranski to be held at Warsaw's Powazki cemetery on January 26. A book of condolences will be displayed at Warsaw's Townhall and at the Royal Castle's courtyard where the coffin will be laid out in state before being carried in procession to St. John's Cathedral for the funeral mass. The main funeral ceremonies at the cemetery, which will start at noon, will be attended by President Aleksander Kwasniewski who will deliver a speech. The funeral mass and the following ceremonies will be broadcast live nationwide by public TV Channel 1. At the initiative of the Jewish Warsaw congregation prayers for the deceased will be held at Warsaw's synagogue. Jan Nowak Jezioranski, a wartime courier for the Polish anti-Nazi resistance, a journalist and long-time head of the Polish section of Radio Free Europe died in Warsaw last week at the age of 92.

Unemployment rate will go up in January - Hausner

Brussels, Jan. 24: The rate of unemployment will go up to 19.4-19.5 pc in January, from 19.1 pc recorded in December, 2004, according to deputy PM Jerzy Hausner. "I will be glad (..) if my prediction proves true. This will mean progress compared to last year," Hausner told. In December there were 2,999,600 unemployed people, 5.5 pc fewer than in December of 2003. Unemployment declined steadily last year. Its rate was 20.6 pc in January, 2004, and the number of jobless reached 3.3 m at the time.

Kaczynski warns against combining EU referendum with elections

Bialystok, Jan. 24: Law and Justice (PiS) head Jaroslaw Kaczynski said that combining the forthcoming parliamentary and presidential elections with the EU constitution referendum would amount to cheating on Poles. He also said that asking Poles whether they were against the EU constitution or for it was "an abuse", since the Poles did not know the document and the consequences of its adoption. He added that an average politician also did not know the contents of the document. Asked about the delegalisation of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) planned by PiS, Kaczynski said a motion to this effect was being drafted and would be filed in a matter of weeks. PiS leader also voiced concern that a massive declassifying of communist-era personal files kept by the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) could jeopardize the process of vetting public figures under the existing vetting law.

Poll: Social moods slightly up in new year

Warsaw, Jan. 24: The new year has brought a slight improvement in social moods. The number of positive opinion about general situation in Poland has gone up by 4 points since December to 30 percent in January. At the same time negative opinions decreased by 4 points to 58 percent, according to recent studies of the Public Opinion Survey Centre CBOS. CBOS estimates that general situation in the country is considered definitely as bad, yet worth noting is the fact that the percentage of positive opinions has grown for the first time in five months. As regards the economic situation CBOS noted above all a drop of critical opinions to 46 percent this January from 50 percent last December. According to CBOS such law level of negative opinions has been noted for the first time since 1999. At the same time 13 percent of respondents claim the economic situation is good. CBOS says that better assessment of the economic situation is accompanied by higher assessment of the situation in work establishments as 44 percent of vocationally active respondents believe the situation of their workplaces is good. Assessment of general living standards and financial situation of families has not changed and the percentage of those satisfied (26 percent) is only slightly higher that that of displeased respondents (22 pct.) The poll was conducted between January 7 and 10 on a representative sample of 1089 group of adult Poles.

President decorates Red Army Auschwitz liberators

Cracow, Jan. 27: President Aleksander Kwasniewski decorated with high state distinctions five soldiers of the Red Army, who participated in the liberation of Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau. During the Forum "Let my people live" in Cracow the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland was given to Yakov Vinnichenko. Nikolai Chertkov and Genry Koptev- Gomolov received the Knight's Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Polish Republic.Anatoly Shapiro and Ivan Martinushkin received distinctions in absentia. The first was granted the Officer's Cross and the second the Knight's Cross of the order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.

Putin at commemorations of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau liberation

Cracow, Jan. 27: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived on Thursday morning at the Cracow-based Juliusz Slowacki Theatre to participate in the commemorations of the 60th anniversary of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau liberation. Putin was due in Cracow on Wednesday but the date was put off for Thursday due to adverse weather conditions. The Russian president told the forum that "today, 60 years after the tragedy we perceive the Holocaust not only as the national tragedy of Jews but as the catastrophe of the entire humanity." "Nazis picked up Poland as the site of a total, mass extermination of people, above all people of Jewish nationality. The Polish soil turned into the epicentre of the Holocaust. It became the place of the bloody realisation of Nazi racist theories according to which other nations were subhumans (Untermenschen)," Putin said.

Katzav: Allies did nothing to stop Holocaust

Cracow, Jan. 27: The Allies did nothing to stop the extermination of Jews; by bombing the camp in Auschwitz and railways leading to it they could prevent the continuation of the murder, Israeli President Moshe Katzav told the Forum "Let My People Live". "It is hard for us to forget that in the 20th century the world remained silent when the Jewish nation was being exterminated," Katzav said. He recalled that Palestine was closed for Jews fleeing Nazis."The Allies knew about the extermination of the European Jews and unfortunately failed to come forward with any initiative. They could save hundreds of thousands of Jews from gas chambers," the Israeli president said. He recalled anti-Semitism prevailing in Europe at that time and stressed the slaughter could have been prevented if the State of Israel had existed. The Israeli president called on the world's youth to protest against any case of racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia. "We appeal to the European Union: Please do not let Nazism take root in the European youth's minds."

Yushchenko: no room for anti-Semitism in Ukraine

Cracow, Jan. 27: I can promise that there will be no room for anti- Semitism, xenophobia and national disputes in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko told the "Let my people live" Forum. Yushchenko said that the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp was for him and his family a special and sacred place as his father had been sent there and received the camp number 11367. "Tens of thousands of soldiers were killed in this place, soldiers and comrades-in-arms of my father. This is the pain I can feel and this pain is alive today. This pain is very special for me as this is a healing pain," the Ukrainian president said and added that he wanted all his compatriots and all citizens of the world to share this pain with him. "As only this pain and memory can give us strength and wisdom", he added.

U.S. Vice President addresses "Let my people live" Forum

Cracow, Jan. 27: In the concentration camps in Europe a man committed one of the worst crimes one could even imagine, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney said Thursday during the "Let my people live" Forum in Cracow. Auschwitz is the biggest cemetery in the world where one cannot find any graves but only the ashes of countless human beings, he stressed. The U.S. Vice president stressed that on the day of the anniversary we should express gratitude to the liberators and to those who were fighting to free the continent from tyranny. Let us remember that these unspeakable atrocities did not happen in some far-off place without any civilization but in the heart of the civilized world, Cheney said. Warning against the Holocaust, Cheney stressed that the Holocaust took place in a concrete historical period but was not an isolated event. The tragedy of the camps shows that evil is real and must be called by its name and must be confronted, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney stressed and added that the tragedy reminds us that anti-Semitism starts with words but does not end with words. Let us oppose to intolerance and hatred before they are transformed into committed atrocities, he concluded.

Chirac opens French exhibition in Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum

Oswiecim, Jan. 27: French President Jacques Chirac opened a permanent exhibition devoted to people deported from France to and murdered in Auschwitz in the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum on Thursday. The French delegation was welcomed by former Auschwitz inmate Wladyslaw Bartoszewski in front of the gate which carries the infamous "Arbeit Macht Frei" inscription. The president was accompanied by Simone Veil, also former Auschwitz inmate. Chirac and Veil unveiled a plaque marking the date of opening the exhibition by the president on the wall of Block 20. The exhibition "Deported from Francji to KL Auschwitz" features the fate of six people: Pierre Masse, George Halpern, Jean Lemberg, Charlotte Delbo and the couple of Hersch and Sara Beznos. The personal experiences of the six serve as a background for presenting the situation of Jews in France from 1939, Nazi occupation, the French Resistance and support actions. The exhibitions features nearly 1,000 photos of Jewish children from France murdered in Birkenau.

Main ceremonies commemorating KL Auschwitz liberation

Oswiecim, Jan. 27: A signal given by an approaching train inaugurated main ceremonies commemorating the 60th anniversary of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau liberation on Thursday afternoon. The commemorations were attended by delegation from over 40 countries including Presidents of Poland, Israel, Russia, France, Ukraine and Germany Aleksander Kwasniewski, Moshe Katzav, Vladimir Putin, Jacques Chirac, Viktor Yushchenko, Horst Koehler and U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney.The ceremonies took place on the premises of the former concentration camp in Birkenau at the foot of the International Monument to the Victims of Fascism near a railroad platform on which the Nazis conducted selections of prisoners. On behalf of Auschwitz-Birkenau prisoners speeches were delivered by Wladyslaw Bartoszewski (prisoner No. 4427), French citizen of Jewish origin Simone Veil (prisoner No. 78651) and Romani Rose who spoke on behalf of the Roma people. Next they signed the Charter of the International Education Centre about Auschwitz and the Holocaust. Papal Nuncio to Poland Archbishop Jozef Kowalczyk read out a message of John Paul II. Later official speeches were given by Presidents Kwasniewski, Putin and Katzav. Cantor Symcha Keller from Lodz played a shofar call bringing the ceremony to the end. Jews play the shofar only on special occasions. Prayers for Auschwitz victims were said in Hebrew, Latin and Polish.

Bartoszewski: I did not imagine I could outlive Hitler

Oswiecim, Jan. 27: When as eighteen-year old Pole I stood for the first time at the assembly square of Auschwitz I - as Schutzhaeftling number 4427 - among five thousand and a half other Poles it did not even come to my mind that I would outlive Hitler and survive World War Two, professor Wladyslaw Bartoszewski said. We, the Polish prisoners, were alone during the first fifteen months of the existence of this horrible place. The free world did not pay any interest in our sufferings and our deaths despite tremendous efforts by a secret resistance organization in the camp to sent the information to the outside world, Bartoszewski said speaking on behalf of former Auschwitz prisoners. "If Poles or Russians were sub-humans for Germans in Auschwitz- Birkenau, then Jews from France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Austria, countries of the then Yugoslavia, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia were treated not like sub-humans but like vermin," Bartoszewski said."None of the world countries reacted adequately to the news coming from Poland about the Auschwitz tragedy," Bartoszewski said."The Polish resistance movement kept on informing and warning the free world. In the last quarter of 1942 the governments of Great Britain and the United States were precisely informed what was going on in Auschwitz-Birkenau owing to a mission of Polish emissary Jan Karski as well as other reports," Bartoszewski said."The Polish foreign minister in London on December 10, 1942 sent a not to the governments of the United Nations appealing for "not only of condemning the crimes committed by the Germans and punishing the criminals, but also for finding means offering the hope that Germany might be effectively restrained from continuing to apply its methods of mass extermination". No effective measures were found and in fact no attempts were made to find them. And at that moment over a half of the future victims were still alive," Bartoszewski stressed. The only result of the Polish initiative was a short declaration of the 12 allied countries concerning the responsibility for the extermination of Jews published on December 17, 1942. In the declaration, which did not mention the name of Auschwitz- Birkenau, the governments of Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the Soviet Union, the Great Britain, the United States, Yugoslavia and the French National Committee, admitted that they were aware of the fate of Jews "in Poland, which has been made the principal Nazi slaughterhouse", and promised to punish those responsible for the crime. During my life I took part in hundreds of regional and international commemorations but I think that there will be never again a ceremony like today's one. We must ask ourselves and the entire world how much truth of the horrible experience of totalitarianism we managed to pass on to younger generations. I think that quite a lot but not enough. And being here and now we must take a decision - as the last will of prisoners who are passing away - concerning the work of the Centre of Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust. Graves inspire an ordinary man to reflection. But there are no graves here. So in this place where this unimaginable crime was committed this reflection must be transformed into special responsibility and lasting memory of what had happened. And let me conclude my address with the words from the Book of Job, which are significant both for Jews and Christians: "O, earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry find no resting place", Bartoszewski said.

Kwasniewski: Auschwitz-Birkenau was hell on earth

Oswiecim, Jan. 27: "Where we are now gathered, no words can render the entire terrifying truth about the horrors committed in this place. But we must speak, remember, cry out: this was hell on Earth," President Aleksander Kwasniewski said during the main ceremony at the site of the former Nazi camp Auschwitz- Birkenau."Here, humiliation, fear, pain, suffering, death - they were the everyday. The monstrosity of this crime is overwhelming" the president said. "Nazi „death factories” were planned in cold blood. Disciplined butchers fervently did their job to make sure that the crematory stacks kept spilling out smoke. We still cannot forget that „people brought this fate upon people”. We can never accept this," the president stressed.

Putin: attempts to rewrite history are unacceptable

Oswiecim, Jan. 27: "Standing on this tormented soil we must firmly and unequivocally say that any attempts to rewrite history and place killers and their victims, liberators and occupiers on the equal footing are immoral and unacceptable," Russian President Vladimir Putin said during the main ceremony commemorating the 60th anniversary of liberating the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp."Today we pay tribute to the memory of all those who were mercilessly and in cold-blood killed by the fascist barbarians not only here in Oswiecim but elsewhere. We bow our heads before tens of millions of people from different countries of the world, who survived the hell of concentration camps, who were shot and tortured to death, who died of starvation and diseases. We bow our heads before all the victims of that inhumane war launched by the fascists," Putin said. "It is said that time heals. It does, indeed. But as we stand here in one of the most horrible concentration camps 60 years after its liberation everything that happened here still causes horror, indignation and shiver.It is impossible and unfathomable to comprehend that people are capable of such atrocities, that they may be prone to such a truly universal insanity. It is impossible to ever reconcile with the fact that it all really happened," the Russian President stressed. „Terrorism is not less dangerous or perfidious than fascism”, stressed Putin. It is all the same merciless - and already it claimed thousands of innocent lives.As there were no „good” and „bad” fascists there cannot be „good” and „bad” terrorists. Any double standards here are absolutely unacceptable and deadly dangerous for the civilization. Putin paid the tribute to bravery of of Soviet soldiers of whom 600,000 fell liberating Poland. "We will never forget that the Soviet Union paid a very steep price for its Great Victory. He also addressed the world leaders: "To those who remained here forever we are responsible for not letting this happen again. Never and toward anybody." He added that the Thursday's ceremony in fact opens 60-th anniversary of the great victory. The celebration in Moscow in May, where many of us will gather again, will become its culminating event, he said.

Katzav: destruction was work of nation of renowned scientists, musicians

Oswiecim, Jan. 27: "The destruction was the work of a nation who produced renowned scientists and musicians. Many knew of the murder but were indifferent. The world knew about the extermination but remained silent," President of the State of Israel Moshe Katzav said. "We know that Europe was a land occupied by the German-Nazi regime. But we also remember that in European countries there was rabid anti-Semitism which left the Jews with no escape and without hope. Opposition and hesitation of the Allies to bomb the death camps and to destroy the railways carrying the Jews to them, claimed more victims from our people, and this too remains a mark on the forehead of humanity. I wish to honor the exceptional persons, members of the Polish people and other nations, Righteous Among the Nations, who felt the pain of the persecuted, who provided shelter and thereby risked their lives," Moshe Katzav said.

Romani Rose: Auschwitz is a place remembrance

Oswiecim, Jan. 27: Auschwitz is not only a site of remembrance but also a warning in the face of today's crimes against the humankind, Romani Rose, the Chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma said. But there are no words in which to describe what our compatriots experienced here, Rose said and added that Auschwitz and names of other camps left a lasting mark on the collective memory of our minority and will also shape the awareness of our future generations.

Veil: 60 years ago world stood dumbstruck to discover greatest cemeteries of all times

Oswiecim, Jan. 27: Sixty years ago, the electrical fences around the Auschwitz Birkenau camps were fallen and the world stood dumbstruck to discover the greatest cemeteries of all times, former Auschwitz-Birkenau prisoner and President of the Foundation for the Memory of the Shoah and former President of the European parliament Simone Veil said. More than one and a half million of human beings were exterminated here, most of them sent to gas chambers right upon arrival, their only guilt being that they were born Jews, she stressed.

Horst Koehler visits Nazi Auschwitz camp

Oswiecim, Jan. 27: German President Horst Koehler on Thursday visited KL Auschwitz I (Stammlager) while attending commemorations of the 60th anniversary of the death camp liberation. Horst Koehler, accompanied by representatives of German Jews and Roma including Romani Rose went in the camp through the gate with the infamous "Arbeit Macht Frei" inscription, went along one of the alleys to the building of former crematorium I. From there the German president went to the premises of the former Nazi death camp of Birkenau, where the main ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of camp liberation will be held.

Jewish medals for presidents of Russia and Poland

Warsaw, Jan. 27: President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Poland's President Aleksander Kwasniewski were decorated with the Silver Star of David Medals awarded to them by Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar during the commemoration ceremonies at the site of Auschwitz-Birkenau on Thursday. Rabbi Lazar who addressed those gathered at the commemorations said he wanted to express gratitude of the Jewish community to both presidents. He said "Jews will never forget heroism and sacrifice of soldiers of the Red Army which suffered so great losses during liberation of this land and the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp." He expressed gratitude to President Kwasniewski "who has the courage to speak openly about the Holocaust on this earth and remind the world that this lesson should never be forgotten."

Komorowski, Reiter on signs of ignorance in some media

Warsaw, Jan. 28: According to Citizens Platform MP Bronislaw Komorowski and former Polish Ambassador to Germany Janusz Reiter suggestions appearing in some media of coresponsibility of Poles for the extermination of Jews at KL Auschwitz is as a sign of ignorance, manipulation an lack of historical knowledge. Thursday edition of New York Times wrote that the Auschwitz liberation "commemoration means different things to each nation...for Poland and other Central European countries it is both part of a gradual recognition of their complicity in the killing and an opportunity to draw closer to Europe..."Komorowski commenting for Radio Zet on Friday stressed that such "nonsense" statements about Poles may be an attempt to dump responsibility for the complete lack of reaction to defend the Jews dying at Auschwitz.He recalled that in principle only Poles acted to help Auschwitz inmates, only Poles aided those who escaped from the camp and added that Poland was the only country in the world where Germans imposed a death penalty for helping Jews. Ambassador Reiter speaking for Polish Radio Three said that using the words "Polish concentration camps" is a sign of "manipulation, stupidity and ignorance."

Kwasniewski, Putin agree to meet at Polish-Russian economic forum

Cracow, Jan. 27: President Aleksander Kwasniewski and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin decided on the organization of a Polish-Russian economic forum which the two would attend. The forum is to be held in the first half of the year. "We agreed that there will be a meeting during the first half of the year, most likely in St. Petersburg," said Kwasniewski and added that both presidents want to attend it. "...this means that we will meet and we will talk," said the Polish president. Kwasniewski said he talked with Putin while the two presidents travelled from Cracow to Auschwitz to attend ceremonies marking the liberation of the camp. President Kwasniewski said his talks with Putin were dominated by economic issues, including the deliveries of Russian oil and by political issues. Kwasniewski said that Russia is interested in the delivery of oil to Poland and does not treat this as a political issue, but as a sign of normal economic cooperation. "Yukos deposits have been taken over by new companies, they too are ready to deliver (oil) to Poland. Russia is absolutely for the continuation of all this and for solving (problems) in the best spirit of Polish-Russian cooperation," Kwasniewski stressed. The two presidents met once again on late Thursday evening in Balice, outside Cracow. Before going into the meeting President Putin stressed: "We do not plan to put any limits on the deliveries of oil now or in the future." "We want to hold an economic forum, we hope for political contacts, we want our governments and our ministers to cooperate as best as it is possible..." said Kwasniewski adding that he also discussed with Putin the question of Polish food exports to Russia. According to Kwasniewski the two presidents also discussed the question of combatting terrorism and relations between the European Union and Russia.

Belka meets Cheney

Cracow, Jan.27: Prime Minister Marek Belka met U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney and a group of U.S. congressmen who attended the Auschwitz liberation ceremonies. When discusing international situation the politicians reviewed prospects of developments in Ukraine and agreed for the need of all-round support for Ukraine undergoing political and economic transformations. They also covered Polish-U.S. military cooperation and its importance for the modernisation of Polish armed forces. Belka once again pointed to Polish expectations concerning visa facilitations for Poles travelling to the USA.

Poland's military presence in Iraq

Bratislava, Jan. 28: The outcome of Iraqi elections will affect Poland's further military activity in that country, Poland's defence minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski said in Bratislava. Polish and Slovak troops will support the election logistically but they will not be present in polling stations. Iraqi forces will be responsible for keeping order, he added. "In February, after the elections, together with representatives of 16 states in our division, we will asses the military situation. We already know that there will be fewer Polish soldiers in Iraq with more prepared for immediate transfer from Poland to Iraq," Szmajdzinski said. Szmajdzinski and his Slovak counterpart Yuray Lishka discussed military cooperation within the Visegrad Group, cooperation of Poland's and Slovakia's arms producting industries, and further operation of the multi-national division in Iraq.

Hausner for faster wage growth in 2005

Warsaw, Jan. 28: Deputy Prime Minister Jerzy Hausner supports the idea of faster wage growth in 2005 than that foreseen in the budget bill. "Together with the finance minister we are thinking about wage levels in 2005. If the finance ministry thinks that wages could grow faster, then I think this is a rational judgement and a rational signal, Hausner told. Finance minister Miroslaw Gronicki said earlier that the average annual wage growth level in 2005 might be raised from the projected 4.5 percent.

Oleksy: SLD for autumn general elections

Warsaw, Jan. 27: Most of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) will be for autumn general elections, SLD leader Jozef Oleksy said, commenting a Friday-scheduled debate on the election date between the party leadership and prime minister Marek Belka. Oleksy said final decisions on the ballot deadline would fall at a January 31 sitting of the SLD National Council. According to Oleksy a "vast majority" of SLD was for an autumn date. This, Oleksy added, was "surprising" as there had be no signs of such support during earlier debates on the matter. Asked if Belka would manage to convince SLD to an election in June, Oleksy said that Belka could meet up with "the same opposition I encountered when I tried", but admitted that the prime minister "knew how to be convincing". Oleksy confirmed SLD's plans to unite the Polish left for the elections, stressing that he especially hoped SLD renegate Social- democracy for Poland (SdPl) would decide to join a united leftwing bloc. We want to build a broad leftwing election front open for all, including the Freedom Union (UW), Oleksy stressed. Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski in a recent interview for PAP said he saw little chance for a leftwing coalition as divisions between individual parties were too deep.

President goes to Switzerland

Warsaw, Jan. 31: Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski and his spouse Jolanta will visit Switzerland between Janaury 31 and February 13. On February 8-10 the president will pay a working visit to the United States, the Presidential Chancellery reported. The president will perform his regular duties of the head of the state via all communication channels linking him with Poland's chief administration units.

List of agents from Wildstein means end of vetting - Belka

Lowicz, Jan. 31: PM Marek Belka says that the duplicating and disseminating by journalist Bronislaw Wildstein of a list of communist-era secret police staffers, informers and would-be informers means an end of vetting. "This is in fact the end of any kind of vetting," Belka said. "This has compromised all approaches to vetting. We can put this chapter behind us. I do not know if this was the aim (of Wildstein's action), but in my opinion the consequences will be exactly such." A computer linked to a database on archival files has been available in the National Remembrance Institute (IPN) since last autumn. All persons using the archives have access to the computer. Wildstein copied 240,000 names from the archival name index. He claims he has made the list available to journalists in order to facilitate their work on communist-era secret police and its victims.

Egyptian People's Assembly Speaker to visit Poland in February

Warsaw, Jan. 31: The People's Assembly Speaker of the Arab Republic of Egypt Ahmed Fathy Sorour will pay a three-day visit to Poland starting from February 20 upon the invitation of his counterpart Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, the Egyptian Embassy in Warsaw informed. Sorour during his visit will be accompanied by the Minister of People's Assembly Affairs Kamal El-Shazly, the head of the Foreign Relations Committee Moustafa El-Faqee and other parliamentary members. This visit will be a good opportunity for both sides to discuss bilateral parliamentary relations and to exchange views on the current regional and international issues, the Embassy's press release said.

Foreign Minister starts visit to Vilnius

Warsaw, Jan. 31: Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld will pay a two-day working visit to Lithuania on February 1-2. Rotfeld is scheduled to hold face to face talks with Lithuanian counterpart Antanas Valionis. Later on the two ministers will co-chair plenary talks of the two delegations, the Foreign Ministry wrote in a press release. The talks are to focus on bilateral relations and cooperation of the two countries within the EU.

Reflection Group on int'l organisations' cooperation in Europe

Warsaw, Jan. 31: Cooperation between international organisations including their ability to avoid copying each other activities and quickly react to arising problems is the topic of a two-day meeting of the Reflection Group that started in Warsaw. The discussion precedes the Third Summit of the Council of Europe, to be held in Warsaw in mid-May. The summit is to be devoted to the mutually complementary nature of European organisations. The Reflection Group plans to present a report from the two-day meeting at a Council of Europe's forum at the end of February. Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld told that the point was to increase the effectiveness of so-far-deemed ineffective European organisations. The first meeting of the Reflection Group took place in April last year before a NATO summit in Istanbul.

Rotfeld: new situation after election in Iraq

Warsaw, Jan. 31: Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld said that Sunday's elections in Iraq had created a new situation as in "the government of that country would be now a partner that would have a social mandate". "The Iraqi government would not be a government set up by the U.S. It would be voicing opinions of a considerable part of the Iraqi nation," Rotfeld said. Next Rotfeld stressed that it was extremely significant that the vote had taken place and that the turnout was much higher (around 60 percent) than in the countries where there was no terrorism. Rotfeld stressed he was aware of the fact that there will not be a proper Sunni representation in the future Iraqi parliament. (Sunni population constitutes around 20 percent of Iraq's population, and many representatives of Sunni minority stayed away from the polls). "If I was a member of the Iraqi authorities I would give the Sunni minority a bigger number of posts in the cabinet than the one resulting from the number of seats in parliament," Rotfeld said adding that the move would give them the feeling of being equal-right citizens.

Szmajdzinski on Poland's military presence in Iraq

Warsaw, Jan. 31: Poland will define its outlook for the military presence in Iraq at the end of February or in early March, Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski said adding that first it is necessary to analyze the results of the elections and find out how fast the Iraq security forces are equipped and trained. According to Szmajdzinski, after the elections in Iraq the stabilization mission will be gradually transformed into the stage of training support for security structures and forces. "This stage could be followed by the reduction of military presence," Szmajdzinski stressed. Szmajdzinski told that as of February the number of Polish troops in Iraq would be reduced by some 800. He added that this would not pose any threat to the implementation of tasks of the Polish division. "We have increased the strength of the Polish contingent with MI-24 helicopters and over 400 armoured vehicles. And it has been possible to reduce our logistics support as the U.S. support is passing the test," Szmajdzinski said.

Szmajdzinski: Referendum on EU Treaty

Warsaw, Jan. 31: Deputy leader of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) Jerzy Szmajdzinski believes that if parliamentary elections are held in June a referendum on the EU Constitutional Treaty might not take place at all. Szmajdzinski told that SLD would probably support the plan to hold the elections in autumn. According to Szmajdzinski, as the majority of parties leading in popularity rankings is against the treaty the referendum might not be held at all. I believe that the EU Constitutional Treaty is of strategic significance for Poland as without it "our presence in the EU would be questioned by many". "Today's opposition does not say that it wants to hold elections in June as it is necessary to pass a new budget, (. . . ) but it speaks about decommunisation and vetting, the SLD deputy leader stressed. And the elections in autumn are a chance for Poland as the good economic policy will be carried out for a few months more, Szmajdznski added.

Democratic Left for autumn election

Warsaw, Jan. 31: The National Council of the ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) in a 78 to 22 vote supported an autumn parliamentary election as foreseen by the Polish constitution. The Council said that it had spoken out for an autumn date among others to bring the elections closer in time to a planned EU constitution referendum and presidential election. Poland's president Aleksander Kwasniewski and PM Marek Belka had suggested moving the parliamentary election forward to spring. After debate the Alliance has decided not to speed up the elections, SLD leader Jozef Oleksy said after Council sitting. At the beginning of this term SLD announced it was for an early election as an autumn-appointed government would have little time to prepare the 2006 budget. After recent corruption troubles, however, most of its members now want an autumn date for fear the party's tarnished public image could sink it in a spring ballot. On May 5 the Polish parliament is expected to will vote on shortening the present parliamentary term. Thus the final date of the elections is still an open question. Although the SLD has the biggest parliamentary club, still if all remaining deputies backs early elections they would win the vote.

Guests from Beslan arrive for vacations in Poland

Warsaw, Jan. 31: A group of 136 persons, including about 80 children, victims of the September terrorist attack on a school in Beslan, North Osetia, arrived in Warsaw. The guests will spend three-week holidays in a rehabilitation centre at the seaside locality of Mielno, northern Poland.

GUS on prices after EU accession

Warsaw, Jan. 31: Prices of goods and services went up faster after Poland's EU accession. In December 2004 they were higher by 4.4 percent than in December 2003, the Central Statistical Office (GUS) reported. The annual average growth of consumer prices reached 3.5 percent in 2004 and was higher than in 2003 and 2002. It was also higher than the one envisaged in the budget law. Prices of fuels and food went up most markedly, GUS said. According to GUS, in 2004 the average monthly pre-tax pay in the sector of enterprises as well as old-age and disability pensions were higher than in 2003. But due to a considerable rise of consumer prices, the growth of purchasing power was smaller than in 2003.

GUS: GDP growth in 2004 at 5.4 percent

Warsaw, Jan. 31: The GDP growth in 2004 amounted to 5.4 percent, the Central Statistical Office (GUS) reported presenting the preliminary data. In December 2004 the unemployment rate went up by 57,000 people or 1.9 percent from November 2004 to 2,999,600 registered unemployed. It was lower by 5.5 percent from December 2003. Gus reported that in 2004 value added in industry went up by 9.7 percent from 2003, and domestic demand went up by 4.9 percent from 2003.

Poll: Kwasniewski Poland's politician of 2004

Warsaw, Jan. 31: President Aleksander Kwasniewski became Poland's politician of 2004, according to a poll sent by CBOS polling centre. George Walker Bush was named world's politician of 2004. The title went to Kwasniewski for the 9th time since 1992 when CBOS started running this poll. The Polish president won 14 percent of votes while in 2003 he won 22 percent of votes. Like in the previous year the second was Jan Rokita, for whom 7 percent of the polled voted. He was followed by Samoobrona's Andrzej Lepper with 6 percent support. Lepper was also third last year. Next came: Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz with 3 percent of votes, leader of the Social Democracy of Poland Marek Borowski, Warsaw President Lech Kaczynski, leader of ultra-conservative League of Polish Families Roman Giertych and leader of a centrist party Zbigniew Religa - 2 percent each. As many as 27 percent of the surveyed believe none Polish politician deserves to hold the title, CBOS wrote. The poll was run on January 7-10, 2005 on a representative, randomly selected sample of 1089 adult Poles.

CBOS: Poland's joining EU most important event in 2004

Warsaw, Jan. 31: Sixty two percent of Poles named Poland's joining the EU the most important event for Poland in 2004, according to a recent CBOS poll. The war in Iraq was considered the most significant event for the entire world by 23 percent of the respondents. In a poll concerning the year 2003, 58 percent of Poles named the EU membership referendum in Poland and EU negotiations the most important events for Poland. The work of Sejm investigation commissions (8 percent), the presence of Polish troops in Iraq (4 percent) and appointment of the Marek Belka cabinet (3 percent) were described as significant events. In the opinion of 13 percent of Poles December's tsunami in South-East Asia was the most important even for the entire world. Next came the EU enlargement (7 percent), terrorist attacks and struggle against terrorism (6 percent), presidential election in Ukraine (5 percent) and the U.S. presidential election (3 percent). The poll was carried out on January 7-10 on a representative sample of 1,089 adult Poles.

Most Poles disappointed with labour market

Based on the service of the Polish Press Agency (PAP)