POLISH NEWS BULLETIN
June 2005
Kwasniewski: we should support EU constitution
Warsaw, June 1: Our support for the adoption of the EU Constitutional Treaty should be unequivocal, said President Aleksander Kwasniewski after a meeting with PM Marek Belka, Speakers of the Sejm and the Senate Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz and Longin Pastusiak and representatives of the foreign Ministry. The president said his interlocutors were satisfied with the treaty and stressed that the European constitution was necessary to keep the pace of enlargement. According to Kwasniewski, Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz will decide about the date of Sejm vote on the mode of ratification after June 17. The president said that first the European Council has to discuss the situation after France's rejection of the treaty. The meeting is scheduled for June 16-17. The Sejm will have to vote whether Poland will ratify the EU Constitution via the national referendum or by the decision of the parliament. Secretary of state at the Presidential Chancellery Dariusz Szymczycha said the president would not hold "classic consultations" with political parties on the EU constitution as political parties' opinions were well-known. Szymczycha recalled the president was for holding a national referendum on the ratification of the EU constitution but the Sejm had the final say on the matter.
Chirac sends cable to Kwasniewski
Warsaw, June 1: In a cable sent to President Aleksander Kwasniewski French President Jacques Chirac assured his Polish counterpart that despite the rejection by the French people of the EU Constitution in a referendum on Sunday France was willing to further consolidate cooperation for Europe and its future and to strengthen consultations and contacts between France and Poland. Chirac wrote that he was aware the rejection of the charter in a referendum last Sunday would have consequences for France and the EU. But it does not in any way question the historic and deep involvement of France in the construction of Europe. It will continue to take its full place (in the EU) while honouring its commitments, and I will personally guarantee this, he wrote. According to Chirac, all the remaining EU countries should now state their views on this treaty. We must take the time that is needed to analyse the consequences for the Union of the vote that took place in France. We must start this reflection during the European Council on June 16 and 17, he wrote.
Cimoszewicz: French and Dutch "no" to EU charter bad for Poland
Warsaw, June 2: Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz said that the French and Dutch rejection of the European Union constitution was very bad for Europe and Poland. "The constitution represented certain progress in the development of European integration, if it is blocked, there will be no progress. The Constitution is being rejected for all imaginable reasons but not connected with its content. The French voted against the president, against the Polish plumber. The Dutch voted against immigrants, against alleged limitations to their particular freedoms, etc. This shows a revival of nationalist behaviour, instincts, which simply poses a threat to coherence," Cimoszewicz said. He noted that the rejection of the EU constitution will create the "atmosphere of defeat in Europe, of a failure, the first big failure of the enlarged Europe", and many people will associate this defeat with EU enlargement. He added that the Sejm would decide on the further fate of the EU constitution ratification procedure after the EU summit scheduled for June 16 to 17. Deputy foreign minister Jan Truszczynski said that the Dutch "no" to the EU constitution was not the "final nail in the coffin" for the charter. He admitted that the "situation further deteriorated" but should not be seen as a defeat yet. Truszczynski noted that the nearest EU summit on June 16 to 17 should "send a signal that the EU wants to continue the integration development process and that it wants the ratification procedures to be carried out in all EU member states."
Belka warns against re-negotiation of EU treaty
Warsaw, June 1: PM Marek Belka believes that possible renegotiations of the EU Constitutional Treaty could be detrimental to Poland. Western Europe societies got scared of the results of the enlargement and this fear took on the form of the mythical Polish plumber so they would strive for included in the new treaty entries on the need of the harmonisation of taxes which is unfavourable for us or about the harmonisation of welfare affairs which would be very inconvenient for Polish businessmen, the PM argued.He added he would be very cautious now with coming up with any initiatives. He repeated that despite France's rejection of the treaty Poland should not postpone the referendum on Euroconstitution. Exactly because French people rejected the treaty we should show our determination, Europeism and political will, Belka said. Paradoxically this is for us a chance to considerably strengthen our position in the European Union, the PM said. (km)
Belka calmly approaches GDP growth figures
Warsaw, June 1: Prime Minister Marek Belka commenting surprisingly low 1st quarter GDP growth said Wednesday that budget implementation and the situation on the labour market point to a relatively high pace of economic growth. The PM said that the latest data on the GDP growth simply mean that the base of comparison, 1st quarter of 2004, has been extremely high. According to Belka the economy "is growing at a pace just below 5 per cent." The PM stressed the good implementation of the budget saying that each month brings slightly higher revenues than it has been planned. "The situation on the labour market is finally beginning to improve this year...the situation will continue to improve also in the coming months," Belka assured. The Central Statistical Office said on Tuesday that the economy grew 2.1 percent in the 1st quarter of 2005 after a 4.0 pct growth in 4th quarter of 2004 and a 7.0 percent growth in the 1st quarter of 2004.
Rotfeld concludes U.S. visit
Warsaw, June 2: Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld discussed EU treaty referenda in Europe and aid for the opposition in Belarus with U.S. administration officials on Wednesday.
U.S. politicians were interested in Poland's position on France's rejection of the treaty, Rotfeld told reporters in Washington at the end of his visit to the U.S. Rotfeld stressed that despite the "no" result a referendum in Poland should be held as soon as possible and expressed the hope that Poles would say "yes".The Polish minister also said that he personally supported the idea to create a Svoboda radio station for Belarus broadcasting from Poland but added he did not know whether this would be approved by the government. Rotfeld added that he did not discuss the extradition of Edward M. from the U.S. as the case belonged to the Justice Ministry.
French no to treaty complicates EU budget
Warsaw, June 1: France's rejection of the EU Constitution will make a compromise on the new EU budget very difficult to achieve, Polish European minister Jaroslaw Pietras said Wednesday after a sitting of the European Integration Committee. Pietras said the new situation around the constitution treaty will probably occupy a forthcoming European Council debate in place of an earlier planned budget debate. The minister added that some EU countries were less ready than before to compromise on budget matters. On Thursday Polish PM Marek Belka leaves for Luxembourg for talks on the EU budget.
Huebner: Dutch "no" new argument for budget compromise
Brussels, June 2: Polish EU Commissioner Danuta Huebner said Thursday that the French and Dutch "no" to the EU Constitution was another argument that the EU needed a compromise on the 2007-2013 budget which should be "generous".We must show that the EU is functioning and that we are taking into account problems of citizens manifested during the referenda. We must continue the policy aiming at growth and creation of new jobs, Huebner told PAP.If the budget is too small it will be a source of frustration, she added.
CBS chief resigns
Warsaw, June 1: Police chief Leszek Szreder accepted on Wednesday the resignation submitted by chief of the police's Central Intelligence Office (CBS) Janusz Golebiewski, PAP was told by police spokeswoman Alicja Hytrek. On May 20 the CBS managements in Lodz and Poznan were dissolved after the disappearance of large quantities of heroin and cocaine from a police depot in Lodz and information trading charges against officers in Poznan. Last week Jan Markowski, head of the CBS regional office in Olsztyn, was also dismissed. The dismissal followed a report by Gazeta Wyborcza which discovered that its main source, the police chief in Lodz, passed on false information he had received from Markowski.
Accord on Lvov cemetery opening date on Monday
Warsaw, June 2: Poland and Ukraine will sign an agreement on Monday that will set a date of opening a Polish cemetery in Lvov, Andrzej Przewoznik, secretary of the Council for the Protection of Monuments to Struggle and Martyrdom, said.Ukrainian secretary of state Oleksandr Zinchenko, who has been authorised by the Ukrainian president to deal with the Lvov cemetery issues, and members of Lvov and Kiev local authorities are scheduled to come to Poland on Monday, Przewozniak added. On Wednesday the TVN evening news cited Lvov mayor Lubomyr Buniak as saying that the cemetery will be officially opened on June 24.On May 19 Poland and Ukraine have reached accord over an inscription on a commemorative plaque in the Polish cemetery in Lvov. The agreed inscription will read: "Here lies a Polish soldier fallen for his Homeland". The cemetery houses graves of Poles fallen in 1918-1919 during battles with Ukrainians and the 1920 Polish-Soviet war.
IPN releases Hejmo's SB files
Warsaw, June 1 : Father Konrad Hejmo was security service SB agent between 1975 and 1980 and the communist Poland PRL's Intelligence agent from 1980 to 1988 when he was living in the Vatican City, according to a report drafted by historians of the National Remembrance Institute IPN and published at IPN's website on Wednesday. Authors of the report wrote that Hejmo's personal and professional activity files were not destroyed in 1989 because they were taken over by the PRL's Intelligence Service in 1980 where shredding and
burning of files were conducted there on a smaller scale. On Wednesday Father Hejmo was dismissed as the priest taking care of pilgrims in Rome by Archbishop Jozef Michalik, chairman of the Conference of the Polish Episcopate, spokesman for the Episcopate Father Jozef Kloch said. Polish Provincial Prior Fr. Maciej Zieba and the Dominican Order Provincial Council expressed regret in connection with Father Konrad Hejmo's cooperation with PRL security services. The Dominican Order apologised to all those wronged by operations of their brother and announced he would have to perform penance.
Crown Prince of Norway visits Cracow, ends visit
Cracow, June 1: Crown Prince Haakon Mangus of Norway and his wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit paid a visit to Cracow on Tuesday where they met with local authorities. Later in the day the Norwegian prince and princess visited the museum of the Jagiellonian University in Collegium Maius, the oldest academic building in Poland. The couple met also with Jagiellonian University authorities and a group of Norwegians studying in Cracow. This is a good example of good and successful cooperation between Norway and Poland. This cooperation based on friendship between people is a foundation of good state-level relations, Prince Haakon said. Wednesday is the last day of the Norwegian royal couple's visit to Poland.
First Pole appointed European Commission director
Brussels, June 1: The European Commission appointed Wednesday Miroslaw Franciszek Zielinski a director at the Department for Taxes and Customs Duties. Zielinski, todate economy minister, is the first Pole appointed to such high level post. Poland has been granted 16 posts of directors or chief advisors. Zielinski's appointment was first approved by European Taxation and Customs Commissioner Laszlo Kovacs and later by the entire commission. In the near future the European Commission will discuss the candidature of Ewa Synowiec for the post of director of the Commerce Department.
International conference "From Solidarity to Freedom" in August
Warsaw, June 1: International consequences of the birth and activities of the Solidarity movement in Poland, Solidarity as seen in the world and challenges to human rights will be the main themes of the international conference titled "From Solidarity to Freedom" to be held in Warsaw and Gdansk from August 29 to 31, Eugeniusz Smolar responsible for the conference programme said Wednesday. The conference is also aimed to win international support for the idea to declare by the United Nations of August 31 an annual Day of Freedom and Solidarity. The conference will be attended by 450 to 500 participants, half of them from abroad. The event is organised by the Solidarity Centre and the Lech Walesa Institute as part of the celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the Solidarity Free Trade Union which was founded in Poland on August 31, 1980. Invitations to the conference were addressed to heads of states and governments of the Baltic countries, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Serbia, Great Britain, Brazil and other countries. Among those who have already accepted the invitation are European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, Czech ex-president Vaclav Havel, President of Ukraine Viktor Jushchenko and former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
TVP team asked to leave Ingushetia
Moscow, June 1: Head of the consular department of the Polish Embassy to Moscow Tomasz Klimanski did not confirm reports on the apprehension of Polish TVP team in Vladikavkaz, Northern Ossetia. A related report was released by TVP3 earlier on Wednesday. Klimanski admitted that Polish journalists had problems in Nazran in the neighbouring Ingushetia where they had been interrogated by Federal Security Service and later asked to leave the republic. According to TVP3 journalists Mariusz Pilis, Marcin Mamon and cameraman Tomasz G owacki were apprehended on May 30 early in the morning, interrogated for 14 hours. 18 tapes, documents and equipment were confiscated. The Polish consul explained that TVP journalists went to Northern Caucasus together with representatives of mass media from Japan and Sweden. The trip had been organised by the Russian foreign ministry, Klimanski said. Deeming the footage they had got highly insufficient the journalists tried to shot additional material on their own. This is the cause of all the misunderstanding, the consult said. According to Klimanski, TVP journalists now can move freely, live in a hotel they'd picked up and wait for their tapes to be returned. The tapes were at the possession of the Federal Security Service "Apart from the tapes nothing else has been taken away from them," the consul added. According to the consul journalists' visas expire on June 22. Spokesman for the Polish foreign ministry Aleksander Checko said that Polish diplomatic services were in touch with TVP journalists in Northern Ossetia that had been interrogated by the Federal Security Services. The ministry asked the services to return the tapes to journalists.
NBP surprised by 1st quarter GDP growth
Warsaw, June 2: The 1st quarter GDP growth dynamics and structure came as a surprise to central bank experts but it is too early to say whether it was a one-off deviation or a permanent structural change, deputy governor of the National Bank of Poland (NBP) Krzysztof Rybinski said. The Central Statistical Office said Tuesday that Poland's economy
grew 2.1 percent in the 1st quarter of 2005, against 4.0 percent in the 4th quarter of 2004 and 7.0 percent in the 1st quarter of 2004. Rybinski recalled that central bank projections set Poland's GDP growth at 4 percent in 2005.
Gazeta Wyborcza: LOT may buy Airbus A350 aircraft
Warsaw, June 2: LOT Polish airlines are mulling the purchase of Airbus's new A350 aircraft instead of an Airbus A330, Gazeta Wyborcza was told by LOT CEO Marek Grabarek in Kyoto. By the end of June LOT will make a decision concerning the purchase of new planes. The decision must be approved by the supervisory council. And we are thinking about Airbus's A350 or about Boeing's B787 Dreamliner, Grabarek was quoted by the daily. The value of the contract is estimated at 0.5-1 bn USD and will depend on the number of planes LOT will buy.
Siberian part of the Polish Season in Russia
Warsaw, June 1: The Polish Culture Season is starting in Irkutsk on June 2. This will be the first such broad presentation of Polish culture in Siberia, held as part of the Polish Culture Season in Russia. It was the intention of the organisers of the Polish Season in Russia to reach towns situated away from large cities in the European part of Russia, like Moscow and Sankt Petersburg. A two-week programme presenting Polish classical music, new Polish cinema and Poland in photography has been prepared for residents of Irkutsk. The review of seven new Polish films will include "Edi" by Piotr Trzaskalski, "Pornography" by Jan Jakub Kolski, and "Welts" of Magdalena Piekorz, all selected for Oscar award nominations in recent years. A three-day series of concerts of Polish music will be performed by Russian artists. The exhibition devoted to Witold Gombrowicz, presented earlier in Moscow, was moved to Siberia at the request of the Russian side, and will be shown at an International Biennial in Krasnoyarsk. The exhibition of sculptures of Stanislaw Horno-Poplawski, previously presented in Moscow, was invited to museums in Samara and Saratov. The Polish Season in Russia has been prepared by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute in cooperation with Polish cultural Institutions .
Belka is moderate optimist on EU budget compromise
Warsaw, June 3: I am a moderate optimist as regards chances to reach a compromise on a new European Union budget during the EU's June summit, Prime Minister Marek Belka said after a meeting with Luxembourg's Prime Minsiter Jean Claude Juncker. During Luxembourg's presidency of the EU its prime minister is holding talks with EU leaders, seeking to reach a compromise on the EU budget for 2007-2013. The latest compromise proposal put forward by Luxembourg projects the EU budget at 1.06 percent of GNI, or some 875 billion euros, over the seven years. The Polish PM said that Mr Juncker was not losing hope for a compromise while Belka himself, being a "moderate" optimist," did not believe that the odds for a compromise were higher than 50 percent. The Luxembourg's prime minister was briefed on the Polish stance on the budget. Belka stressed that there remained many open issues in the talks about the budget but these were not questions of a fundamental importance. "As regards the Polish position, I am at least a moderate optimist," Belka added. In his opinion, Poland achieved a negotiating success at the very early stage of the talks. Belka said that it did not matter whether the budget was at 1 percent of the GNI or 1.14 percent, since the Polish position had already been guaranteed. He stressed that Poland was fighting for important details, chiefly for additional facilitation for the poorest regions in access to EU funds. Belka and Juncker also discussed the consequences of the French and Dutch "no" to the EU constitution.
Foreign Minister: We intend to normalise Poles' situation in Belarus
Warsaw, June 2: It is the intention of Poland to see the situation of the Union of Poles in Belarus normalised, Foreign Minister Adam D. Rotfeld said Thursday. In his opinion the simplest solution would be to revoke the Belarussian authorities' decision to recognise the election of Andzelika Borys for the Union 's head as non-valid. Speaking at a press conference Rotfeld said that heating up the atmosphere would be very unfortunate for Belarussian relations with Poland and other EU countries, but if Belarussian authorities continue the policy started several weeks ago, other steps would be launched. Rotfeld informed that there is a list of Belarussians recognised as "personae non gratae" in Poland and the EU territory for their responsibility for the persecution of Poles in Belarus, but it is in the interest of Polish and Belarussian societies not to aggravate the situation. On the contrary, we believe that Belaraus should be opened to the world and the EU and our actions are not to lead to sanctions, Rotfeld said. According to Rotfeld it is essential to take up steps to increase the access of Belarussian society to information, so he supports the idea to install on the Polish territory a transmitter of Radio Svoboda beaming programmes for Belarus.
Foreign Minister on EU treaty after French, Dutch "no"
Warsaw, June 2: France's and Holland's rejection of the EU Constitutional Treaty is surely a problem but not a catastrophe, Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld told a news conference in Warsaw on Thursday. He stressed that unequivocal support for the EU Constitutional Treaty in a referendum in Poland lies in the interest of Poland and Europe. The date of the referendum is currently being discussed. A special meeting will be held at the Presidential Office to work out the position of the Polish authorities on holding a referendum in Poland, the foreign minister said.
OBOP: 51 percent of Poles for EU Constitution
Warsaw, June 3: Fifty one percent of Poles would vote for the EU Constitution if a referendum was held in Poland now, according to a recent TNS OBOP poll commissioned by Polish Television TVP1 News Bulletin. Twenty nine percent declared they would vote against the EU Constitutional Treaty and 20 percent were still undecided. According to 61 percent of the respondents a referendum should be held in Poland, 28 percent said that it should not and 11 percent did not have any opinion.
PGF: Kaczynski most popular presidential candidate
Warsaw, June 2: Lech Kaczynski of Law and Justice (PiS) would win presidential elections if they were held in late May, according to a survey carried out by PGF and published Thursday. Kaczynski received 22 percent of votes. Next came leader of the Social Democracy of Poland (SdPl) Marek Borowski supported by 15 percent of Poles, up 4 percentage points from April. Donald Tusk of the Citizens' Platform (PO) could count on 13 percent of votes (down by 1 percentage point) and Samoobrona leader Andrzej Lepper on 11 percent (down 3 percentage points). Professor Zbigniew Religa received 10 percent of votes (up 2 percentage points) and Maciej Giertych of the League of Polish Families (LPR) 9 percent (down 1 percentage point). Jerzy Szmajdzinski, whose candidature would be forwarded by the Democratic left Alliance (SLD), got 7 percent of votes.
Olejniczak: Cimoszewicz best candidate for president
Warsaw, June 3: Head of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) Wojciech Olejniczak said Friday that if Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz changed his mind and decided to run for president he would receive SLD's full support. Olejniczak speaking to Polish Radio Three once again repeated that Cimoszewicz was the best candidate and would be the best president. He added that the left-wing should have one candidate. Cimoszewicz, who announced his withdrawal from politics in mid-May, confirmed his decision last Tuesday. The SLD head also added that he was an advocate of a joint list of left-wing candidates to run for Senate seats. He plans to discuss the issue with SdPL leader Marek Borowski.
Belka: Gronicki's sacking would be economic sabotage
Warsaw, June 3: PM Marek Belka commenting on opposition's initiative aimed to recall Finance Minister Miroslaw Gronicki has said that the minister is currently working on the draft of next year's budget and it would be an "economic sabotage" if he was recalled. Polish Peasant Party deputies on Thursday announced plans to file with the Sejm Speaker a motion calling for vote-of-no-confidence in Gronicki after the ministry decided to raise excise tax on
heating oil to the level of the tax on diesel oil. Earlier, the PM said that the government would not withdraw from its tax decision as the previous situation allowed for mass scale abuse on the fuel market.
Sejm passes law on "golden veto"
Warsaw, June 3: The Sejm on Friday passed a law on the so-called "golden veto" granting the State Treasury special powers as regards companies which are significant for public order or security and in which the Treasury holds a minority stake. There were 292 votes for, 91 against and one abstention. Under the law the State Treasury will be authorised to block some
board decisions in such companies. The Sejm also passed amendments to the law on fruit, vegetable and hop markets under which groups of producers could be granted capital state aid for investments. The amendments were necessary to adjust Polish regulations to the EU law. The Sejm refused to reject a resolution on privatisation in 2005, including the privatisation of the Polish Oil and Gas Company (PGNiG), and sent it to the Sejm Treasury Committee. Under the resolution the Sejm approves further privatisation of the PZU insurer provided it is conduced after the end of work of the Sejm special committee, the privatisation of Enea and PGNiG (provided the State Treasury holds at least 51 percent of their shares), and the privatisation of Lotos (provided the Polish fuel sector privatisation are presented).
IPOs of Enea, Kozienice and Ruch still before elections
Warsaw, June 2: Treasury Minister Jacek Socha said Thursday that he would want to allow for the public offer of Enea, Kozienice power plant and Ruch shares before the fall parliamentary elections. Socha recalled that Pulawy chemical plant and Polish and Oil Company PGNiG have already received permission to place their shares on public offering.
PGNiG unions protest stock market delay
Warsaw, June 2: Trade unions and the Polish Oil & Gas Company (PGNiG) are considering a picket before the Treasury Ministry in Warsaw in protest against the postponement of their company's stock market debut from the original June date until autumn. Solidarity unionist Boleslaw Potyrala said decisions about further steps against the postponement will fall on Monday at a meeting of union delegates in Walbrzych, south Poland. According to the protesters PGNiG's stock market debut and privatisation should be carried through as quickly as possible while their postponement may make both impossible.
Patriotic Movement warns investor
Warsaw, June 2: The Patriotic Movement (RP) has warned all investors planning to take part in the privatization of Polish state enterprises during the term of the present government that such transactions would be questioned in the future. An open letter to this effect has been presented by RP members to journalists on Thursday. According to RP spokesman Antoni Macierewicz PM Marek Belka has decided to devote his last days in office to the sell out of "goods of key importance for Poland's independence and economic sovereignty. "The RP wrote in its letter that in danger are such enterprises as Polish Gas and Oil company, Gdansk refinery and power industry companies.
Sejm introduces tougher penalties for sex crimes
Warsaw, June 3: Sex killers can face up to 25 years in prison or a life sentence, the sentence for rape is to vary not from one to ten years but from five to 25 years in prison, pedophiles are to undergo obligatory treatment and are to be banned from certain jobs - such are the main amendments to the Penal Code passed by the Sejm Friday. The draft amendments passed by the Sejm are even tougher that the ones prepared by the Sejm Committee working on the amendments. Under the passed amendments convicted sex offenders will have to undergo HIV detection tests. Tougher penalties for HIV-infected people who did not reveal their HIV status to their partners were introduced.
MPs support gov't anti-cancer programme
Warsaw, June 2: Every fourth Pole will get sick with cancer and every fifth will die if there is no long term anti-cancer programme, warned Sejm MPs on Thursday during a debate on a government draft of anti-cancer law. All parliamentary groups supported its adoption. The MPs kept repeating that the number of malignant tumor cases in Poland is the highest in Europe with 300 Poles learning daily that they have it and 220 dying of it. The draft envisages that in 10 years investments in oncology will amount to 3 bn zlotys (900 million USD) of which 2 bn zlotys are to be assigned by the state budget and 1 bn zlotys are to come from non-budgetary means. According to oncologists some 200 mn zlotys annually is needed for the implementation of the programme.
Senate on gay laws
Warsaw, June 2: Homosexuals are discriminated and the legislator's duty is to act against such discrimination, opponents of the withdrawal from parliament of a bill legalizing homosexual relationships argued Thursday in the Senate. A group of 26 senators have demanded the act's withdrawal on grounds that it attempted to grant marriage status to homosexual unions, which they claimed ran contrary to the teachings of the late pope John Paul II. All legal regulations reflect reality and the reality is that homosexuals are among us, Those Catholics who believe homosexuality is a sin are free to ignore the legal status given to homosexual union said senator Krystyna Sienkiewicz. Opposition against this act stems from a fear of differences, senator Maria Szyszkowska stated. Supporters of the bill also mentioned the problem of homophobia and the discrimination of homosexuals in Poland. The bill on homosexual rights was passed by the Senate on December 3, 2003 and is awaiting its first reading in parliament. Under the new laws homosexual pairs would have many of the rights granted to married couples, including inheritance and alimony rights. The bill does not permit the adoption of children by homosexual pairs.
Kowalski to be appointed as Central Investigation Office head
Warsaw, June 2: Superintendent Jerzy Kowalski, the to-date provincial police chief in Gorzow Wielkopolski, will be nominated Central Investigation Office (CBS) head, police chief Leszek Szreder told Sejm deputies. Kowalski, 48, will replace Janusz Golebiewski who resigned on Wednesday. Later in the day Kowalski expressed his willingness to accept the post in his talk with Szreder.
Consul explains circumstance of TVP team arrest
Moscow, June 2: Polish consul in Moscow Ryszard Bialacki on Thursday left for Nazran in Ingushetia to explain the circumstances of the apprehension of a Polish TVP team in that Northern Caucasus republic. Three Polish TV journalists Mariusz Pilis, Marcin Mamon and Tomasz Glowacki were apprehended on May 30 early in the morning and interrogated for 14 hours. 18 tapes, documents and equipment were confiscated. RIA-Novosti agency on Thursday quoted an anonymous senior officer from the Joint Military Group at Northern Caucasus as saying that the three reporters had been apprehended for their own protection while crossing the border between Ingushetia and Chechnya. The source also said the three tried to film troops deployment in Northern Caucasus. Earlier head of the consular department of the Polish Embassy to Moscow Tomasz Klimanski explained that TVP journalists went to Northern Caucasus together with representatives of mass media from Japan and Sweden on a trip organised by the Russian foreign ministry. However they had decided that the footage they had got was highly insufficient so they resolved to shoot additional material on their own. This is the cause of all the misunderstanding, the consul said. According to Klimanski, TVP journalists now can move freely, live in a hotel they'd picked up and wait for their tapes to be returned. The tapes were at the possession of the Federal Security Service "Apart from the tapes nothing else has been taken away from them," the consul added. According to the consul journalists' visas expire on June 22. Spokesman for the Polish foreign ministry Aleksander Checko said that Polish diplomatic services were in touch with TVP journalists in Northern Ossetia that had been interrogated by the Federal Security Services. The ministry asked the services to return the tapes to journalists.
Prosecutor to launch steps against Aleksandra Jakubowska
Bialystok, June 2: The Appelate Prosecutors (PA) Office in Bialystok, north-east Poland, will table a motion to the Prosecutor General for permission to bring Sejm Deputy Aleksandra Jakubowska to justice for her responsibility for introducing changes to the draft media law, PAP was informed by PA spokesman Janusz Kordulski on Thursday. Kordulski declined to explain what charges would be brought against Jakubowska. The Prosecutor General is to decide whether to ask the Sejm Speaker to deprive Jakubowska of parliamentary immunity. Jakubowska was one of three persons to whom charges of forgery of documents (draft media law) were formulated following the investigation conducted in Bialystok.
Opposition MPs press charges against Waniek
Warsaw, June 2: A motion to bring head of the national radio and tv council KRRiT Danuta Waniek before the tribunal of state was submitted to the Sejm on Thursday, leader of the Citizens' Platform PO Donald Tusk told a news conference. The motion, initiated by the PO has been signed by more than 115 MPs from the PO, the Law and Justice PiS and the League of Polish Families LPR. The MPs accuse the KRRiT head of violating the law. The believe
that by changing members of the KRRiT supervisory board Waniek tries to help the Democratic Left Alliance SLD take again control over public media, chiefly the public TV.
F-16 ground crew training underway in Poznan
Poznan, June 2: Technical personnel at the military air base in Krzesiny, outside Poznan, are taking part in a two-week Polish-US training course preparing them for servicing US of 32 F-16 jets. Some one hundred Americans, pilots and ground crew from National Guard in Illinois are involved in the trainig. Thirteen future potential Polish F-16 pilots are currently undergoing training in the U.S. First F-16's bought by Poland are to be based in Krzesiny.
S3 express way to become part of European corridor
Szczecin, June 2: An 82-kilometre S3 express route will link Gorzow Wielkopolski and Szczecin as well as A6, A2 and A18 motorways as of 2010 and therefore will become an element of the central European transport corridor. A decision on the construction of the express way, as of 2007, was made by local authorities at a meeting of the Polish-German Inter-governmental Commission for Regional and Trans-border Cooperation. The cost of the investment is estimated at 350 mn euros. In future the corridor will be made up of express roads and motorways which will link the northern and southern Europe.
Donbas and Huta Czestochowa agree on social packet
Czestochowa, June 2: Ukraine's Donbas Industrial Union (ZPD), the sole entitled bidder for Poland's Czestochowa steel plant, Thursday reached agreement on social benefits for the Czestochowa crew with the plant's trade unions. The packet, estimated at 800 million zlotys (237.3 mn USD) is the biggest ever granted in a privatized company in Poland and fully satisfies the crew. An earlier bidder for the steelworks, Mittal Steel, resigned the purchase after failing to reach agreement on social benefits.
Polish-British recruitment fair
Lodz, June 2: Over twenty exhibitors, recruitment companies and British employers, will present several hundred job offers during the 2nd Polish-British Recruitment Fair in Lodz on June 10-11. On offer will be jobs in Great Britain in the medical, nursing, hotel and catering branches as well as offers for drivers and seasonal farm workers. The fair is organized by the Polish-British Chamber of Commerce.
Cimoszewicz on EU Constitution
Warsaw, June 3: Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz said Friday that both the adoption of a part of the EU Constitution concerning institutional affairs and renegotiations of the EU Treaty were both "unreal scenarios". According to Cimoszewicz, it is less probable today that the EU Constitution will come into life than it could have been expected in the past. The Sejm Speaker stressed this was not good for Poland. Renegotiations in the coming years are unreal. The EU Constitution could be described as a difficult compromise based on some balance of interests, concessions and profits. It was difficult to reach this compromise but it would be much more difficult to approve another one, he stressed. The French and Dutch rejected the EU Constitution manly because they wanted to manifest their dissatisfaction with their president or prime minister. And thus the renegotiations cannot be any cure, the Sejm Speaker stressed.
Prime Minister ends Sejm vs. government conflict over tax rates
Warsaw, June 5: The finance ministry is to stop changes to the excise tax rates until August 1, PM Marek Belka told the Sejm. This means that excise tax rates on heating and Diesel oil will not take effect on June 15. Belka added that by August 1 the finance minister is to work out a
program of actions cushioning the social costs of the raise in excise tax rate on heating oil. At the same time the PM said that the present system gives room for irregularities and difference in tax rates help flourish crime rings swindling fuel. The PM stand was a direct result of a conversation he had earlier in the day with Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz who had
talked him into postponing the deadline on which the ordinance equalising excise taxes on heating and Diesel oil would take effect. The postponement put an end to a conflict between the government and the Sejm over the tax rates. The ordinance signed last Monday by Finance Minister Miroslaw Gronicki drastically raises excise tax for heating oil from 233 zlotys (70.6 USD) per one ton to 1028 zlotys (311.5 USD) per one ton. The latter tax would also apply to Diesel oil which so far was covered by 1099 zlotys tax per one ton. The ordinance is to take effect as of June 15.
Sejm adopts law preventing tax evasion
Warsaw, June 3: The Sejm on Friday adopted five laws allowing for the ratification of agreements between Poland and Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man and between Poland and Holland including the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. The agreements will make it impossible for taxpayers to hide their incomes in the so called tax paradises. The agreements have been reached in line with the 2003 EU's Savings Tax Directive and on Overseas Territories. The directive attempts to reduce the amount of tax evasion by individuals in one Member State who hold bank accounts in other Member States, by taxing cross border interest payments to EU residents. Under the agreements which also cover the U.K. and the Netherlands overseas territories information exchange is a central part of the agreement so that Member States have the necessary information to apply the level of taxation that they see fit to their own residents. The implementation of the agreements in Poland will not involve financial contribution.
Anti-cancer program adopted by Sejm
Warsaw, June 3: The Sejm on Friday adopted the law on long-term national anti-cancer program envisaging budget spending for its implementation at no less than 250 mn zlotys (75.7 mn USD) annually in the period between 2006 and 2015. The end result is to be an increased detectability and successful treatment of neoplasm cases in Poland. The law was adopted with 379 MPs for, one against (Pawel Gras from the Citizens Platform PO) and one abstention (Jan Rokita of the PO). Both were guided by the PO's objection to adopting the law which increases state spending shortly before parliamentary elections and the formation of a new government. The number of malignant neoplasm cases in Poland is the highest in Europe with 300 Poles learning daily that they have it and 220 dying of it. Though there is a general consent that the program is needed oncologists circles and journalists presented a number of
reservations to the law with the most important being that it fails to present an outline of cost estimation. The Sejm also adopted an amendment under which no less than 20 percent of means in the 1st year of the program will be allocated for initial identification of the disease or health condition of increased-risk population via medical tests. In successive three years the sum will grow to 35 percent.
Warsaw, June 3: The Sejm's Treasury Committee Friday appealed to the PM for a halt of the privatisation of the Polmos Bialystok distillery plant. The Polish treasury ministry plans to sell a 61-percent stake of Polmos Bialystok to the Sobieski Dystrybucja company. On Thursday 100 Polmos employees picketed the treasury ministry in Warsaw protesting against the company's sale to Sobieski.
Polmos Bialystok is one of Poland's biggest alcohol distilleries. Among its brands are the popular Zubrowka and Absolwent vodkas. The ordinance is to take effect as of June 15. However, today the Sejm finance committee sent to the Sejm a short draft amendment to the law on excise tax under which the maximum rate on heating oil cannot exceed 233 zlotys per one tone. The committee wants to freeze the excise tax at to-date level thus obstructing the finance ministry plans. Cimoszewicz said that as the matter related to tax issues the first reading of the amendment should be held at the Sejm plenary meeting that means after June 15. He did not exclude that the chamber may adopt the amendment.
Tyminski: I'll run and win
Warsaw, June 3: Stanislaw Tyminski, a Canadian resident Pole who ran for Poland's presidency in 1990 losing to Lech Walesa in the ballot's second round, announced Friday that he will run for president again this year. Tyminski, who arrived in Poland with his wife Mulan today, said he planned to win this time and assured he had gained much political experience since his 1990 try. Tyminski is to run in the elections for the All-Polish Civic Coalition (OKO). According to OKO leader Wojciech Kornowski, Tyminski is "a visionary and perhaps the only person capable of rebuilding Poland". Tyminski is experienced, honest and uninvolved in corruption, a real success story", Kornowski said.
Religa announces he will run for president
Miedniewice, June 5: Poland's renowned heart surgeon Professor Zbigniew Religa announced here Sunday he would run in this year presidential elections. I want to be the president to continue the mission of my life which is to help people, he said. And I plan to win the elections, the candidate added in Miedniewice, his home village near Warsaw. He said he would spare no effort to ensure for Polish farmers the same conditions as those enjoyed by farmers from other EU countries. Speaking to journalists in Warsaw he specified his priorities
which include education and science, improvement in health care system and economic development. He stressed that acting on behalf of national unity he saw no need for changing the constitution and for a mass-scale vetting. Vetting should apply only to people performing public functions, he said. He added that his campaign would be politically inaugurated in Zabrze, Silesia, on June 19 at a conference on the candidate programme.
Maciej Giertych - LPR candidate for president
Warsaw, June 5: The extraordinary congress of the League of Polish Families LPR on Saturday unanimously elected Maciej Giertych its presidential runner in October elections. The candidate told the delegates that Poland deserves a better constitution and should be freed from corruption. LPR leader Zygmunt Wrzodak, who presented the candidate announced that once elected the LPR would strive for "not giving Poland away to the Bolshevik-style collective community called the European Union." Maciej Giertych, 69, is Oxford university graduate with doctor's degree of University in Toronto, Canada. Since 2004 he has represented Poland, on the LPR mandate at the European Parliament.
Democrats.pl name Bochniarz presidential runner
Warsaw, June 5: Henryka Bochniarz, head of the Polish Confederation of Private Employers Lewiatan was appointed the presidential runner for the Democratic Party - demokraci.pl. So far eight candidates have been fielded. Bochniarz (57-year-old mother of two and grandmother of seven with doctor's degree in economics) said she decided to run to give Poland and Poles a chance to take advantage of possibilities created by democracy and market economy. She opted for a referendum on the EU constitution this fall. Her candidacy was announced publicly on Saturday by former PM Tadeusz Mazowiecki. The candidate believes that her vast experience on various fields including science and business give her a chance to be effective in the presidential race. "The point is not to talk but to act and I am not bad at this," she announced. According to democrats.pl head Wladyslaw Frasyniuk, Bochniarz will change the Polish way of thinking about the politics and efficient economic management.
Professor Szyszkowska to run for president
Warsaw, June 5: Professor Maria Szyszkowska has decided to run in presidential elections as independent candidate. She has told PAP that the idea had been suggested to her at meetings with different circles all over Poland. Szyszkowska explained the decision was prompted by her fear of growing fascism, aggression and nationalism as well as an increasing number of groups of people that are discriminated in Poland.
Rzeszow, Kielce, June 5: The main council of the Polish Peasant Party PSL will name its presidential runner in two weeks, deputy head of the party Jan Bury said in Boguchwala near Rzeszow on Sunday. On Tuesday we will meet Professor Zbigniew Religa and on Wednesday
Maciej Plazynski, Bury said. According to PSL head Waldemar Pawlak support for Plazynski on the 25th anniversary of the formation of Solidarity trade union would be tantamount to reaching an agreement beyond political divisions. From Professor Religa Pawlak expects experience though he admitted that they differ somewhat on views on social and economic issues. Waldemar Pawlak also believes that after parliamentary elections the PSL stands a chance to even lead a coalition government. If we achieve a moderate result we will be able to join the winners: either the Law and Justice PiS or the Citizens' Platform PO, he told a party convention in Kielce on Saturday.
PGB: Citizens' Platform ahead of Law and Justice
Opole, June 6: The Citizens' Platform (PO) would win parliamentary elections if they were held in early June with 20 percent of votes. The support for PO went down by 1 percentage point from mid-May, according to a recent survey of the Polish Research Group PGB. Law and Justice (PiS) placed second with 18 percent of votes (down 2 percentage points from mid-May) and the League of the Polish Families placed third with 16 percent of votes (up 2 percentage points). Samoobrona could count on 11 percent of votes (down 2 percentage points) and the Social Democracy of Poland (SdPl) on 8 percent (up 1 percentage point). Next came the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) with 7 percent, the Polish Peasant Party (PSL) with 6 percent and the National Party of Old-age and Disability Pensioners with 5 percent (all the three parties got 1 percentage point more than last month). The Democratic Party-Democrats.pl and the Centre Party would not win seats in the parliament as they fell short of the five percent of the vote required for parliamentary representation.
Borowski: no conditions for election talks with SLD
Warsaw, June 3: Social-democracy for Poland (SdPl) leader Marek Borowski sees "no conditions" for talks on a joint election list to parliament with the ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD). SdPl spokesman Arkadiusz Kasznia told PAP Friday that Borowski will meet new SLD leader Wojciech Olejniczak later today to "ask him how he planned to heal his party". Kasznia added that Borowski would also suggest a joint list for elections to the Senate. On Thursday Olejniczak said he wanted to discuss the future of Poland's left and the approaching elections with Borowski. I would like to see a united left with one election list, but it's too early to say if this will work, Olejniczak told reporters. He added that cooperation between SLD and SdPl could be "good for the left".
Timoshenko at Visegrad summit
Warsaw, June 3: Ukrainian PM Yulia Timoshenko will be a guest at the Visegrad summit in Kazimierz, southeast Poland, on June 10, deputy foreign minister Boguslaw Zaleski told the Sejm Foreign Affairs Committee Friday. We expect PM Tymoshenko won't come empty-handed and will forward some interesting suggestions. Ukraine is eager to deepen its ties with the EU, Zaleski said. Zaleski said the meeting would also discuss cooperation between Poland and Ukraine and a "strategy for binding Ukraine closer to Europe", authored by the Polish government. Zaleski pointed to growing trade between both countries to the tune of three billion USD last year, with Polish investments in Ukraine increasing by 40 million USD and exports by over 30 perecent. This shows the scale of our economic ties, Zaleski said.
Gdansk, June 6: This year's Baltic Operations BALTOP 2005 international exercise, that started at the Latvian port of Lipava in the Baltic Sea on Monday, includes more than 4,100 personnel, 40 ships, two submarines, and 28 aircraft from 11 participating nations. BALTOPS 2005, the biggest manoeuvres in the Baltic Sea within the Partnership for Peace (PfP), have been organized by the U.S. They are attended by troops from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Sweden, the UK, and Poland. BALTOPS is intended to improve interoperability during a peace-support operation at sea, including a combined amphibious landing and exercises in gunnery, undersea warfare, radar tracking, mine countermeasures, and scenarios dealing with potential real-world crises. Grzegorz Lyko of the Polish Navy press office told PAP that Polish ships taking part in the exercise include Kobben ORP Sokol submarine, ORP Kaszub submarine search and destroy corvette, ORP Sniardwy and ORP Goplo minesweepers and ORP Poznan transport and mine-laying ship.
Stanislaw Dziwisz appointed Cracow Archbishop
Warsaw, June 3: Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, former personal secretary to Pope John Paul II, was appointed the archbishop of Cracow on Friday, the Apostolic Nuncio Office in Poland said. Dziwisz replaces Cardinal Franciszek Macharski, 78, who handed in his resignation to John Paul II three years ago due to his age but was asked to carry on his duties. Archbishop Dziwisz, 68, is a Doctor of Theology. President Aleksander Kwasniewski on Friday sent a congratulatory letter to Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz .
Warsaw, June 3: Ninety-three percent of Polish taxpayers in a CBOS survey are listed in the lowest, 19-percent income tax threshold, only 4 percent pay a 30-percent and 2 percent a 40-percent income
tax. 50 percent said filling out tax forms was difficult, only 29 percent claiming they had filled them out themselves. 29 percent were helped by family, 47 percent sought outside help in completing tax forms. 34 percent had no end-year surplus tax, 53 percent paid too much and received returns.CBOS ran the survey from May 6 to 9 on a random group of 1,052 Poles.
deputy Treasury Minister Dariusz Witkowski told PAP on Friday. According to ministry plans Ruch's IPO is to be held in the 4th quarter of 2005. The company wants to gain some 120 million zlotys from the public offer. The Treasury wants to maintain a 51 per cent stake in Ruch following the offer. As for Kozienice, the ministry wants to close the offer on the last day of November 2005. The treasury would want to float on the WSE 45 per cent of shares of the power plant. 40 to 50 per cent of shares in the plant are to go to a branch investor.
Warsaw, June 6: May's unemployment rate went down to 18.3 percent from 18.8 percent in April, deputy Economy Minister Jacek Mecina told PAP on Monday. May's preliminary data confirm the falling trend. The unemployment rate went down by 0.5 percent from April to 18.3 percent, Mecina said. In order to confirm that it is a lasting trend one has to wait for June's data. But May's figures came as a nice surprise, he said. The Central Statistical Office (GUS) will publish its data concerning May's unemployment in late June. According to the deputy minister the unemployment rate at the end
of 2005 should go down to 17.9 percent but if June's data are better that expected the forecast will be changed to a more optimistic one.In April the number of unemployed stood at 2,957,800 and was by
6.8 percent lower than in April 2004.
Warsaw, June 3: Stefan Moeller, German actor and cabaret artist working in Poland received the Cross of Merit with the Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in Warsaw on Friday. German Ambassador to Poland Doctor Reinhard Schweppe said it was good that such people like Moeller have become "typical Germans" to Poles. I am very glad that Moeller has been granted this distinction because he did a lot for Poles and Germans to understand each other better, doctor Reinhard Schweppe said.
Warsaw authorities refuse to okay Gay Parade
Warsaw, June 3: Warsaw President Lech Kaczynski did not agree on organising a gay parade called Equality Parade in the city on June 11, the director of the city hall office for security and crisis management Lucjan Belza told PAP on Friday. The refusal was substantiated by organisers' failure to present a project on changes in municipal traffic organisation. The organisers announced they would appeal the decision on Monday. They plan to turn to Mazowsze province governor with a claim that the refusal was groundless. They also upheld their stand that heedless of Kaczynski's decision the parade would march via the city on June 11. The parade is to be organised by the Equality Foundation as part of Equality and Tolerance Days (June 11-12) during which conferences and cultural events informing about homosexualism are to be held.
Reflection Group for holding EU constitution referendum
Warsaw, June 6: Poland should hold a referendum on the EU constitutional treaty despite its rejection by France and Holland, said participants in Monday's meeting of the Group of Reflection under the chairmanship of president Aleksander Kwasniewski. The president and foreign minister Adam Rotfeld said that the best date for holding the referendum was October 9, when the first round of presidential elections will be held in Poland. Only a joint voting on both issues could guarantee the turnout of more than 50 pc which was necessary for the referendum to be binding under the Polish law, Rotfeld claimed. He added he was not taken by surprise by the British decision to suspend the ratification of the EU constitutional treaty. Rotfeld also said that Poland's weight in Europe had risen recently and there was much interest in Poland's stand on the ratification issue. EU leaders will decide on what to do next at their summit scheduled for Brussels on June 16-17. President Aleksander Kwasniewski said before the Reflection Group meeting that also Poland should wait with decisions until after the summit. But in his personal opinion Poland should stage the referendum. Kwasniewski was against attempts at writing a new EU constitution. If a debate on a new constitution started now, all important processes under way in Europe would have to wait, including EU
enlargement, he noted. The next meeting of the Group will be held in two weeks.
President: I'm not running for post of UN Secretary General
Warsaw, June 6: President Aleksander Kwasniewski said Monday that at the moment he was not planning to run for the post of the UN Secretary General. "There is a UN Secretary General and his term of office lasts until the end of 2006. And we will see what will happen then," the president said. The president stressed that he was not running for the post but confirmed that there were people who were asking him whether he was interested in such nomination. "But I am always telling them that now there are significant tasks in Poland," the president said.
Warsaw, June 7: President Aleksander Kwasniewski said Tuesday that he plans to attend the ceremony of the reopening of the Polish military cemetery in Lvov scheduled to take place on June 24. Speaking to Polish Radio Three, Kwasniewski said that the cemetery is ready for opening and should be a place of Polish-Ukrainian reconciliation. He added that the ceremony will also be attended by Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko. The cemetery is the resting place for almost three thousand young Poles who fell during the 1918-1919 Polish-Ukrainian battles and the Polish-Soviet war of 1920. President Kwasniewski also said that earlier, on June 16, he will visit Ukraine to take part in an economic forum.
Prime Minister at brown coal congress
Belchatow, June 6: Without brown coal Polish economy would lose leverage, PM Marek Belka said Monday addressing the 4th International Brown Coal Mining Congress in Belchatow, south Poland. Belka stressed that brown coal was an important energy safety factor for Poland and an energy source compliant with the EU's stringent environmental laws.The Belchatow congress, attended by over 300 Polish and foreign delegates, will last until Wednesday. Its main topic are new brown coal mining technologies.
Bialowieza, June 7: Environment ministers of states of the Visegrad Group and of Lithuania have declared that they will speak in one voice on problems linked with the European Nature 2000 network on the EU forum. The ministers also plan to join ranks in such fields as taking maximum advantage of EU structural funds for environment protection for the years 2007-2013 and EU legislature. At the end of the their two-day meeting in Bialowieza on Tuesday, the ministers issued a joint statement covering issues relating to EU's policy towards chemicals, international cooperation on climate changes, European Nature 2000 network and structural funds.
Lublin, June 6: The conservative Law and Justice Party (PiS) has an agricultural programme contrary to the general belief that it is not interested in rural matters, PiS agriculture expert Wojciech Mojzesowicz said Monday at at PiS convention in Lublin, southeast Poland. Mojzesowicz said the programme, authored in cooperation with PiS Senator Krzysztof Jurgiel, could win the party broad rural support. Among its proposals are larger outlays for education in rural areas and projects to raise the Polish farming sector's competitiveness against EU rivals. PiS also intends to work against the downsizing of Poland's farming sector. Mojzesowicz said the PiS programme was chiefly backed by politically unaffiliated farmers and former members of the radical Samoobrona Farmer Party. Mojzesowicz is a former Samoobrona executive and aide to its leader Andrzej Lepper. He left the party over its members' controversial behaviour in parliament.)
Mazowiecki on key challenges facing Poland
Warsaw, June 6: Good use of Poland's EU membership, solving the unemployment problem, improvement in education standards and developing the institutions of civic society are the key tasks facing Poland, according to former prime minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki. He presented his views at a debate held at the Batory Foundation Monday in the framework of "On mending the Republic" series. In order to mend the Polish Republic it was necessary to separate the special services from politics, to ensure an effective execution of the law by law enforcement bodies and transparency of public involvement in the economy. Mazowiecki came out for the setting up of a special institution to combat unemployment which he called a National Pact for Fighting Joblessness. To succeed in eliminating this social ill it was necessary to remove barriers to development of small and medium size firms and to lower taxes, Mazowiecki claimed. He said there was a need for changing the style of political debates in Poland and for politicians to seek compromise solutions, even in very sensitive questions.
Mazowiecki criticised calls for a summary negation and doing away with accomplishments of the 3rd Polish Republic. A political philosophy based on negating everything done over the past 15 years and on the belief that everybody was dishonest was "to some extent" authoritarian and resembled Latin American politics, the former PM said. He considered the idea of halving the number of parliamentary
seats, pushed by the Citizens Platform (PO), "demagogic", because savings would be negligible and there was no evidence that the smaller Sejm would be more efficient. The Democratic Party (of which Mazowiecki is a member) should not join a possible PO-PiS coalition in the next parliament, only give
its support to the ruling parties on selected issues, Mazowiecki said.
Warsaw, June 6: The right-wing Patriotic Movement (RP) Monday appealed to PM Marek Belka for "immediate steps" to exclude the issue of Germany's post-war reparation claims from the jurisdiction of EU courts. RP's appeal came in response to a recent report on German reparation claims compiled for Bundestag president Wolfgang Thierse, whose authors called post-war resettlements of Germansfrom west Poland a "crime against humanity". RP leader Jan Olszewski and spokesman Antoni Macierewicz at a press conference today called the report's conclusions "not only insulting and unfounded, but threatening with unimaginable consequences in the sphere of international law, for Polish-German relations and for Poland's political position".
Lodz, June 6: Samoobrona leader and presidential candidate Andrzej Lepper Monday in Lodz, central Poland, declared his party's staunch "no" in national referendum on the EU constitution. According to Lepper a constitution ballot in Poland was unnecessary after France's and Holland's rejection of the document. What we need is to sit down and write a new treaty, but this time it shouldn't rise above national constitutions, the Samoobrona leader argued. Asked about his election plans Lepper said his presidential campaign would start off next month.
Italian film on John Paul II in Poland in mid-June
Warsaw, June 6: The Italian film about John Paul II, "Karol, the Story of Man who Became Pope" will be screened in Polish cinemas as from June 16. Cardinal Franciszek Macharski, the former Cracow metropolitan (to be replaced on the post by Archbiship Stanislaw Dziwisz) has assumed an honorary patronage over the film. Cardinal Macharski who was John Paul II's friend will also be present at a opening gala of the film which will have its Polish premiere in Cracow. Film director Giacomo Battiato will be a special guest to the first night showing. The film will be screened on the TVN channel in Poland in October, instead of April, that is shortly after its Italian premiere.
Archbishop Dziwisz to arrive in Cracow on Wednesday
Cracow, June 7: Pope Paul II's longtime private secretary archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz will arrive in Poland on Wedensday morning, Rev. Jan Zajac of the Cracow archdiocese said. Pope Benedict XVI appointed Dziwisz as archbishop of Cracow on June 3. During his unofficial visit to Poland Dziwisz is due to meet his predecessor cardinal Franciszek Macharski.
BP plans to open over 100 new petrol stations in Poland
Cracow, June 6: BP wants to open over 100 new petrol stations in Poland over the next 4 years, BP Polska president Jerzy Brniak said Monday. The estimated value of the investment is close to 70 million USD. "We plan to beef up our petrol station chain by more than 1/3 in the coming 4 years. Some 70 pc of the new stations will be operated by dealers under franchise agreements, the rest will be
owned by BP," Brniak declared. He put the cost of one BP-owned facility at 2 m USD and the cost of setting up one dealer-operated station at 100,000 USD. BP now has 293 stations across Poland, 222 of them owned by BP, the rest operated under franchise agreements. BP plans to open over 15 new stations by the year-end. "Our share in the Polish retail market for petrol is now 11 pc. We are interested in increasing this share and retaining our number 1 position among foreign firms and number 2 position among all firms," Brniak said. BP wants to increase petrol sales in Poland by 4 pc this year. Last year BP Polska's consolidated sales reached 5.7 bn zlotys (ca. 1.8 bn USD). BP investments in Poland total over 800 m USD.
Gazeta Prawna: Credit card trap
Warsaw, July 7: Credit cards sell like hot cakes. The number of credit card users in Poland rose from 1.3 million in 2004 to over 2.5 million in 2005. Banks offer free credit cards, some of them, like Lukas Bank, give their prospective clients 50 zlotys as a present. But interest is horrendously high, up to 29.90 percent, the Gazeta Prawna daily wrote. Summer holiday is just around the corner and demand for cash is on the rise. Banks are offering credit card promotions. BPH launched no-interest promotion, BZ WBK will offer free cards to those who earlier took out a loan. Experts of the Boston Consulting Group calculated that one credit card brings profit of 95-105 zlotys annually, chiefly from card brings profit of 95-105 zlotys annually, chiefly from commission, interchange fees and interest. In order to attract new clients the banks lower the minimum income limit to be eligible for a credit card. From there it is easy to run into debt.
Malopolska Region and Cracow at EXPO 2005 in Japan
Cracow, June 6: The south-east province of Malopolska and Cracow will have their Days at the World EXPO 2005 in Aichi in Japan. The presentation of the region and its major city will take place between June 9 and 11. The programme of the Days will feature concerts of young musicians of Cracow playing Chopin and other Polish pieces. The visitors will receive a multi-medial presentation
Malopolska, the Country of Six Seasons" and a CD with pieces presenting the traditions and culture of the region. The organisers expect about 10 thousand visitors to watch all points of the programme.
According to data for 2003, out of the total of 17.7 thousand Japanese tourists who visited Poland in that year 12 thousand came to Malopolska, first of all to see Cracow, the ancient salt mine Wieliczka and Oswiecim with its Auschwitz Museum.
Huta Krolewska steelworks to lay off 114 workers
Katowice, June 6: 114 instead of 142 workers of the Mittal Steel Poland group-owned Huta Krolewska steelworks in Chorzow will be made redundant after workplace trade unions agreed to abandon wage rise demands. "In an agreement concluded with the management board, the unionists agreed to abandon a several percent wage rise plans to save 28 jobs," Mittal Steel Poland spokesman Andrzej Krzysztalowski said.
Japanese donation for Warsaw University Library
Warsaw, June 6: The Japanese government donated audio-visual equipment worth 1 million 350 thousand zlotys (nearly 403 thousand USD) to the Library of Warsaw University. A related document was signed by the Japanese Ambassador to Poland, Mr. Masaaki Ono and Undersecretary of State at Foreign Ministry Bogus aw Zaleski here on Monday. The advanced electronic equipment will be installed in the Library's conference, lecture and exhibition rooms. Visitors to the library already enjoy going to the tea pavilion, the Japanese previous gift of 2004, where tea is made and served in the traditional Japanese way. Zaleski recalled that for the thirteenth time a Polish cultural institution takes advantage of a programme of free Cultural Grant Aid of Japan, established by the Japanese government in 1975. Due to the programme, donations were granted, among others, to the Grand Theatre in Warsaw, three Japanese language chairs at universities of Warsaw, Cracow and Poznan, the Warsaw Philharmonic, the National Library and the Academy of Music in Warsaw, and the National Museum in Cracow. All in all, the assistance totalled about 17 million zlotys.
International festival of theatre schools
Warsaw, June 7: Theatrical companies from 15 drama schools from all over the world are coming to Warsaw for the 3rd International Festival of Theatre Schools to be held between June 26 and July 6. The event is organised by Warsaw's Theatre Academy. Invited to take part in the competition are schools from Austria, Mexico, China, Japan, Germany and Russia. Young actors will present a wide range of theatre genres: Italian farce, Shakespearean comedy, contemporary drama, as well as self-produced plays, head of Warsaw's Theatre Academy Jan Englert said. The festival jury will be chaired by Polish actor of international renown Andrzej Seweryn, while German playwright Dea Loher, Polish
composer Jacek Ostaszewski and stage director Elmo Nouganen of Estonia will sit on the jury. The Warsaw school will present Witold Gombrowicz's "The Wedding" and "An Interrupted Song" based on Maxim Gorky's play. Poland will be also represented by a theatrical group from the State Higher Film and Theatre School in Lodz. Two Polish plays will be performed by students from the State Higher School of Music and Drama from Bratislava who come with the production of S. I. Witkiewicz's "The Madman and the Nun," and a group from the Australian Academy of Dramatic Art which will show Stanislaw Wyspianski's "Wedding."
President: June EU summit very significant for EU Constitution
Warsaw, June 7: A June EU summit will be a very significant event or even a historic one as EU leaders are expected to decide what is going to happen with the EU Constitution, President Aleksander Kwasniewski told PAP on Tuesday. Asked about the consequences of the British decision to shelve plans for its own referendum, the Polish president said he was not surprised by the move. I met with PM Tony Blair and Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld with Foreign British Secretary Jack Straw. The two stressed they did not consider the EU Constitution as dead. They simply need more time, President Kwasniewski said. The Polish president stressed he was still convinced the EU Constitution was necessary for the EU. It would be bad if the EU was in crisis concerning the treaty as this would close the EU door for next countries, but mainly for Ukraine, President Kwasniewski said. According to President Kwasniewski, if EU leaders decide that it is necessary to continue ratification procedures and if the Sejm passes a resolution that Poland will ratify the treaty in a referendum, then it should be held together with presidential elections on October 9. Poland is a big country so we have a duty and a sovereign right to say what we think about the EU Constitution. (...) And Poles should express their opinion in a referendum as this is a very significant issue. We ratified our Constitution in a referendum and we also decided to join the EU in a referendum, the president said. President Aleksander Kwasniewski said Tuesday that a new EU budget should be adopted as Europe needed it very much. The Polish president added that the reached compromise could be accepted. In the present moment the adoption of the budget is really necessary and the reached compromise could be accepted, the president told reporters after a meeting with local government officials. It would be very bad if problems with the EU Constitution were accompanied by problems with the budget, Kwasniewski said. Under way are now negotiations on the EU budget for 2007-2013.
Kwasniewski meets envoy of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah
Warsaw, June 7: President Aleksander Kwasniewski met special envoy of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah, Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr Hashem bin Abdullah Yamani here on Tuesday who presented the state of Saudi Arabia's negotiations on its access to the World Trade Organisation WTO. President Kwasniewski pledged support for Saudi Arabia's WTO's bid. The guest also conveyed to President Kwasniewski a personal letter from the Crown Prince Abdullah. The two also discussed the good state of relations between their countries and expressed the will of further extended cooperation and direct contacts between interested enterprises and businessmen. The Polish president had another chance of expressing more thanks for the Crown Prince Abdullah for his generous help in a complex surgery of separating conjoined Polish twin sisters.
President, Orlen inquiry committee on Kulczyk files
Warsaw, June 7: President Aleksander Kwasniewski said Tuesday that deputy Antoni Macierewicz violated the rules of secrecy and silence by disclosing the contents of the files submitted by the Institute of National Remembrance IPN to the Sejm inquiry commission for the Orlen fuel concern. Thus Macierewicz put in question the aim of the activities of the committee, Kwasniewski concluded. In an interview for Polish Radio 3 Tuesday morning the president said Macierewicz also violated the principles of cooperation between the committee and the IPN. He commented on the files concerning businessman Jan Kulczyk whom a Warsaw paper Monday charged of cheating the Warsaw Stock Exchange and the Sejm inquiry
committee. Head of the Inquiry Committee for Orlen Andrzej Aumiller meanwhile said the law had not been violated because the files concerning Kulczyk were not secret. IPN head Leon Kieres will continue to submit files to the committee, Aumiller told newsmen. The Securities and Stock Exchangs Commission (KPWiG) informed the District Prosecutor's office in Warsaw about the suspected crime perpetrated by some of PKN Orlen shareholders who failed to comply with the duty of information to which shareholders of public companies are obliged, KPWiG said in a communique. Also on Tuesday the Sejm Committee for Orlen decided to ask the prosecutor general to secure the financial documents of the Jolanta Kwasniewska-run foundation "Communication Without Barriers" and let the Sejm Orlen committee get acquainted with them, the committee deputy head Roman Giertych said. Kulczyk Holding asked the KPWiG and the District Prosecutor's office to let it get acquainted with the case concerning some of PKN Orlen shareholders who failed to conform with the information duty, Kulczyk Holding concert press spokeswoman Izabela Moscicka said later in the day.
Speaker of Czech Chamber of Deputies in Sejm, Senate
Warsaw, June 7: The future of the EU Constitutional Treaty after its rejection by France and Holland was the main topic of the discussion held by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Lubommr Zaoralek with Sejm and Senate Speakers, Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz and Longin Pastusiak on Tuesday. Support for the Euroconstitution sharply decreases in the Czech Republic. According to Cimoszewicz the Czech stand in this respect "expresses the need of discussion in the whole EU" on how to overcome the embarrassing situation after the French and Dutch referendums. The Sejm speaker said after his meeting with Zaoralek that both Poland and the Czechs place considerable hope on the EU summit in Brussels due on June 16 and 17. Cimoszewicz said Poland is in a more difficult situation because of the principle of a 50-percent turnout in the constitutional referendum. The Senate speaker believes that Poland should go on with the preparations for the referendum. Zaoralek is on a two-day visit to Poland at Cimoszewicz's invitation. He is to meet with President Aleksander Kwasniewski, PM Marek Belka and Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld.
Pastusiak: Rights of national minorities in Belarus violated
Warsaw, June 8: We consider the position of the Belarussian Justice Ministry as a violation of fundamental rights of national minorities, Senate Speaker Longin Pastusiak said Wednesday after a meeting with head of the Union of Poles in Belarus Andzelika Borys. The Polish Senate which is providing assistance to Poles living abroad has not met so far with such a far-going interference in internal rights of the Polish minority in any country in the world, Pastusiak said. The Belarussian authorities do not recognize the union authorities elected during a March congress. The Belarussian Justice Ministry confirmed that it considered the March congress as illegal and demanded that the union should be led again by its old authorities with Tadeusz Kruczkowski. The new authorities of the Union of Poles in Belarus led by Ms Borys do not accept the Belarussian ministry decision and are planning to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Defence: minister meets Kuwaiti military head
Warsaw, June 7: Polish defence minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski Tuesday met Kuwaiti chief of General Staff Fahd Ahmed Al-Ameer, on an official mission to Poland. The sides discussed security in the Persian Gulf, including progress in the establishment of a new peace force in Iraq. Szmajdzinski also reported on Poland's military presence in Iraq and stressed that one of the most important tasks there now was training and equipping Iraq's new army and police. General Al-Ameer praised the conduct of Polish forces in Iraq, specially their help to the local population and in stabilizing the area.On behalf of the Iraqi defence minister Al-Ameer also invited Szmajdzinski to visit Iraq. In the afternoon a Kuwaiti military delegation visited a military training session in Wesola by Warsaw and laid a wreath at the Polish capital's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Janik: Cimoszewicz may still change his mind
Warsaw, June 8: Head of the parliamentary caucus of the Democratic left Alliance (SLD) Krzysztof Janik believes that it is getting possible that Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz will run for president. "It is more probable that Cimoszewicz will change his mind," Janik told Radio Zet on Wednesday and stressed that he really wanted the Sejm Speaker to run for president. "In the current situation in Europe and the European Union Poland needs a president who will represent this country abroad in a proper way," Janik stressed. Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz announced that he would not run for president on May 18 and said that he intended to withdraw from politics after the present term of the Sejm ends. He added that it was chiefly personal reasons that were behind his decision. President Aleksander Kwasniewski is still trying to convince Cimoszewicz to change his mind. If to take into account the situation in the EU around the Constitutional Treaty it will be good if the next president is well-informed about European questions and supporting EU enlargement, the president told PAP and added that from this point of view Cimoszewicz would be the best presidential candidate.
Cabinet: Tripartite Commission should discuss bridge pensions
Warsaw, June 7: The government believes that bridge pensions should be discussed by the Tripartite Commission, deputy PM and Labour Minister Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka told reporters after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Jaruga-Nowacka added that plans might also provide for setting up a team of experts who will prepare a new list of professions entitled to bridge pensions. Despite earlier plans the government approved Tuesday a report on bridge pensions instead of a draft concerning the issue. This is not a good time for such significant legislative proposals. We want to hold a business-like discussion in the Tripartite Commission, the deputy PM said and added that Belka's government did not want to force any solutions as it wanted to leave fundamental solutions for the next cabinet. We still have some time. The law must come into life on January 1, 2007, she added.
Iraq: Poles cede duties on locals
Divaniyah, June 7: The Polish command of the south-central Iraqi stabilization will cede some of its tasks onto local military, the force's commander in chief, general Waldemar Skrzypczak, informed Tuesday. Among the tasks taken over by the Iraqi army from Polish forces will be routine patrols and the running of military checkpoints in the area.
IPN signs cooperation agreement with Office for Stasi Files
Warsaw, June 7: The National Remembrance Institute (IPN) signed an agreement with the Federal Office for Stasi Files on Tuesday granting the sides mutual access to East German and communist Poland's secret police files. The agreement was signed by IPN head Leon Kieres and head of the Federal Office for Stasi Files Marianne Birthler. Also on Tuesday the German side presented to IPN Lech Walesa's picture taken by a GDR secret agent nick-named "Josef". His name was not disclosed. The IPN head recalled that Poles have the same kind of access to Stasi files as to IPN files, that is they must apply for a "victim status".
Czech bishop, Polish activist get John Paul II Awards
Oswiecim, June 7: Czech bishop Vaclav Maly and Polish catholic activist Stefan Wilkanowicz are the first laureates of the John Paul II Human Rights Award, members of the chapter awarding the distinction said Tuesday in Oswiecim, south Poland. In the chapter, chaired by cardinal Franciszek Macharski, is among others ombudsman Andrzej Zoll. Vaclav Maly was born in 1950 in Prague. He was harassed by communist authorities in Czechoslovakia after signing the famous Charter 77 in 1977. A year later he founded a Committee for the Defence of Unjustly Convicted Persons in Czechoslovakia. Maly became a bishop in 1997. Stefan Wilkanowicz was born in 1924 in Warsaw and was a journalist for the Tygodnik Powszechny catholic weekly and editor in chief of the Znak magazine. A promotor of Christian-Jewish dialogue, Wilkanowicz was a close associate of Pope John Paul II in his pre-pontificate years. The John Paul II Human Rights Award was founded in consultation with the Pope, its awarding date on June 7 is a reference to the Pope's 1979 visit in Oswiecim.
NGOs in Poland
Warsaw, June 7: A total 45,000 NGOs, more than 2,200 public organizations and 7,000 foundations were registered in Poland at the end of last year, social policy minister Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka informed on Tuesday. Earlier today the government read a report on the implementation of a June 29, 2003-introduced public and voluntary activity law in the period up to December 31, 2004. Societies with established democratic traditions believe civic society can cope with many of the tasks governments are unable to handle. NGOs, the so-called third sector, come in when the administration can't find a way, Jaruga-Nowacka said. 64,000 people were employed in NGOs in Poland last year.
RPP: GDP growth at 4 pct in 2005
Warsaw, June 8: The Monetary Policy Council (RPP) wants to keep the GDP growth at 4 percent in 2005 and 5.5 percent in 2006-2007 in order to stabilise inflation in the region of the annual target of 2.5 percent, RPP member Halina Wasilewska-Trenkner said. The central bank's May GDP and inflation projection foresees that Poland's economic growth will slow down to 4 percent in 2005 from 5.4 percent in 2004, to accelerate to 5-5.5 percent in 2006-2007. Wasilewska-Trenkner said that Poland needed two-digit investment dynamics but it might be difficult to obtained.
Rzeczpospolita: TP SA Poland's top brand
Warsaw, June 8: Total value of Poland's 180 leading brands reached over 26 billion zlotys with Telekomunikacja Polska telecoms continuing to be Poland's most valuable label, the Rzeczpospolita daily wrote. This year's ranking of Poland's most valuable brands commissioned by Rzeczpospolita and Ernst&Young found that the strongest brands include: Dr Irena Eris, E. Wedel, TVN and Zywiec Zdroj. "Let us build good brands and we will be confident of the development and welfare of our homeland," said former President Lech Walesa who was a honorary guest at a gala held in connection with announcement of the ranking results. This year's ranking comprises 180 firms, up 30 from 2004. The total value of the brands is over 26 billion zlotys. Telekomunikacja Polska's brand value was estimated at 3.2 billion zlotys, down 600 million from 2004. New car sales down by 37.3 percent in first five months of 2005 Warsaw, June 8: New passenger car sales went down by 37.3 percent
in the January-May 2005 against the 2004 figure and totalled 106,265 vehicles, according to a report presented by Samar company monitoring the car market. In May alone new passenger car sales went down by 19.6 percent to 20,929 vehicles. Samar's Wojciech Drzewiecki stressed that imports of used cars were up with 375,248 used cars imported to Poland in the January-May 2005 period from the EU countries. In May alone the number of imported used cars reached 86,768 units, up by 12 percent from April. Skoda was the leader in new car sales with 12,555 vehicles sold in the January-May 2005 period (43.5 percent less than a year ago).
Toyota placed second with 12,305 cars sold (down 37.1 percent). Third came Fiat with 10,802 cars sold (down 65.1 percent). The three top selling firms were followed by Opel with 9,494 cars sold (down 44.6 pct) and Ford with 8,384 cars sold (down 45.4 percent).
Poland popular among British investors
London, June 8: Poland is the most popular country among the British businessmen who specialise in investments on the real estate market to be used for commercial purposes. Forty five percent of 3,000 investors that were questioned by the private bank "Investec" declared an intention to invest in Polish buildings, storehouses and other property used for commercial
purposes.As regards investments in flats for hire Poland came second after Croatia with 33 percent of the polled businessmen picking Poland as the place of the biggest potential in this sphere and 50 percent choosing Croatia.
FSO sale to Ukraine sealed Thursday
Warsaw, June 7: The sale of a government-held 20-percent stake in Warsaw's FSO car plant to Ukraine's AvtoZAZ should be sealed Thursday, Poland's treasury ministry informed Tuesday. In mid-April Treasury minister Jacek Socha announced that the government would receive no money from the sale owing to FSO's high debts. 80 percent of FSO belongs to the Korean Daewoo corporation, which however has resigned control of the company. Talks on the deal with AvtoZAZ commenced last December.
Investment fund assets up to PLN 42.5 billion in May
Warsaw, June 8: The value of net assets of investment funds rose 3.2 percent in May from April to a record high of 42.5 billion zlotys, Analizy Online said on Wednesday. Over the last twelve months investment fund assets rose 22 percent, from the start of 2005 they rose 13.4 percent. May saw the asset value fall of funds investing in bonds denominated in euros. The remaining groups reported rises, with funds investing on Poland's share market and bond markets performing best (a rise by 4.8 and 4.6 percent respectively).
Multi-cultural Festival starts in Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia
Przemysl, June 8: The 3rd Muti-cultural Festival starts in some dozen localities in south-east Poland, as well as in Ukraine and Slovakia on Thursday, festival director Krystyna Shmeruk told PAP Tuesday. Shmeruk is head of the Warsaw-based Foundation "Heritage" which is the chief organiser of the festival. A concert by outstanding tenor, New York cantor Joseph Malovany, the Lvov Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and the Ukrainian Chamber Choir Gloria in Lvov, Ukraine, and next repeated at Krasiczyn castle near Przemysl will inaugurate the festival. Apart from Polish and Ukrainian artists also artists from Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Izrael, Lithuania, Romania, the USA, Hungary and Italy are to take part in the festival which becomes increasingly popular in Europe and outside this continent. The aim of the event is to inspire and build up interest in the cultures of national minorities and boost transborder cooperation. At the same time the festival will draw attention to the international significance of the Carpathian region where the event is held.
PM: EU budget compromise close at hand
Warsaw, June 8: A compromise over the EU's 2007-2013 budget is close at hand, PM Marek Belka said Wednesday discussing the forthcoming EC Brussels summit at a meeting with winners of an economic olympiad. At next week's summit we will be debating solutions after France's and Holland's no to the European constitution and possibilities for a budget compromise, Belka said. Belka stressed that Poland would strive for making EU funding easier accessible. For instance, we would like our cofinancing of EU-funded projects to beless than the present 25 percent, say 15 or 10 percent, he said. He added that Poland also wanted to extend the implementation period for EU funds from 1 to 3 years. Asked about the future of enlargement after the European Constitution's fiasco, Belka said nothing definite on the matter could be said before the summit. The EC is the EU's main decisionmaking body. At the summit we'll discuss what can be done after the constitution's rejection by such important countries as France and Holland, the Polish PM said.
Belka for Reuters: EU charter ratification should go on
Wrasaw, June 8: The European Union should agree at its June 16-17 summit to continue the ratification of the EUconstitution although it should give member states leeway on the timing, Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday. According to Belka, Poland should go ahead with plans to hold its referendum on the charter together with the first round of presidential elections on Oct. 9. "The ratification must continue, with each country choosing its timing and the way it is done," Belka told Reuters. "We shouldn't rush anybody but we should not bury the charter either." He also said Poland was satisfied with the latest compromise proposal concerning the next EU budget, adding he was moderately optimistic EU leaders would reach a consensus at the summit.
Rotfeld: Verheugen's words reflect EU moods
Warsaw, June 8: EU Commissioner Guenter Verheugen's statement earlier today that there was no climate for enlargement in France and Holland after the fiasco of the European Constitution reflected Europe's general moods, even if they are unfounded, Polish foreign minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld said Wednesday. Today's Gazeta Wyborcza daily quoted Verheugen stating that "there was no climate for enlargement" in France and Holland and that the fall of the European Constitution had "definitely exhausted possibilities in this sphere". According to Rotfeld France and Holland rejected the European Constitutions for reasons largely unconnected with the act itself, which had not even been put to a proper public debate.
The French and Dutch see enlargement as the cause behind the breakdown of their social systems, and mistakenly believe enlargement is to blame for Europe's economic failure and poor competitiveness against the U.S. There are also a thousand other reasons why they voted against the constitution, one being the French public's negative attitude towards its ruling elites. No one really discussed the act in either country, Rotfeld said.
Cimoszewicz, Kaczynski on EU referendum poll
Warsaw, June 8: Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz said Wednesday he was "slightly surprised" by results of a poll in which only 40 per cent of Poles said they would support the EU constitution in a referendum. According to a PBS poll published by Gazeta Wyborcza daily 35 per cent of Poles would vote against the constitution. 25 per cent remained undecided. Despite the result the speaker thinks that Poland should continue the ratification process. He added that the constitution is sometimes rejected not because of its contents but due to a number of various other causes, including a dislike of changes taking place in Europe as well as of the idea of enlargement. Meanwhile, Law and Justice leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski thinks that the result is a natural process showing that Poles became aware that they may reject the Euroconstitution and remain in the Union.
Saryusz-Wolski and Nowina-Konopka on EU budget
Warsaw, June 9: The EU budget proposal prepared by the European Commission is the most favourable for Poland, deputy president of the European Parliament Jacek Saryusz-Wolski said Thursday adding that Luxembourg's compromise proposal was not so good. More Europe and less money, Saryusz-Wolski told Radio One and stressed that Poland should not accept Luxembourg's proposal as this budget is too small. Saryusz-Wolski said he was surprised by the position of the EU countries which on the one hand are calling for integration and on the other hand are blocking and reducing the budget. Piotr Nowina-Konopka of the Polish R. Schuman Foundation said that one should not reject the compromise solution at the very moment. It is worth discussing but this does not mean that negotiations with Poland's participation are closed, Nowina-Konopka told Radio Three. The European Parliament has proposed spending in the years 2007-2013 at 1.07 percent of GNI, or over 883 billion euros, while the Luxembourg presidency wants it at 1.0 percent of GNI or 800
billion euros.
PM and Speaker of Czech Parliament discuss mutual relations
Warsaw, June 8: Bilateral political and economic cooperation between Poland and the Czech Republic, questions connected with the upcoming meeting of the Visegrad Group prime ministers, the ratification process of the EU Constitutional Treaty and the EU new financial perspective were the main topics of the talks the Prime Minister Marek Belka held with the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Lubomir Zaoralek, on Wednesday, the Government Information Centre reported. Zaoralek is on a two-day visit to Poland at the invitation of Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz. During the meeting Belka stressed the very positive development of Polish-Czech relations in all fields and the intensity of the political dialogue between the two countries. The visit of the Czech Parliament leader in Poland proves that this political dialogue goes on at all planes and levels.
The two sides also stated that the growing trade exchange and a high level of economic relations is a very positive aspect of mutual relations.
Presidency: PM believes in Cimoszewicz
Warsaw, June 8: PM Marek Belka believes Sejm speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz to be the best presidential candidate and hopes he will change his mind about not running for the post. Belka said today that he was "very sorry" about Cimoszewicz's pullout from the presidential run and voiced hopes the Sejm speaker will reconsider the move. The next weeks, months and even years could be really crucial for Poland and the EU and it would be good if Poland were represented by someone of truly big format. Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz is exactly such a person, Belka said. Asked about the Democratic Party's recent appointment of business leader Henryka Bochniarz as its presidential candidate, Belka said the idea was "quite interesting" but that Cimoszewicz was better suited for the post. Cimoszewicz decided not to run in the presidential campaign among others to avoid clashes with another leftwing candidate, Social-democracy for Poland (SdPl) leader Marek Borowski.
SLD calls on Cimoszewicz to run for presidency
Warsaw, June 8: The Democratic Left Alliance SLD's Socialist Platform called on Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz to run for presidency "in the name of democratic Poland's well being". Signatories of a statement in question sent to PAP on Wednesday said that "SLD has to do everything possible to create a uniform election front of the left". Those that do not see such a need are in fact acting in support of announcements of the fascisation of public life in Poland so clear in the electoral programme of the Law and Justice, they said. The statement was signed, among others, by former justice minister Grzegorz Kurczuk, former PM Mieczyslaw F. Rakowski and former Education Minister Jerzy Wiatr. The statement also expressed satisfaction over the recent choice of Wojciech Olejniczak as a new party leader and said that the young party leadership raises hopes for its credibility in the fight against growing aggression of the right.
Cimoszewicz: I have not changed my mind
Warsaw, June 8: Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz said Wednesday that he had not changed his mind and that he would not run for president in the forthcoming elections. Cimoszewicz admitted that he was receiving letters and appeals from many people trying to convince him to change his decision. President Aleksander Kwasniewski has been also trying to convince him to run for president. "It does not seem now that I will change my mind", Cimoszewicz said. Cimoszewicz announced on May 18 that he would notrun for president and added he would withdraw from politics after the end of the present term of the Sejm.
Borowski: I will not withdraw from presidential race
Warsaw, June 9: Marek Borowski, a presidential candidate of the Social Democracy of Poland (SdPl), said Thursday he was not planning to withdraw from a presidential race. "I started a presidential campaign and I want to once again declare that my name will be on the list during a presidential election on October 9," Borowski told TOK FM Radio. Asked if he can withdraw if Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz decides to run for president, Borowski said there was time for such discussions in March or April. "And the Sejm Speaker decided not to run," he added. "I am a responsible and independent politician. I will not change my mind," Borowski said.
Talks on terrorism talks in Gdansk
Gdansk, June 8: Only close cooperation between special services in individual countries and a common immigration policy will allow the EU to combat terrorism successfully, said participants in a Wednesday-launched debate on terrorism in Jastrzebia Gora on the Polish coast. Attending the meeting hosted by the German and Polish police authorities are terrorism experts and police and customs officials from among others the U.S., Germany, Denmark.
Piotr Mickiewicz from Poland's Naval Academy reminded that today no state was capable of combating terrorism alone. This must be done internationally and in an organised way. From Poland's standpoint the fight with terrorism must take place within the EU system as only the Union has adequate structures, Mickiewicz said.
Only two fifths of Poles know on whom to vote
Warsaw, June 8: Four months ahead of elections only two fifths of Poles eligible to vote are sure on whom they will cast their vote, according to the results of a poll PAP received from CBOS Wednesday. At the same time 14 percent of respondents say that support for a given party declared at present is conditional and at least 50 percent might change options. The most determined about their electoral preferences are those supporting Samoobrona, as 72 percent of that grouping's electorate are in 90 percent sure of their decision (29 percent more from last January.) Next as regards certainty about their options come the electorates of the Democratic Left Alliance SLD and the Polish Peasant Party PSL. Here over a half of supporters declare their 100-percent determination to vote for the SLD - 58 percent (6 percent up from January) or the PSL - 56 percent (4 percent up). Out of 53 percent of those who support the Law and Justice PiS, at least 9 percent are sure of their decision (19 percent up from last January). The League of Polish Families LPR has the least reliable electorate: out of 36-percent strong group of supporters declaring their firm backing only 3 percent are sure of their choice (3 percent up). The poll was run between May 6 and 9 on a representative sample of 1,052 adult Poles.
Andzelika Borys asks for solidarity with Poles in Belarus
Warsaw, July 8: Head of the Union of Poles in Belarus, not recognised by the Belarussian authorities Andzelika Borys asked the Sejm and Senate on Wednesday for solidarity with Poles in Belarus, who are recently harassed by the local authorities. During her meeting with the Sejm Committee for Contacts with Poles Abroad Borys stressed that the Polish diplomatic circles in Belarus are slandered and Poland is considered the greatest enemy. She assured that Poles in Belarus want the Union to survive and preserve its possessions, including 16 Polish houses and two schools. Deputy Foreign Minister Jakub Wolski present at the meeting stressed that the Ministry prepares political steps vis a vis Belarussian authorities. He did not say what steps he had in mind but assured they would be effective. Committee leader Roman Giertych believes that the problems of the Union of Poles in Belarus should be "internationalised." Borys also met with Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz to discuss questions concerning the difficult situation of the Union of Poles in Belarus. The Union leader thanked for support rendered by Polish Parliament. The Sejm Speaker assured Borys that this support will be of lasting character regardless of the outcome of elections. Cimoszewicz added that Poland would do everything to help fellow countrymen on the Belarussian soil. Senate Speaker Longin Pastusiak said after his meeting with Borys: "We consider the position of the Belarussian Justice Ministry as a violation of fundamental rights of national minorities." The Polish Senate which is providing assistance to Poles living abroad has not met so far with such a far-going interference in internal rights of the Polish minority in any country in the world, Pastusiak said. The Belarussian authorities do not recognise the union authorities elected during a March congress.
Turkey confirms PKN's interest in purchase of Tupras refinery
Warsaw, June 8: The Turkish Privatization Agency has confirmed earlier unofficial media reports that PKN Orlen Polish oil concern is interested in the purchase of 51 percent of shares in the Turkish Tupras refinery. The agency said that the list of possible buyers includes 13 companies. Earlier mass media reported that apart from PKN Orlen the lists included Spanish Repsol concern, Italian ENI, Indian IOC, Austrian OMV and a few Turkish companies. The value of the stake is estimated at some 1.7 bn USD. The Tupras Oil Refinery owns five refineries in Turkey. It can process around 28 million tons of crude oil annually. Last year revenues reached 8.6 bn USD, operational profit - 557 million USD and net profit - 491 million USD.
SkyEurope announces new route to Dublin
Cracow, June 8: SkyEurope, central European low fair airline has announced the launch of a new route from its base in Cracow to Dublin. The connection will be on offer this September. The link with Dublin is a very demanding project. Its offer is addressed to business travellers as well as to tourists, SkyEurope CEO Alain Skowronek said at a press conference on Wednesday. Grazyna Leja of the city hall said the new route was much awaited by Cracow.
Polish JFTC may train Iraqi army
Bydgoszcz, June 8: The NATO Joint Force Training Centre (JFTC) in Bydgoszcz, north Poland, could help train troops for Iraq's new army, according to general Bronislaw Kwiatkowski, for the past 3 months in charge of training for Iraqi officers in a NATO mission. Kwiatkowski, who returned from Iraq on Tuesday, said the involvement of the Bydgoszcz JFTC in the training of Iraqi troops was a realistic idea and already under debate in Poland. First of all, however, we must find out what kind of training requirements the Iraqis have, he added. The Iraqi Armed Forces currently number 11 divisions. The NATO Joint Force Training Centre opened in Bydgoszcz last year and is expected to achieve full operational capacity by 2007.
Budget deficit at 52 pct of plan after May: Finance Minister
Warsaw, June 8: The budget deficit after May reached 52 per cent of the annual plan of 35 billion zlotys, Finance Minister Miroslaw Gronicki said Wednessday. Gronicki said that the budget recorded good VAT and CIT revenues, slightly poorer excise revenues while revenues from PIT where as scheduled. The minister expects total 2005 revenues to be higher than planned by some 2 billion zlotys. According to the minister addition budget revenues will be earmarked for the Farmers' Social Security Fund.
Silesia and Upper Austria to cooperate on labour market
Katowice, June 8: Poland's Silesia industrial region and Austria's district Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria) will launch joint unemployment and professional activation projects in a programme sealed Wednesday in Katowice. One of the first joint ventures will be an Employment Foundation aiding unemployed and unemployment-threatened persons in Poland modelled on similar institutions in Austria. Labour institutions in Silesia already cooperate with their counterparts in the Austrian region Styria, among others in the retraining of farmers leaving the agricultural sector.
Poland issues 75 bln yens in Samurai bonds
Warsaw, June 8: Poland placed 75 billion yens in 7-year Samurai bonds with a 1 percent annual coupon on the Japanese market, the finance ministry said. The bonds are due on 20 June 2012. "The bonds were placed primarily among Japanese institutional investors such as banks, insurers, investment funds and regional credit institutions," the finance ministry said. This is Poland's third Samurai bond issue. In 2004 Poland sold 50 billion yens in Samurai bonds.
Rzeczpospolita on EU structural funds
Warsaw, June 9: As a result of complex procedures local governments, enterprises and farmers received only 176 million zlotys from structural funds during the first year of Poland's EU membership, Rzeczpospolita daily wrote on Thursday and stressed that the current policy of the Finance Ministry may make Poland lose billions of euros in EU aid. The granted aid constitues only 0.5 percent of the EU funds for Poland until the end of next year, the daily said. According to the Economy Ministry, if Poland does not want to lose a considerable part of the EU aid in the autumn of 2006 it must use 631 million zlotys a month. The daily said that the complex procedures prepared by the Finance Ministry turned out a real problem as the imposed requirements are much more demanding than Brussels' ones.
Kwasniewski criticizes Schroeder for Baltic gas pipeline
Berlin, June 12: President Aleksander Kwasniewski has criticized German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder for undertaking on his own power sector initiatives towards Russia without taking into consideration opinions of remaining members of the European Union. Kwasniewski in an interview for the German "Tagesspiegel" published on Sunday termed as "bad" Schroeder's approval for building a new Russia-Western Europe gas pipeline on the Baltic sea bed instead of directing it through Ukraine and Poland. "There was a lack of a joint policy here. Such policy should function in sectors of strategic importance, such as oil and gas supplies," said Kwasniewski. The president added that "Poland does not want to be treated as a second rate partner. Moreover a (gas ed.) line through the Baltic sea is doubtful from the ecological point of view." Despite these remarks, Kwasniewski termed overall Polish-German economic relations as "excellent" and political ties as "at least good".
Foreign Minister attends GAERC meeting
Warsaw, June 13: Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld heads a Polish delegation to a meeting of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) taking place in Luxembourg on Monday, the Foreign Ministry reported in a communique released on Monday.During a session on general affairs the heads of diplomacy of EU member states are to discuss the state of preparations for the European Council meeting, to take place in Brussels on June 16-17. A session on external relations is to examine the situation in the Western Balkans, Middle East and Cuba, transatlantic relations and preparations for the U.N. September summit.
Ministers of Baltic Sea Council meet in Szczecin
Szczecin, June 10: The Baltic region has benefited from European integration and Estonia's, Lithuania's, Latvia's and Poland's EU accession has created new cooperation openings, Baltic foreign ministers concluded at the close of a 2-day session of the Council of the Baltic Sea States in Szczecin which discussed transborder and interregional cooperation, pollution fighting and sailing safety. The meeting, hosted by Poland's Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld also ends Poland's presidency of the Council, to be taken over by Iceland. Iceland's foreign minister Davio Oddsson who will chair the council said he planned to focus on energy and renewable power sources, nuclear safety and safety in the Baltic area. Latvian foreign minister Artis Pabriks underscored the importance of stability in the Baltic region . Asked if the Council would undertake steps to introduce democratic values in Belarus, Pabriks stressed that the Baltic countries needed "democratic neighbours".Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia wanted its neighbours to "develop in respect for minority and human rights" but noted that the Council had no mission in this respect, especially with regard to Belarus, which is not a Baltic country. I hope we continue with our work and refrain from civilisational missions, Lavrov remarked. The ministers also expressed their hopes that ties between the Baltic countries and the EU would help strengthen the region economically. They also announced closer cooperation in sea disaster rescue and ecological protection, especially cases of oil pollution.
Polish, Russian foreign ministers discuss bilateral relations
Szczecin, June 10: Russia is interested in having good neighbourly relations with Poland, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after meeting his Polish counterpart Adam Rotfeld on Friday. Rotfeld stressed that sides have seriously approached towards obligations which have been adopted during the previous meeting of foreign ministers in Warsaw in May during the Council of Europe summit. "I have the feeling that something is changing in the climate. If this tendency is kept up than we will welcome it with great recognition that there have been made a certain revision of the approach towards bilateral relations," said Rotfeld. Minister Rotfeld said the he and Minister Lavrov decided not to inform the media on the details of their talks to "lower the temperature of emotions, partially justified and partially not." He stressed that this time the Russians showed "the will to look for solutions." Among discussed topics Rotfeld named compensations for Poles deported to Siberia and the Katyn massacre. Rotfeld also said Minister Lavrov proposed the setting up of a working group with the task to deal with mass scale smuggling over the Polish-Russian border. The two ministers met in Szczecin where they have attended a session of the Council of Baltic Sea States.
Pastusiak, Zych attend Regional Partnership meeting
Warsaw, June 12: Senate Speaker Longin Pastusiak and Sejm deputy Speaker Jozef Zych took part in a two-day meeting of heads of parliaments of states members of the Regional Partnership held in Slovenia and June 10-11. The meeting was devoted to the role of national parliaments in the introduction of the Lisbon Strategy and prospects of further EU enlargement. Speaker Pastusiak stressed that at half-way into the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy its obvious that by 2010 EU countries will not have the most competitive economy in the world. "If the EU countries want to achieve a success in the rivalization not only with the United State but also with such countries as Japan and China, than they have to accelerate the building of an economy based on knowledge and the building of an information
society." Speaker Zych stressed the need for the conclusion of the building of a common internal market and the adoption of a directive on services on the EU market.
Frasyniuk: Poland should back the European Constitution
Poznan, June 12: Poland has a chance to rescue the European Union if it backs the European Constitution in a referendum, leader of the Democratic Party-demokraci.pl Wladyslaw Frasyniuk said. He noted that Poland has already given a signal for European unification by saying "no" to communism in 1980. Also after the fall of communism in Europe, in 1989, it was thanks to Poland that west European politicians began to speak about European integration. "We have to back the European Constitution and tell Europe firmly: you are indebted to us," Frasyniuk told a regional convention of his party on Sunday.
Polish, Ukrainian sports ministers meet in Warsaw
Warsaw, June 12: Polish and Ukrainian ministers responsible for sports Miroslaw Sawicki and Yurij Pavlenko have met in Warsaw to discuss both sides' preparations for announcing a joint Polish-Ukrainian candidature to host the 2012 European Soccer Championships. Minister Sawicki said that the very good bilateral government cooperation is a good prognostic not only for the possible staging of the championships but above all for further strengthening of good neighbourly relations, accordeing to a ministry press release. According to Minister Pavlenko both countries should as quickly as possible brush aside the ballast of the past and jointly build the future. Head of the Polish Soccer Federation Michal Listkiewicz stressedthat the good performance by Polish and Ukrainian soccer teams build a positive climate around the idea of the championships.
Borowski: Presidential candidates should make their files public
Wloclawek, June 12: All presidential candidates should make their files public, or else we will never get out of this absurd, Marek Borowski, a presidential candidate of the Social-democracy of Poland said Saturday. Borowski said that he had seen his files and that not many documents gathered by communist-era secret police survived until now. In his opinion, exposing materials from communist-era secret police archives served the purpose of immediate political fight and had nothing to do with searching for the historical truth.
Jaroslaw Kaczynski: PiS for complete disclosure of list of secret agents
Warsaw, June 13: Leader of Law and Justice (PiS) Jaroslaw Kaczynski told Radio Zet on Monday that PiS was for a "complete disclosure of a list of secret service agents so that their names are known by everybody". Kaczynski added PiS wanted all politicians to make their communist-era secret files accessible to the public. According to the PiS leader politicians should make their files accessible to the public before the elections. I want to see Jan Rokita's files now and not after the elections, Kaczynski said. On Sunday head of the Citizens' Platform (PO) Jan Rokita said his party would not form a coalition with PiS if it insists on concealing the IPN's archives of the National Remembrance Institute (IPN). Also on Sunday the PiS leader said that his party wanted only a disclosure of a list of secret service agents but stressed he would publish his files. On Monday Kaczynski said PiS was also for a full disclosure of files of politicians but not of "priests and ordinary opposition people". "Jan Rokita must have come to the conclusion that this has been a thing which can divide us and he would be trying to convince the public that people who always supported vetting procedures are now against them," Kaczynski said.
Walesa: I do not rule out that I will run for president
Warsaw, June 13: Former president Lech Walesa said Monday that he did not rule out that he would run for president in the forthcoming presidential elections. In an interview for Radio Three Walesa said he needed five more days to make up his mind. He stressed that if he did not decide to run he would support leader of the Citizens' Platform (PO) Donald Tusk. Walesa said he was for the widest possible access to the files of the National Remembrance Institute (IPN) as each case had to be cleared very quickly so that no one could "play with communist-era secret files".
Gay parade in Warsaw despite ban
Warsaw, June 12: Over 2,500 people marched through the streets of Warsaw on Saturday in the Equality Parade, organised by gay and lesbian activists, despite of a ban of Warsaw mayor Lech Kaczynski. The parade attracted gay-rights supporters, journalists and politicians, including deputy prime minister Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka, deputy Senate Speaker Kazimierz Kutz, and parliamentarians from Germany's Green party. The marchers carried banners, including "A gay is not a pedophile" and many others condemning Kaczynski's decision to ban the gathering. According to many people, the illegal gay parade turned into a demonstration against what they termed Kaczynski's violation of the marchers' civil rights. Young supporters of the League of Polish Families League tried to disrupt the event, throwing eggs and stones at marchers and shouting anti-gay slogans. Police detained 20 most aggressive persons.Deputies from Germany's Green Party criticised Kaczynski for violating the rights that are binding in the united Europe. "Today the world is looking at Warsaw, at how it observes human rights," head of the Germany's Green Party's parliamentary caucus Volker Beck said.
Kulakowski joins Democratic Party
Poznan, June 12: Professor Jan Kulakowski, Poland's first negotiator with the European Union and deputy to the European Parliament, joined the Democratic Party - demokraci.pl. Kulakowski said he had never been a member of any party before. He said that what convinced him to join the Democratic Party was that it not only wanted to defend Poland's interests in the European Union but also wanted Poland to be an active EU member and to have a real influence on how the European Union was developing. Kulakowski, 75, is a Doctor of Law, politician and unionist.
PZU privatised according to law - Balcerowicz
Warsaw, June 10: The privatisation of the largest Polish insurer PZU SA proceeded in accordance with the law, NBP governor Leszek Balcerowicz told newsmen after he concluded his testimony before the Sejm special committee investigating PZU privatisation. He said the accepted price of 1,165 PLN per share was the highest bid made by any contender. "As far as I know everything was done in accordance with the law and there was no higher price," Balcerowicz said. He was the minister of finance when Eureko-BIG BG consortium bought 30 pc of shares in PZU in November, 1999. Speaking to reporters after his testimony Balcerowicz voiced concern over what he perceived as the belief of some Sejm committee members that they were above the law. "I do no conceal, and this must have been evident from my testimony, that many actions by some investigative committee members fill me with concern as a citizen," the central bank chief said.
Young Poles are no longer passive and helpless
Warsaw, June 13: Young Poles are no longer passive and helpless, according to the results of a recent survey commissioned by AIG Open Pension Funds and Gazeta Wyborcza and published on Monday. The number of young people aged 19-26 who work and study at the same time went up two times from 2002 and the number of those who do not do anything fell by one-third. In 2002 the picture of young people was terrifying as the majority said they were passive simply because of the bad market situation, according to Tomasz Karon of SMG/KRC that conducted the poll. Fortunately the situation has changed: 24 percent of young Poles work and study and only 18 percent do not do anything (down from 27 pct in 2002). "Despite the fact that the market situation has not changed much young people have learnt how to use any opportunity and what to do to increase their chances," Karon said.
Glos Szczecinski: Drobimex a producer of Halal-certified products
Warsaw, June 13: The Szczecin-based Drobimex has already started exports of Halal-certified sausages and meat products for Muslims in Germany., the Glos Szczecinski daily reported on Monday. The Szczecin company has received the Halal certificate after its plants in the localities of Dabie and Golenow were thoroughly inspected and declared as complying with Halal terms and conditions. Pork, any non-halal meat or related by-products are not used for the production of Drobimex sausages and meat-products and the production or preparation of food meets halal requirements. At present Drobimex exports 20 tons of Halal-meat.
Yamal-Europe pipeline, according to Gazprom vice-president
Moscow, June 10: The starting of construction of the Northern Pipeline will not mean the resignation from laying the second line of the Yamal-Europe pipeline, according to Gazprom vice-president Alexandr Medvedev. "There can be no talk about halting this project," he declared at a press conference here Friday. The Northern Pipeline has been considered a rival project to the second line of the Yamal-Europe pipeline going across Poland. The former will be laid on the Baltic seabed and transport Russian natural gas directly to Germany and Britain. Gazprom's Director of Foreign Cooperation Department Stanislav Tsigankov said that after the first line of the Yamal-Europe project was completed, which he expected would be still this year, talks on the second line would start. He emphasized that decisions on the second line would depend on the results of analyses of the first stage.
Mining Solidarity: wage hikes, pensions, no privatization
Katowice, June 10: To-date pension rights, wage hikes not under 6 percent and a halt to the privatization of coalpits were the main postulates at Friday's regional congress of the Solidarity Union's mining branch in Szczyrk, south Poland. The congress especially opposed plans to privatize a large part of the mining industry. "Further privatization attempts by any government may lead to social tension and a general mining strike", the unionists wrote. They also reviewed parliament's progress on a bill guaranteeing miners to-date retirement rights (after 25 years of work underground). Solidarity's Silesian steward Wojciech Gomulka siad that parliament's dropping of the bill could spark off nationwide protests and a general strike.
Monument of Pope John Paul II in New York
New York, June 13: A three-metre-tall bronze statue of Pope John Paul II was unveiled in the front yard of St. Frances de Chantal Catholic church in New York on Sunday evening. Present at the ceremony were bishops Tadeusz Pieronek who delivered the blessing at the dedication service and Thomas V. Daily, a long bishop of Brooklyn's diocese. The ceremony was also attended by Poland's Ambassador Andrzej Towpik, the head of the Polish mission to the UN, and priests from Poland as well as the U.S. and Canada. The statue, weighing nearly 850 kilograms, was cast in Cracow and flown to New York last week aboard an airliner. "Let this monument be an expression of homage to our great compatriot who made Poland well known worldwide and to the great priest," bishop Pieronek said.
SacroExpo int'l exhibition opens
Kielce, June 13: The Apostolic nuncio to Poland opened Monday the 6th international Exhibition of Church Construction, Church Fittings and Furnishings and Religious Art SacroExpo in Kielce. The exhibition, attended by 235 exhibitors from 11 countries, will end on June 15. Archbishop Jozef Kowalczyk recalled that the late Pope John Paul II received the organizers of the exhibition last November and blessed their work. The apostolic nuncio also thanked the Kielce fair organizers for concerts, shows and exhibitions paying homage to the late pope.
Warsaw: suspect in false bomb alarm
Warsaw, June 10: Warsaw police have stopped a 30-year-old man suspected of ties to today's false bomb alarm in Warsaw which paralysed the city's downtown area for 3 hours. An anonymous e-mail to Warsaw police this afternoon informed about a bomb on the intersection of Warsaw's main throughfares Aleje Jerozolimskie and Marszalkowska. For the next three hours drivers were cautioned to omit the area and the city's underground was evacuated while police searched for the charge. No bomb was found, the area was cleared as safe around 18:00 hrs. Police have said the man, Robert O. (name withheld), had authored the e-mail informing about the charge. Warsaw police spokesman Mariusz Sokolowski said he had probably not been working alone. Investigations into the affair are underway.
Warsaw, June 13: Prime Minister Marek Belka met with the ambassadors of the European Union countries accredited in Warsaw at a luncheon on Monday. Such meetings have a several-year old tradition and are held every six months, corresponding with the current EU presidency, the government press office wrote in a communique. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss current EU issues connected with the Constitutional Treaty ratification process and negotiations on the EU New Financial Perspective for 2007-2013. These problems will be the topic of the nearest sitting of the EU Council in Brussels on June 16-17. The PM and ambassadors also exchanged views on the most important international issues, such as the next EU enlargement, common foreign policy and security, and the Lisbon Strategy.
Luxembourg, June 13: Poland is making efforts to increase the available EU funds limit and not the whole EU budget for the years 2007-2013, Minister for European Affairs Jaroslaw Pietras said in Luxembourg on Monday. Pietras added that the latter move would result in a higher EU membership fee for Poland. According to Pietras it is of the utmost importance to estimate how the size of the EU budget translates into means for Poland. Poland is more interested in the funds available for it within the budget than in the budget itself. Under a proposal by the European Commission the limit would stand at 4 percent of Poland's GDP per year. Luxembourg suggests to cut it to 3.9 percent of GDP. "This is the main point of reference as every increasing above the limit would not go to Poland but augments our fee," Pietras said. According to Polish estimates, the increase of the absorption limit from 3.9 to 4 percent of Poland's GDP would give Poland 1.4 billion euro more in the EU cohesion fund within the seven-year budget plan.
Cracow, June 13: The conservative League of Polish Families (LPR) Monday in Cracowopposed Poland's ratification of the EU Constitution Treaty and criticized the EU budget proposed under the Union's chairmanship by Luxembourg. The League of Polish Families is for Poland doing what Britain did - indefinitely postponing the ratification procedures, LPR president Marek Kotlinowski told reporters. Kotlinowski said that the postponement of the EU Constitution's ratification would enable a debate on the document's future "in more economic terms". LPR also opposed the EU budget draft for 2007-2012 and criticized Polish PM Marek Belka for initially accepting it. We must say with all force that we are deeply disappointed and disdained by the prime minister's behaviour. We have heard he has initially ok'd the Luxembourg presidency's budget, which is 136 billion euros to Poland's disadvantage, said LPR MEP Bogdan Pek.
Szczecin, June 13: The European Parliament's Fishing Commission believes Poland's fishing branch should resolve its problems by itself, Commission members said Monday at an away sitting in Szczecin, north Poland attended by Polish MPs and local governmentalists. The Commission's statement came in response to Poland's complaints about the EU's discrimination of Polish fishermen, especially the downsizing of haul quotas and the imposition of longer cod protection periods than in other EU countries. British MEP Struan Stevenson said many EU fishermen suffered the same problems as Poles and listed examples of fleet downsizing and quota-cutting in Britain. We've introduced a very strict haul regime in the North Sea. If we don't keep to a sustained plan the sea will run out of fish and the whole branch will die, Tevenson explained. Heinz Kindermann from Germany reminded that the EU's Common Fishing Policy had other aims than resolving troubles in national fishing sectors.. This is a job for national governments.
Families charge minister over gay parade
Warsaw, June 13: The ultra-conservative League of Polish Families (LPR) Monday announced it would file charges against interior minister Ryszard Kalisz for allowing Warsaw police to protect a forbidden gay rights parade in the city, he also proposed the removal of deputy Sejm speaker Tomasz Nalecz from his post and criticized deputy PM Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka for participating in the parade. Warsaw president Lech Kaczynski banned a June-11-planned Equality Parade on grounds that it promoted immoral sexual attitudes and could cause riots in the city. The decision met with protests in gay and other circles in Poland and abroad, Poland's gay and lesbian organisations announced last week that they would demonstrate despite the ban. Anti-gay supporters tried to disrupt the march but were refrained by police, who arrested about 20 people.
Warsaw, June 13: It is very good that the position of Law and Justice (PiS) on vetting is explicit and that PiS is for a complete disclosure of communist-era archives, including files of
politicians, leader of the Citizens' Platform (PO) Jan Rokita said Monday. On Sunday Rokita said his party would not form a coalition with PiS if it insists on concealing the archives of the National Remembrance Institute (IPN) and not publishing files concerning politicians. The PiS leader said Sunday that his party wanted only a disclosure of a list of secret service agents but stressed he would publish his files. On Monday he said PiS also for a full disclosure of files of politicians but not of "priests and ordinary opposition people". Rokita asked Jaroslaw Kaczynski to come on Tuesday to the IPN branch office in the town of Wieliczka where his files are kept. He also signed a letter of attorney for the Kaczynskis entitling them to get acquainted with his files. Asked why the disclosure of files was so important Rokita said he could not imagine an effective work of any cabinet when "every week new secret files concerning either a cabinet member or an opposition politician are disclosed".
Warsaw, June 14: Only 30 per cent of Poles share the opinion of right-wing parties that the present 3rd Republic of Poland should be transformed into the 4th Republic, Gazeta Wyborcza daily writes on Tuesday. According to the daily's poll, 44 per cent of Poles are against such plans. We are starting a new stage in the history of our nation - the 4th Republic reflects our point of view - declares Law and Justice (PiS) leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski. However the idea of a change of Poland's political system does not have an absolute majority even in the electorate of his party. 43 pct is for the 4th Republic while as much as 39 pct wants to remain in the 3rd Republic, writes the daily. The electorate of the League of Polish Families and the Citizens Platform is even less eager to support such change. The daily concludes that although Poles are critical about numerous shortcomings of the 3rd Republic still the poll shows that this does not mean that they want to totally reject it in favour of a 4th Republic.
Warsaw, June 13: Presidential candidates should offer the voters access to their two files, namely those held by the National Remembrance Institute IPN and the other one with their election programme, presidential candidate of the Social Democracy of Poland SdPl Marek Borowski told a news conference in Warsaw on Monday. According to Borowski especially those parties that have been preparing for taking over power should "tell Poles how they plan to tackle Polish problems and whether they have agreed on joint views on concrete issues."He accused those parties (The Citizens' Platform PO and the Law and Justice PiS) of replacing the true discussion on taxes, unemployment ect. with a substitute topic of files and therefore
cheating the voters. He said everybody may have access to his file in the IPN.
Warsaw, June 13: Union of the Left (UL) joined a number of left-wing parties and appealed to Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz to run in the fall presidential elections. Although Cimoszewicz has announced his withdrawal from the political life, many politicians and parties think that the wide scale of appeals may cause that Cimoszewicz changes his decision. The Union of the Left argued that Poland needs a president who would be a real guarantor of the constitution, who would stand against attempts to infringe citizens' political freedoms and breaking of human rights. The UL clearly referred to Lech Kaczynski who as Warsaw mayor banned a gay parade. Kaczynski is the presidential candidate of the Law and Justice and currently unquestionable leader in popularity polls. The Union is convinced that Cimoszewicz may win with Kaczynski.
Lvov, June 13: Lvov councillors on Monday adopted settlements reached in May by a committee representing presidents of Poland and Ukraine and confirmed the date of a gala opening of a Polish cemetery in Lvov on June 24, 2005. The ceremony will take place in the presence of Polish and Ukrainian Presidents Aleksander Kwasniewski and Viktor Yushchenko. Graves of American pilots and French soldiers will have the inscription "To Americans pilots/French soldiers who fell fighting for Poland between 1919 and 1920. They also agreed on the inscription "This is the place of eternal rest for Polish soldier fallen while struggling for the Homeland in the Ukrainian-Polish war of 1918-1919."
Cracow, June 13: MEPs of the conservative League of Polish Falilies (LPR) in a statement in Cracow Monday appealed to the leaderships of LPR and opposition rival Law and Justice (PiS) to stop mutual attacks and work together in the coming parliamentary elections. "In consideration of the interests of the Polish Nation we, Members of the European Parliament, hereby call upon the leaders of LPR and PiS to immediately cease all mutual attacks, insults and accusations, which only help to strengthen the postcommunist and liberal camp in Poland. The Polish right needs unity and determination in its common cause of repairing the Republic", the Strassbourg-signed statement read. In late May Patriotic Movement leader Antoni Macierewicz suggested a joint election list for his group, LPR and PiS. LPR leader Roman Giertych turned the idea down on grounds of political differences.
Minister: redundancies into industrial parks
Szczecin, June 13: With local government support redundant company property like kindergartens, schools, sport stadiums or holiday homes could be turned into profit-bringing industrial parks, economy minister Jacek Piechota said Monday at a conference on the utilization of redundant company property in Szczecin. In past days Polish enterprisers were often forced to invest in areas unconnected with their main line of work, like stadiums, schools, kindergartens, etc. Today such objects are only a burden. Industrial parks would be a profitable way of utilizing them, Piechota said. The minister added that this required local government backing, especially in the introduction of tax cuts and other benefits for investors.
Bielsko-Biala, June 13: Twelve cadets from US military academies will arrive to Oswiecim, southern Poland, on Tuesday to visit the State Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau and learn about the history of the Holocaust. The cadets have been staying in Poland since last Thursday and have met with students of the Military Academies of Technology WAT in Warsaw and Cracow. During the several-day stay in Oswiecim the guests will have educational sessions led by the Museum workers, Tomasz Kuncewicz, head of the Jewish Centre in Oswiecim told PAP. This "educational trip into the past" will take the young Americans to the times before the WW2 when Jewish culture developed in Poland, the Third Reich and Nazi era up to the time of "the final solution" in Auschwitz.
Warsaw, June 13: An agreement on the sale of 20 per cent of shares in the Warsaw car factory FSO to Ukrainian AwtoZAZ company has been initialed, deputy Treasury Minister Dariusz Witkowski said on Monday. Witkowski said that the investment plan and conditions of granting public aid will be presented to the ministry's team for restructuring foropinion. The entire idea of the agreement will also be presented to the government. Witkowski expects that the final agreement on the sale of FSo shares will be signed to the end of June.
Warsaw, June 13: HP Polska was the biggest IT company in Poland in 2004 while Telekomunikacja Polska (TP) was the biggest telecommunication company operating in Poland, indicates a report "Top 200" published by Computerworld weekly. In the rating of the biggest IT companies the Polish branch of HP outdistanced Prokom Software, ABC Data and IBM Polska. Telekomunikacja Polska (perceived as a capital group together with Centertel, the Idea network operator) outdid remaining cell phone operators PTC and Polkomtel. The fourth was telecommunication equipment producer Siemens and the fifth - the Polish branch of Nokia phone producer. According to the report the biggest company selling software in Poland was the Polish branch of Microsoft and the biggest hardware maker was NTT System company.
Warsaw, June 13: Poland's foreign trade deficit fell to 2 billion and 149.9 million euros after April 2005 from 4 billion and 679.4 million after April 2004, the Central Statistical Office (GUS) said Monday. Foreign trade deficit in dollars fell to 2 billion 817.4 million USD from 5 billion and 819.7 million USD after April 2004. Exports rose by 20.4 per cent to 22.0 billion euros from 17.9 after April 2004. Exports in dollars increased by 27.1 pct to 28.8 billion USD.
Imports after April 2005 at 24.1 billion euros, rose 6.9 pct.Imports in dollars increased to 31.6 billion USD, or by 13.0 pct.
Warsaw, June 13: Opoczno ceramic tile plant plans successive acquisition in the east still in 2005. Talks with Russian partners are underway company CVEO Slawomir Frackowiak said Monday. He added that for the time being the company opens a regional office and an exposition in Moscow and later in St. Petersburg and Novosybirsk. This year Opoczno paid 3.33 million euros for shares in Lithuanian tile producer JSC Dvarcioniu Keramika. The shares account for 60.25 percent of the share capital. The CEO maintained earlier announcements that around 2008 the company value is envisaged to double. Opoczno has been on a roadshow for some time already with its products being presented in London, Zurich, Vienna and now in New York. Shares in Opoczno totalling 16,255,471 have been sold by Credit Suisse First Boston Ceramic Partners and by Enterprise Investors at a price rage between 54.7-69.9 zlotys. Subscription for retail investors are held between June 2 and 15. The final price of sale will be set on June 17.
Gazeta Prawna: Growing aviation market
Warsaw, June 14: Poland's passenger air traffic is growing fast. Local airports are joining competition. Local authorities see a chance for economic development of their regions but they lack funds to modernise airports and develop infrastructure, Gazeta Prawna wrote. Przedsiebiorstwo Polskie Porty Lotnicze (PPPL) owns most Polish airports. It acts as a monopolist, protecting the interests of Warsaw's Okecie airport, often at the expense of the development of regional airports. Demonopolisation is the precondition for creating real competition on the aviation market, Citizens' Platform's Jan Rokita claims. Spokeswoman for PPPL Edyta Mikolajczyk holds a different opinion. "We 100 percent own only the airports in Warsaw, Rzeszow and Zielona Gora. In other localities we hold smaller stakes, often minority stakes. We invested 300 million zlotys in the infrastructure of Polish airports over ten years," she said.
Latin American Film Festival in Warsaw starts this week
Warsaw, June 13: The 6th Latin American Film Festival will start in Warsaw on Thursday, to be next presented to film fans in Poznan, Lodz, Wroclaw and Cracow. Over 40 films will be shown during the festival, 16 of which in the competition for the Polish Critics Award in the section of the New Latin American Cinema. These will be the most interesting films made in recent years in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay, mostly never screened in Poland before.The film "Cachimba" by well-known Chilean director Silvio Caiozzi will inaugurate the festival on June 16. Silvio Caiozzi will be guest of the festival and a retrospective of this outstanding director's films will be held to remind the Polish cinema goers his previous works, like "Coronaci"n", "Julio Comienza en Julio" and "La Luna en el Espejo." Special sections will be devoted to Latin American popular cinema and Mexican science-fiction films. The section of classical Latin American cinema will present works of great masters of the cinema creating in this part of the world. The festival will be held in Warsaw between June 16 and 26, and next in Poznan on June 20 to 24, Lodz and Wroclaw from June 22 to 26 and Cracow between June 24 and 28).(ag)
Warsaw, June 13: The Polish foreign ministry soccer team placed 2nd in the Central Europe Diplomatic Soccer Cup in Berlin on June 11 having been beaten by Hungary 5:4 in the finals, the foreign ministry reported Monday. It was the 10th edition of the event that has become a permanent item on the agenda of foreign ministries of the region countries with teams from Poland Austria, the Czech and Slovak Republics and Hungary participating. Next year the Central Europe Diplomatic Soccer Cup will be held in Hungary in 2007, the ministry wrote in a communique.
Prime Minister: decision on Poland's new ambassador to U.S. soon
Warsaw, June 14: Prime Minister Marek Belka said Tuesday that a decision concerning the appointment of Poland's new ambassador to the United States will be made soon. The to-date candidate, Henryk Szlajfer, placed himself at the disposal of Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld after public allegations that he was a secret informer of the communist security forces. The PM said Szlajfer has been a foreign ministry top official for years and that years ago he held the post of Poland's ambassador. He also stressed he was surprised materials concerning Szlajfer had been published now. Szlajfer has denied the allegations.
Warsaw, June 14: Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz told newsmen Tuesday he would block attempts at discussing a motion from the League of Polish Families (LPR) to hold a secret Sejm sitting to allow MPs learn the contents of PM Marek Belka's secret files. LPR chief Roman Giertych said he planned submitting such a motion on Wednesday. Asked what he would do if Giertych filed a motion to hold a secret sitting, Cimoszewicz answered: "I will ban him from the floor."
Right wing MPs want Sejm to assess secret files on Prime Minister Belka
Warsaw, June 14: Right wing MPs want Sejm to assess secret files on PM Belka Deputy chief of the Sejm special committee investigating the privatisation of PKN Orlen Roman Giertych (LPR) and the spokesman for the Patriotic Movement (RP) Antoni Macierewicz both came up Tuesday with motions that would have the Sejm assess thetruthfulness of prime minister Marek Belka's vetting declaration. Giertych claimed that Belka had made "false depositions" when appearing before the PKN Orlen committee when he said that he had never signed a document obligating him to cooperate with communist secret services. The Rzeczpospolita newspaper wrote Saturday that Belka had met secret police officers before leaving for a U.S. scholarship at the beginning of the 1980s. He also had signed an instruction that contained code-words necessary to establish contacts with Polish intelligence agents based in the USA, the daily claimed. Belka declared Tuesday he had never been a collaborator of the communist secret services and stressed that the vetting prosecutor had not found any reasons to refer Belka's vetting statement for a court review. Both Macierewicz and Giertych sharply criticised steps taken by the Internal Security Agency (ABW) to find out if certain MPs on the PKN Orlen committee should undergo a repeat security check. Earlier Tuesday justice minister Andrzej Kalwas said that ABW was considering such a procedure to ensure that state secrets were not compromised by some MPs. ABW already enquired about the names of MPs who had studied secret files the PKN Orlen committee received from the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), Giertych claimed.
Warsaw, June 14: The ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) is continuing efforts to convince Sejm speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz to run for the presidency. We are trying to get Cimoszewicz to run, he was our choice from the very beginning", SLD general secretary Grzegorz Napieralski said Tuesday. On May 18 Cimoszewicz announced he would not be running in the autumn presidential elections and planned to leave politics after his parliament term was over. He explained the decision with personal reasons. Appeals for Cimoszewicz to run for president have also come from other leftwing groups, including the Leftwing Union and the NO Independent European Initative led by popular journalist and editor of the biting social weekly NIE Jerzy Urban. Asked about planned changes in SLD Napieralski said the party wanted to rid its ranks of "people who think only about themselves". Changes must take place on all levels and such people must go, he said. New SLD leader Wojciech Olejniczak is expected to outline his programme for the party soon.
Warsaw, June 14: Reaching of a compromise on the EU budget for 2007-2013 by the end of June would be favourable for Poland and allow for making preparations to tap structural funds, said PM Marek Belka at a press conference after the cabinet meeting Tuesday. The cabinet adopted a mandate for budget negotiations at the EU summit meeting scheduled for Brussels, June 16-17. If a compromise is delayed, it would create problems in drafting projects and procedures involved in using the EU funds, Belka noted. The black scenario would be if the EU had to make do with an interim budget. Belka did not rule out that the summit will fail to reach agreement on the budget and the EU leaders will have to meet once again this month.
London, June 14: A concert of Polish and British choirs, Ave Verum of Norwood and Affabre Concinui of Poznan, marked the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in London. The event was held at the initiative of the Polish Embassy and the Polish consulate in Great Britain's capital. The concert was part of the celebrations here of the WW2 end whose culminating point with the participation of Polish veterans of the Polish Armed Forces in Great Britain and Poland is scheduled in London for July 10. HRH Prince Michael of Kent was among guests of honour at the concert, also attended by mayors of Westminster and Ealing. Three years ago Prince Michael unveiled the monument of Polish WW2 hero General Wladyslaw Sikorski in London.
OBOP: 57 percent of Poles for EU Constitution
Warsaw, June 14: Fifty seven percent of Poles would vote for the EU Constitution if a referendum was held in Poland now, according to a recent TNS OBOP poll. This is 6 percent less than in May. Nineteen percent declared they would vote against the EU Constitutional Treaty (up 5 percent) and 24 percent were still undecided (down 1 percent). Fifty eight percent want to take part in the referendum on the EU Constitutional Treaty, 33 percent do not want to take part in the vote and 9 percent of Poles are still undecided.The poll was conducted on a representative sample of 1,004 adult Poles on June 2-6. On June 1 the EU Constitution was rejected in the Netherlands (62 percent of votes against) and two days earlier in France (56 percent)
Cracow, June 14: The League of Polish Families (LPR, Law and Justice (PiS) and the Polish Peasant Party (PSL) today backed a motion by the Samoobrona Farmer Party to recall deputy Sejm Speaker Tomasz Nalecz from his post after his participation in a forbidden gay rights parade on Saturday. Nalecz and deputy PM Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka were among Saturday's gay rights demonstrators in Warsaw, protesting despite a ban on their march by Warsaw president Lech Kaczynski. LPR leader Roman Giertych said today that Nalecz's appearance at
the parade had been illegal, which is why he should leave his parliamentary post. Also PSL deputy head Jan Bury told PAP that his party would move for Nalecz's removal for "participating in illegal demonstrations". PiS executive Ludwik Dorn agreed Nalecz had to go for "condoning an illegal demonstration". Samoobrona has declared its motion against Nalecz was motivated by his poor performance in parliament and not his participation in Saturday's parade.
Politicians debate on history and foreign policy
Warsaw, June 14: Should history determine Poland's foreign policy, or rather our diplomacy should be future-oriented? such were the questions politicians from major political parties tried to answer in a debate of the 5th Foreign Policy Forum in Warsaw. Sejm Deputy Speaker Kazimierz Ujazdowski of Law and Justice (PiS) believes that it is necessary to present the whole of Poland's achievements from the First Republic of Poland up to the Solidarity liberation movement. This should be done with the help of modern museum centres such as Museum of Freedom. Andrzej Potocki of the Democratic Party-democrats.pl and Sylwia Pusz of the Social Democracy of Poland (SdPl) maintain that Poland should look into the future. Poland should ratify the EU Constitution because it is an "unbelievable chance for us." Bronislaw Komorowski of the Citizens' Party (PO) proposed to create Polish historical museums in Paris, Kiev, Berlin, Moscow and elsewhere to make other peoples understand Poland's history. Tadeusz Iwinski of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) appealed for preservation of adequate proportions in referring to the Polish history in the foreign policy. "Foreign policy cannot be determined by history," Iwinski stated.
Al-Hillah, June 14: No one was hurt Tuesday when a mine exploded near a Polish army convoy transporting Iraqis freed from Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison. The explosion, which occurred on Iraq's Tampa Motorway from Baghdad to Basra 55 miles from the city Al-Hillah, damaged one of the unit's trucks.The Poles were convoying 14 Iraqis freed from prison after being cleared of terrorism charges.
Strasbourg, June 14: The Council of Europe's European Commission against Racism and Intolerance reproached Poland for anti-Semitism in a report published on Tuesday. The ECRI is concerned that anti-Semitism continues to be an important problem in Poland, the report wrote. In recent years this "sporadically" found expression in physical aggression towards the Jews, in particular on the part of skinheads, in acts of vandalism towards synagogues and schools, and in incidents of gravestone and cemetery vandalisation. The ECRI also reproached Poland for "other forms of anti-Semitism, such as oral and written insults against the Jews."
Warszawa, June 14: Warsaw president Lech Kaczynski has "serious doubts" whether to allow the ultra-right All-Polish Youth organisation to stage a Normality Parade in Warsaw this Saturday in response to last Saturday's illegal gay rights parade in the city. We have said that sexual orientations should not be the subject of public demonstration, so I have very serious doubts about this, Kaczynski said today asked if he would permit the march. Radoslaw Parda, head of the fascistoid All-Polish Youth, said the parade's aim would be to "show that a large majority of Poles are in favour of normal male-female relationships". Parda stressed that the parade would also hopefully "raise the bad image Poland got after Saturday's gay and lesbian march". The Normality Parade will show that Poland's public "predominantly prefers other values that those that dominated last Saturday," Parda noted. The organisers expect the parade to draw 3 thousand people, including children and families. 2.5 thousand marchers took part in Saturday's gay parade.
Warsaw, June 14: The cabinet adopted the guidelines for next year's state budget Tuesday which provide for a deficit of between 28 and 34 bn zlotys (ca. 9-11 bn USD) accounting for 2.8-3.4 pc of the GDP. Budget revenues will reach 184-189 bn zlotys, while expenditure - 216-222 bn zlotys in 2006, according to the guidelines. (This year's budget envisages a deficit of 33.45 bn zlotys, or 3.4 pc of the GDP, revenues of 176.25 bn zlotys and spending at 209.70 bn zlotys). The cabinet reiterated its commitment to align Poland with the euro zone in 2009. The guidelines predict average annual inflation of 2.1 pc this year, and of 1.5 pc in 2006. The producer price index will grow 0.9 pc this year and 1.7 pc in 2006. The unemployment rate is predicted at 18.0 pc in December 2005, and at 17.0 pc a year later. The guidelines are based on the assumption of the zloty average exchange rate in 2005 of 3.20 to the USD and 4.16 to the euro. In 2006 the rates are expected to average 3.16 and 4.07, respectively. The cabinet predicts that the GDP will grow 3.7 pc this year and 4.0 pc in 2006, compared with 5.4 pc in 2004. Capital investments will grow by 7.0 pc in 2005 and 10.0 pc in
2006, compared with 5.3 pc in 2004. The ministry of finance estimates that average wages in the business sector will grow 3.5 pc and in the financial sector by 1.5 pc in 2006. Minister Miroslaw Gronicki also said that next year will see a revaluation of old age pensions due to their indexation. The cost to the budget will amount to 6 bn zlotys, he said. Gronicki also said that gross credit needs of the budget will be lower by 20 bn zlotys next year than in 2005. This year's credit needs are planned at 46.5 bn zlotys. The decline in budget credit needs results above all from changes in the debt structure, Gronicki said, pointing to growing debt maturity periods.
Inflation at 1.5 pct in June, 1.2 pct at year-end
Warsaw, June 14: Inflation will fall to 1.5 percent year-on-year in June from 2.5 percent in May and to around 1.2 percent at the end of the year, Finance Minister Miroslaw Gronicki said Tuesday. May's data were slightly worse than the ministry expected. This was caused probably by food prices but I expect that June and July would be better, Gronicki told reporters. Gronicki said that in the summer months inflation would fall to
below 1.0 percent.
Warsaw, June 14: Finance minister Miroslaw Gronicki predicted a GDP growth of ca. 3 percent after the 2nd quarter of 2005 against 2.1 percent after the 1st quarter. The GDP will grow by around 3 percent in the 2nd quarter of 2005 and by 4 percent for the year as a whole, according to Gronicki. The GDP rose 2.1 percent in the 1st quarter of 2005 after a 4.0 pct growth in 4th quarter of 2004, the Central Statistical Office (GUS) said two weeks ago. May's year-on-year inflation at 2.5 percent. The prices of consumer goods and services were 2.5 percent higher in May 2005 than in the same month of 2004, the Central Statistical Office reported on Tuesday. The prices of consumer goods and services were 0.3 percent higher in May than in April 2005. Market forecasts predicted year-on-year inflation at 2.0-2.5 percent.
Belka hopes Gronicki survives no-confidence vote
Warsaw, June 14: Prime Minister Marek Belka said Tuesday that he hopes that Finance Minister Miroslaw Gronicki will survive the Friday no-confidence vote. Belka said that it would be "irresponsible" to recall the finance minister when he is working on a very difficult draft 2006 budget. A motion calling for the sacking of the finance minister was prepared by the League of Polish Families (LPR).
Kolobrzeg, June 14: Higher quotas on cod catches in the Baltic in 2006 and more funds EU for fleet modernization were the main postulates of Polish fishermen presented to members of the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament at a meeting held here Tuesday. Some 80 fishermen from coastal provinces attended the meeting. "I took six pages of notes and will take them to Brussels," said British EMP Struan Stevenson. "We will exert pressure on the EU Commission to ensure that Polish fishermen are treated equitably with fishermen of other countries with regard to fishing quotas," he added. Stevenson also pointed out that decisions made by the EU Commission on fisheries were no longer political, and their impartiality was secured by the Fisheries Committee, among others.
65th anniversary of 1st transport to Auschwitz
Oswiecim, June 14: An ecumenical mass on the site of the onetime Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz in south Poland was the central event of Tuesday's celebrations of the 65th anniversary of the first prisoner transport to the camp on June 14 in 1940. The mass, said by Bielsko-Biala bishop Tadeusz Rakoczy, was attended by former Auschwitz inmates, local officials and school youth. Special prayers were also said for Ludwik Wrona, a members of the first Auschwitz transport, who died today in a train underway to the celebrations. In his sermon Rakoczy warned against marginalizing the memory of Auschwitz and criticized attempts to whitewash Germany of its responsibility for World War II. Recently it was difficult to get the European Parliament to admit that Auschwitz was run by German Nazis and was not a "Polish concentration camp". Some also claim that the Allies' bombings of Dresden were a "holocaust". Can this be an attempt to relativize the role of oppressors an victims?, the bishop asked. Jerzy Bielecki, a prisoner on the first Auschwitz transport and president of the Christian Association of Auschwitz Families, reminded that there would soon be no more living Auschwitz inmates and appealed to the younger generations to preserve the memory of the camp and its atrocities as a warning for the future. Let no victim of this site ever be forgotten, Bielecki said.
Warsaw, June 14: Objectivity and truth should be the Polish Press Agency's two guiding principles, Poland's last president-in-exile Ryszard Kaczorowski said at Tuesday's gala in the Polish Press Agency's (PAPs) Press Centre in Warsaw marking the Agency's publication of a company almanach. The book, entitled The Polish Telegraph Agency 1918-1991, was compiled by historian Waldemar Grabowski and follows PAP's history from its foundation as PAT (Polish Telegraph Agency) after the 1st world war to the early 1990s. PAP president Waldemar Siwinski spoke about the Agency's role as information provider. This is more than just supplying news to the media. Before the war PAT was one of the more recongizable names in Poland and its activities were very broad - besides processing press news the agency ran an advertising bureau and produced film newsreels. PAT was also among the more important state institutions in pre-war Poland, Siwinski said. Erik Nylen, secretary of the European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA), reminded that Poland was one of the organization's founders 81 years ago. Today PAP is also a member of EANA. The Polish Telegraph Agency was founded in October 1918 and became Poland's official news agency on December 5 of the same year.
Warsaw, June 15: President Aleksander Kwasniewski is going on a one-day visit to Kiev Thursday to take part in a plenary debate held within a conference organised by the World Economic Forum, and to meet with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko. The conference in Kiev termed as an "Extraordinary Round Table On Ukraine" will take place on Thursday and Friday. Ireneusz Bil of the presidential International Affairs Office told PAP Wednesday that taking part in the conference will be also presidents of Lithuania, Estonia and Georgia, EU commissioners and businessmen from all over the world. Bil added that Kwasniewski will take part in one of the plenary discussion only, to be also attended by presidents of Ukraine, Georgia's Mikhail Saakashvili, Lithuanian Valdas Adamkus, Estonian Arnold Ruutel, EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Joaquin Almunia and head of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab. The session will be devoted to the place of Ukraine in the globalised world, the vistas opening before Ukraine after the "orange revolution" and Ukraine's relations with its most important neighbours and prospects of their support for Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. According to Bil, the Polish president will say in the debate that Ukraine's relations with its neighbours, including Poland, are of key importance for the support of that country's integration with the EU and NATO. "Of course, Poland would like to be such neighbour, an adviser, and even advocate of Ukraine's full integration with the European environment," Bil said. The meeting of the Polish and Ukrainian presidents, to take place before the debate is to be devoted "to a considerable extent to the upcoming ceremonies of the opening of the Polish cemetery in Lvov" scheduled for June 24. Bil said that Kwasniewski's is also expected to meet with President Saakashvili and take part in a dinner to be given by Yushchenko.
Warsaw, June 15: Poland stands by its position that the EU constitutional treaty is necessary, said president Aleksander Kwasniewski after meeting PM Marek Belka, the speakers of the Sejm and Senate and foreign minister Adam Rotfeld on Wednesday. They discussed the Polish position on the EU budget for 2007-2013 and on the ratification of the EU constitution ahead of the EU summit scheduled for Brussels June 16-17. "We believe that the treaty is not dead. It is necessary for a further integration of Europe," Kwasniewski declared after the meeting. He reiterated that decisions concerning ratification would be made in Poland after the EU summit. Poland expects France and Holland to present their stands at the summit on the situation which developed following the defeats of the constitutional referendums in their countries. "Europe should define visions and prospects for the following years," Kwasniewski
said. PM Marek Belka told newsmen that reaching of a compromise on the EU budget by the end of June would be "important for Europe and the European idea". It would also guarantee enough time for Poland to prepare for the absorption of EU funds. He added that if the Brussels summit failed to reach an agreement on the budget, another summit meeting could be necessary next week.
Warsaw, June 16: Prime Minister Marek Belka told the Sejm on Thursday that his files were used for a political game in which competence did not matter. Belka admitted to talking to intelligence services before he had travelled to the United States on a scholarship and to signing a "departure instruction", but stressed he had never been a collaborator of communist-era secret services. Belka said this was odd and paradoxical that he himself did not have access to his files. In this situation, though I consider this a bad solution, I asked the IPN to lift the secrecy clause from the documents gathered on me, Belka stressed. He warned that a complete disclosure of era-communist files will not result in a true openness of political and public life. This will give the entire problem as well as the history writing into the hands of former communist-era secret service agents and its interpretation into the hands of people involved in ongoing political games, he said.
Warsaw, June 16: A Sejm debate concerning the dismissal of Finance Minister Miroslaw Gronicki has been postponed until June 28. Earlier on Thursday Prime Minister Marek Belka asked Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz to delay the debate as he could not attend today's discussion because he was leaving for an EU summit in Brussels. Belka told the Sejm that the finance minister was at the moment working on the 2006 budget and that his dismissal would destabilise this work. Belka stressed he was really glad the debate was postponed but added that it seemed to him that the dismissal motions were aiming at "destabilising the work of the cabinet and the work of the prime minister". The Sejm has got two motions for Gronicki's dismissal. The first one has been signed by deputies of Law and Justice and the Polish Peasant Party and the second one by members of Samoobrona, the League of Polish Families and right-wing circles.
EU likely to set up special fund for Poland's poor areas
Warsaw, June 15: The minister for European affairs Jaroslaw Pietras confirmed Wednesday that Luxembourg, currently presiding over the EU, and other EU states reacted positively to Poland's proposals of setting up a special EU assistance fund for Polish poorest regions. The Gazeta Wyborcza daily reported on the proposal Wednesday, saying it called for a fund of over 1 bn euros to be made available to five Polish provinces over the next 7 years. The fund would be available to regions where the GDP per head is lower than 40 pc of the EU average and unemployment exceeds 15 pc. The fund would be patterned after an existing special fund benefiting Finnish northern regions. Pietras said, however, that the setting up of the fund was
dependent on the overall agreement concerning the EU budget for the years 2007-2013. He estimated the chances for reaching an agreement in Brussels this week at 33 pc. Pietras said Poland accepted the current compromise proposal on the budget calling for spending to the tune of 875 billion euros.
Warsaw, June 15: The Sejm Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday accepted four candidates for Poland's new ambassadors. Tomasz Chlon is to be Poland's ambassador to Estonia, Ryszard Michal Czarny is to assume the ambassadorial post in Norway, Andrzej Tyszkiewicz in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Jakub Wolski in Denmark.
Warsaw, June 15: On June 22 Warsaw president Lech Kaczynski is scheduled to testify before a parliamentary commission investigating corruption in the privatization of Poland's PZU social insurer. Kaczynski will be interrogated in connection with claims that he had been informed about irregularities at PZU during his term as justice minister under the Jerzy Buzek government. On July 3 the commission will question former PM Jerzy Buzek, on July 4 former PM Leszek Miller.
Warsaw, June 15: Health Minister Marek Balicki Wednesday punished National Health Fund (NFZ) president Jerzy Miller with a fine equalling one months' pay for his refusal to disclose the details of a competition for NFZ regional manager posts. NFZ spokesmen said today that Miller planned to appeal the fine. According to Balicki Miller was obliged to keep him posted about the Health Fund's activity under a public health institutions law. Today's penalty for Miller ends a several-month conflict around the managerial contest data, which Miller originally refused to disclose to the ministry claiming they lay outside its jurisdiction.
Warsaw, June 15: Presidential candidate professor Zbigniew Religa appealed to his rivals for a clean and decent presidential campaign. "I would like the 2005 presidential election to be clean, I would like us not to serve up aggression, dirty tricks and electoral mud, slanders and invectives, to the Poles during the campaign," Religa wrote in a letter to his rivals. Religa sent the letter to Lech Kaczynski (Law and Justice), Marek Borowski (Social-democracy of Poland), Andrzej Lepper (Self-defence), Jaroslaw Kalinowski (Polish Peasant Party), Maciej Giertych (League of Polish Families), Donald Tusk (Citizens' Platform) and Henryka Bochniarz (Democratic Party - demokraci.pl).
Warsaw, June 15: Talks on EU defence strategies with Polish defence minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski Wednesday started off British defence secretary John Reid's visit to Poland pending Britain's takeover of the EU presidency. Reid and Szmajdzinski discussed plans to establish an EU defence force (including the formation of a special unit of Polish, German, Slovakian, Lithuanian and Latvian troops) and EU involvement in military operations in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. Also discussed was Ukraine and its EU and NATO ambitions. Reid stressed that forces serving in the EU defence system would have to be up to today's standards and be able to deal not only with military threats. What we need are forces able to cope with today's challenges, not the kind of armies we had 30-40 years ago, he said. Szmajdzinski thanked Reid for Britain's help in training Polish NATO troops and praised to-date military cooperation between both countries. Raising our capacity to carry through military operations is what interests us most and what we will strive for in the EU, he said. Commenting Poland's involvement in Iraq, Szmajdzinski said that the next shift of Polish stabilization troops in the country would only count 1,400-1,500 soldiers and be more of a training course than a military mission. He added that at the moment Iraq's own security forces outnumbered international stabilization units. Reid also pointed to the importance of adjusting European forces to deal with terrorism as well as human and natural disasters. Great Britain will soon take over the EU presidency and Reid will head the EU defence ministers.
Warsaw, June 15: Youth sections of the Democratic Left Alliance, Social-democracy of Poland and Greens 2004 called on President Aleksander Kwasniewski and Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz for a referendum on the European Constitution to be held together
with presidential elections. "We are convinced that Polish citizens have a right to express their opinion on the Constitution, the adoption or rejection of which will decide about the future shape of the continent, regardless of the recent negative outcome of the Constitution ballots in France and the Netherlands," the young left-wing politicians wrote. "We deeply believe in Europe's future. We are convinced that political and economic integration of our continent, if it is properly carried out, will bear the fruit of peace, prosperity, solidarity and emancipation of oppressed groups," they stressed.
Poland can join euro zone in 2010-2011 - RPP's Owsiak
Warsaw, June 15: Member of the Monetary Policy Council (RPP) of the central bank Stanislaw Owsiak says that Poland can join the euro zone not earlier than in 2010 or 2011. "In my opinion Poland never had chances to enter the euro zone in 2009" which is the official government target, he said. "I have said and stand by it that if we manage to do this in 2010 or 2011, we will be lucky. We now witness a change in the political establishment whose plans concerning Poland's admission are not clear," he added. "Poland's joining the euro zone is slowly becoming more distant, if we take into account the condition of the economy, the situation in the EU and in the euro zone itself. Given the risk of noncompliance with the budget deficit criterion, high unemployment and no prospect of real convergence soon I think that the other side is not very interested at the moment," Owsiak said.
Warsaw, June 15: The average gross wage in May 2005 totalled 2,423.92 zlotys (725.2 USD) and was 3.0 percent higher than in May 2004 and 1.9 percent lower than in April 2005, the Central Statistical Office GUS said Wednesday. The average wage without payments on earned profits totalled 2,418.39 zlotys, up 3.0 percent on may 2004 figure and fell 2.3 percent on April 2005 figure. Corporate units in March employed 4 million and 756.1 thousand people or 1.6 percent more than in May 2004. Compared to April 2005 the number of employed grew by 0.1 per cent.
Warsaw, June 15: Excise tax on tobacco products will rise 16 percent in 2006 due to a need to adjust Poland's prices to EU requirements, the finance ministry wrote in assumptions to a 2006 budget plan. At present excise tax is 68.35 zlotys per 1,000 cigarettes, or 28.48 percent of a maximum retail price. Excise tax on tobacco is 46.53 zlotys per kilo, or 19.39 percent of a maximum retail price. This year the finance ministry raised excise tax on tobacco products by an average of 14.7 percent.
Warsaw, June 15: People from several south-eastern Polish villages pacified by Nazi troops in world war 2 staged a demo in front of the German embassy here on Wednesday, demanding compensations for their killed relatives and for lost property. Some 40 people from several villages carried banners reading "We demand compensations...300 were killed, 280 farms burnt down", "216 were killed, 167 farms burnt down". Andrzej Rej, the grandson of a couple murdered in a pacification, said that neither his family nor the other villagers received any compensation for their losses. "We are here to demand compensations for all pacified Polish villages..," the organizers of the demo said. The press spokesman for the Polskie Powiernictwo, which cooperates with villagers in their actions, said that a Berlin lawyer was
working on writs from Polish villagers that would be filed with German courts if the Preussische Treuhand would continue pressing claims against Polish owners of former German property.
Warsaw's Grand Theatre National Opera on tour of Japan
Warsaw, June 16: Warsaw's Grand Theatre National Opera is going on a two-weeks' tour of Japan between June 16 and 27. The opera lovers in Tokyo, Musashino, Takasaki, Hamamatsu, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka will see the Warsaw production of Richard Strauss's "Salome"."Salome" staged in Warsaw's Grand Theatre National Opera by Czech director Martin Otava and conducted by Jacek Kaspszyk will be shown in Japan at the special request of the Japanese organisers. The title part will be sung alternately by Finish-Canadian soprano
Eilana Lappalainen, New York Metropolitan Opera soloist Kelly Cae Hogan and Sylvie Valayre of France. Internationally acclaimed mezzo-sopranos Stefania Toczyska and Anna Lubanska will sing other parts. On June 19 the artists will take part in a Concert Gala at Omiyaa. Warsaw's "Salome" had its premiere in June 2004 and has been greatly successful with Warsaw and foreign public and critics. Also this summer Warsaw's National Opera will take part in the annual 19th Castell de Peralada International Music Festival in Spain the coming August.
Warsaw, June 15: Ballet ensemble of Warsaw's Grand Theatre National Opera with two performances on Thursday and Friday will represent Poland at the International Festival "Stars of the White Nights" in Sankt Petersburg. The ensemble will present two ballets choreographed by contemporary Swedish artist Mats Ek, "Carmen" to music by Georges Bizet, and Rodion Shchedrin's "As If" with music by Henryk Mikolaj Gorecki. Performing in the two spectacles are Grand Theatre's leading soloists Elzbieta Kwiatkowska, Slawomir Wozniak and Dominika Krysztoforska. Festival "Stars of the White Nights" organised by Mariinsky Theatre in Sankt Petersburg for the thirteenth time started on May 27 as a seven-week feast of music, opera and ballet, presenting the best productions of the Mariinsky Theatre and foreign soloists and companies. Apart from the Polish ballet ensemble, guest performances will be giving by Alvin Ailey ballet group of New York, Finnish National Opera and the Norwegian Opera soloists.
International Festival of Military Bands starts in Cracow
Cracow, June 15: Twelve military bands, including four foreign to come from Germany, Lithuania, Latvia and the Czech Republic will take part in the 15th International Festival of Military Bands opening in Cracow on Friday. Orchestras representing Polish army and marching bands of the Police and Border Guards will perform together at the inaugural open-air concert on Friday and Saturday and take part in a parade in the centre of the city. Apart form military tunes the bands will play also Latin-American melodies, and a piece dedicated to John Paul II. An eight-member bagpipe band "Pipes & Drums" from Czestochowa, a group from Warsaw playing oriental music on original Japanese instruments, and hand-to-hand combat shows will be especially attractive. On Sunday, the military bands will perform in Katowice.
Kiev, June 16: President Aleksander Kwasniewski said Thursday that the extension of the Odessa-Brody oil pipeline to Poland "had a deep sense from the point of view of European and Polish interests." Kwasniewski paid a one-day visit to Kiev on Thursday. He met with Ukraine's president Viktor Yushchenko to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries. Kwasniewski said that a Polish-Ukrainian economic forum due to be held in Gdynia late in June would be an important event. "We would like to discuss the possible transfer through Poland of oil and gas from Kazakhstan and the Caspian Sea ...," he said. Poland's and Ukraine's presidents also discussed European issues, including the Brussels EU summit, further EU enlargement process and Ukraine's place in it. Kwasniewski said that the European Union should leave its "doors open" for such countries as Ukraine, Moldova and the Balkan states. "I believe that enlargement, and in particular the next enlargement wave, including Ukraine, is a chance for Europe. This is my message to my European colleagues," Kwasniewski said. The Polish president participated in a conference organised by the World Economic Forum in Kiev on Thursday.
Kiev, June 16: The Ukrainian side wants the opening of the Polish Cemetery in Lvov on June 24 to become a great Polish-Ukrainian reconciliation day, President Aleksander Kwasniewski said after the meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yushchenko on Thursday. Kwasniewski who is on a one-day visit to Kiev stressed full understanding and willingness of the president and his collaborators to make the cemetery opening a "great Polish-Ukrainian reconciliation day." Kwasniewski also said the he would be at the opening ceremony together with Yushchenko. In another development, following talks of the Secretary General of the Council for the Preservation of the Sites of Struggle and Martyrdom Andrzej Przewoznik with residents of Pawlokoma, a village in the south-east county of Rzeszow, on how to mark the local cemetery of 365 Ukrainians killed by a Polish soldiers of the Home Army (AK) in 1945 in retaliation for the murder by Ukrainians of 11 Poles.
Kiev, June 16: President Aleksander Kwasniewski said Thursday he is trying to persuade Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz to run in the presidential elections. Kwasniewski told Polish reporters in Kiev that Cimoszewicz has not made up his mind yet on whether to contest the elections. The president stressed the Cimoszewicz's running in the elections would be good for the elections, for Polish democracy, and would provide a platform and personal alternative. The Democratic Left Alliance SLD and the Union of the Left UL declared on Thursday they will cooperate to field a joint pro-European candidate for president. UL appealed to Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz to take part in the presidential run. SLD leader Wojciech Olejniczak said that if Cimoszewicz decides to run, SLD will offer him an unconditional support.
Forty one percent turnout at presidential ballot
Warsaw, June 16: Forty-one percent of Polish voters in an OBOP survey said they would take part in presidential elections if they were held in mid-June, 34 would rather participate. 32 percent would participate and 28 percent rather participate in a June parliamentary ballot. 14 percent said Lech Kaczynski would make the best president, 12 percent named Zbigniew Religa, 11 percent Marek Borowski, 9 percent Donald Tusk and 7 percent Andrzej Lepper. 23 percent expected Kaczynski to win the elections.
Brussels, June 16: Prime Minister Marek Belka took part in a lunch attended by leaders of European liberal-democratic parties in Brussels on Thursday. Belka, in Brussels for the EU summit, has been invited to the meeting by Belgian PM Guy Verhostadt. The lunch was also attended by Danish PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Estonian PM Andrus Ansipa, Finnish head of government Matti Vanhanen, as well as Bulgarian PM Symeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha i Romania's Calin Popescu-Tariceanu. PM Belka took part in a meeting of liberal-democratic PMs for the first time.
Foreign minister on EU: "cognitive dissonance "
Warsaw, June 16: U.S. social psychologist Leon Festinger introduced the term "cognitive dissonance" to mean misinterpretation of reality, and I believe the term applies well both to some opinions about the EU Constitution referendum results in France and Holland and the debate about the (EU's) future, Polish foreign minister Adam Rotfeld wrote in Thursday's Rzeczpospolita daily in reaction to an article in the paper's June 8 edition accusing France of "voting against Poland". The fact that some commentators have herolded the end of France's and Germany's EU leadership doesn't mean they're right. I'll say more - a vision of an EU without these countries as important members is hard to imagine, Rotfeld wrote.Commenting on the constitution referendum in Holland and France Rotfeld said he agreed with voices claiming the issue will have considerable bearing on Europe's present and future. "I agree with those who say that at stake here are not forms but a much more pressing issue - the shape of Europe today, and especially tomorrow. What is surprising is that some of the old EU countries have displayed very little positive emotions in this respect", Rotfeld wrote.
Warsaw, June 16: Deputy Foreign Minister Piotr Switalski said there are no arguments for accepting Turkey to the EU and for simultaneous rejection of Ukraine's membership. Switalski speaking before the Sejm Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday said that "from the political point of view Poland is above all interested in how further discussions on Turkey's accession will influence Ukraine's integration prospects." He added that although in the past Poland "visibly supported" Turkey's aspirations and has been presenting a "favourable stand" on this issue, now the top priority in Poland's foreign policy should be Ukraine not Turkey. Minister Switalski told committee members that the ministry has set up a special team for EU enlargement which is analysing Turkey's possible EU accession. According to him the EU should meet the earlier set negotiation timetable despite remarks concerning, among others, the question of minorities and religious freedom in Turkey.
European Minister Pietras not satisfied with proposal on EU budget
Warsaw, June 16: "Poland has not been satisfied with a compromise proposal on the EU budget presented Wednesday evening by Luxembourg which is now holding the EU presidency," European Minister Jaroslaw Pietras told reporters on Thursday. However Pietras admitted that following todate negotiations Poland found itself among the countries that under the new EU financial prospect could receive the biggest funds. "We are not satisfied as Poland could be treated more favourably as far as some issues are concerned," Pietras said. He added that Poland's demands at the summit include subsidies at the level of 4 percent of the Polish GDP (under Luxembourg's latest proposal they cannot exceed 3.9 percent whereas the in the first version of the European Commission it was 4 percent), better general accessibility of EU funds, and special funds for Poland's poor eastern provinces (this proposal has been included by Luxembourg). Pietras added however that the result of todate negotiations was good for Poland. "It is very significant for Poland so that the EU summit ends with a compromise which will define the EU functioning and conditions under which Poland is to receive EU funds in the long run," he said. European Union Commissioner for Regional Policy Danuta Huebner told PAP on Thursday that the EU 2007-2013 budget needs to be agreed still in June.
"Everything must be done to take this decision still in June," Huebner said a few hours before the beginning of the Brussels meeting of EU leaders. "If these discussions end in June, Poland will be the great winner of the budget debate," she said.
Warsaw, June 16: Muhaimin Iskandar, the deputy Speaker of the Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat(parliament) of the Republic of Indonesia, paid a visit Thursday to the Senate and met with Senate deputy Speaker Ryszard Jarzembowski. Jarzembowski stressed the visit has been paid on the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries but added that parliamentary contacts were sporadic as the previous visit by a delegation of the Indonesian Parliament took place five years ago. Muhaimin Iskandar stressed that good parliamentary relations help develop good political and economic contacts. He expressed the
hope that his visit will consolidate bilateral relations and said that Indonesia was willing to use Poland's experience in social and economic transformation. He also thanked for Poland's aid for Tsunami victims.
Warsaw, June 16: As many as 8,079 people applied for a refugee status in Poland in 2004. It was granted to 315 foreigners and 800 people were granted the so-called tolerated stay (permit granted to foreigners who did not get refugee status but when it is not possible to deport them to their country of origin). The biggest group that was granted the refugee status was composed of Russians of Chechen nationality (187 people). The number of people applying for a refugee status in Poland has been growing all the time. This requires, especially after Poland's joining the EU, a more developed cooperation between non-governmental organizations, mass media and civic societies, representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Poland Jaime Ruiz de Santiago told a press conference.
Warsaw, June 16: The Ambassador of Slovakia to Poland Frantisek Ruzicka has decorated representatives of the Defence Ministry and the General Staff with a commemorative medal of the Slovak Ministry of Defence marking the 60th anniversary of the end of World War Two. Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski and Secretary of State at the Defence Ministry Janusz Zemke were among those who received the medal at a ceremony held on Thursday. Ambassador Ruzicka addressing the meeting expressed words of recognition for Poland's active participation in the struggle against Fascism and thanked for the hitherto cooperation of Polish and Slovak defence ministries. The medals were also presented to Andrzej Karkoszka, Lech Kosciuk, general Jozef Flis, general Lech Stefaniak, general Waldemar Czarnecki, colonel Czeslaw Juzwik,colonel Jan Debski, colonel Marek Wojtala and Roman Kumiega.
Warsaw, June 16: Over 300 historians and political scientists from 18 countries met in Warsaw Thursday for a 2-day conference devoted to the history of communist-era security services in central-east Europe. Present are delegates from among others Russia, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. The session, hosted by Poland's National Remembrance Institute (IPN) and its sister institutions in Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, will review the evolution of security networks in Soviet-occupied countries (Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia) and the countries of the so-called Soviet Bloc (Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Poland, Romania, Hungary). Planned on Friday is a presentation of A Handbook of the Communist Security Apparatus, a collective work by east-European historians picturing the activities of security services in Soviet-dominated Europe. Also on the programme are panel debates, meetings with eyewitnesses of communist security activities, exhibitions and film reviews. Pawel Machcewicz from IPN's Public Education Office told PAP today's debates focused on the moral aspects connected with historical studies on the communist security apparatus.
Warsaw, June 17: The Sejm on Friday morning rejected the candidature of professor Andrzej Rzeplinski for the post of ombudsman. The candidature of Rzeplinski was forwarded by Citizens' Platform PO. Prof. Andrzej Rzeplinski is one of Poland's most eminent lawyers and a key figure in the Polish and global human rights movement. Rzeplinski is Secretary of the Board of the Helsinki Human Right Foundation and sits on several international bodies, including the Council of Europe's Bioethics Committee. He also authored a report on human rights violations in Poland presented at the OSCE Congress in 1983. Rzeplinski's report was subsequently presented worldwide by anti-communist leader Lech Walesa.
Warsaw, June 16: Private equity and venture capital funds invested 122 million euros in Polish firms in 2004 against 130 million euros in 2003, president of the Polish Private Equity Association (PPEA) Pawel Gierynski told reporters on Thursday. Investments of Polish firms managing pe/vc funds remained unchanged at 130 million euros but pe/vc investments in Polish companies were slightly lower and reached 122 million euros, he said. Gierynski added that Polish firms managing the funds invested 80 million euros in Polish companies last year and 50 millions in companies of the region. Polish Private Equity Association (PPEA) gathers private equity/venture capital investors active in Poland.
Olsztyn, June 16: The renovation of about 1,000 18th and 19th-century roadside chapels in Poland's northern Warmia region is the aim of a project launched by the House of Polish-German Cooperation and German Minority Association in Warmia's capital Olsztyn. A meeting hosted by the two organizations on Thursday was devoted to the history of Warmia's chapels. In contrast to neighbouring Masuria, Warmia was predominantly Catholic, proof of which are its many open-air chapels erected on roadsides in thanks for deliverance from disease or disaster. Most portray the Holy Mary with Christ's body or with Child.
Freya von Moltke to support Krzyzowa
Berlin, June 16: Freya von Moltke, the 94-year-old widow of German anti-Nazi activist Helmut James von Moltke, will support the House of Encounters in south-Polish Krzyzowa, her onetime residence which in 1942 and 43 was a meeting-place of German anti-Nazis and in 1989 hosted a symbolic reconcilement ceremony between German chancellor Helmut Kohl and Poland's first non-communist prime minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki. The wartime meetings in Krzyzowa (Kreisau) were discovered by the German Gestapo in early 1944 and its participants imprisoned. Helmut James von Moltke, who owned the mansion, was executed in
January 1945, four months before the war ended. Freya von Moltke told reporters today that she still felt emotionally close to Krzyzowa.
Warsaw, June 16: The Senate on Thursday passed the cinema bill in a shape not much different from the version adopted by the Sejm last May. 65 senators out of 75 senators taking part in the vote supported the new law. The senators did not question the controversial clause
imposing on commercial broadcasters and cable tv operators a 1.5 percent tax on commercials to finance the creation of a Film Institute.
Poznan, June 16: Development of inter-regional railway transport, restructuring of the countryside and continuation of cooperation in culture and education were discussed by Mathias Platzeck, Minister-President of Brandenburg, Germany, and Wielkopolskie Province assembly head Stefan Mikolajczak on Thursday. The Polish side would like to use German experience in regional railway transport and find a firm in Brandenburg to organise such transport in Wielkopolska region. In agriculture, Germans will use Polish experience in introducing new agricultural products to the market, while Wielkopolska might introduce German methods of diversification of employment in rural areas. Cultural cooperation is to be intensified between cultural institutions and in the promotion of cultural events.
Warsaw, June 16: Professor Zdzislaw Najder was awarded Order of the Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, the highest French distinction, in a ceremony held held here on Thursday. Presenting the Order to Najder on behalf of the French President, French Ambassador to Poland M. Pierre Menat recalled that Najder is not only one of the best experts in the literary output of Jozef Korzeniowski - Joseph Conrad, but also one of the heroes of the Polish democratic revolution, and an indefatigable advocate of a strong Europe.
Warsaw, June 17: In the present situation, when more and more EU countries are considering postponing the ratification of the EU Constitution Treaty, Poland should consider choosing the same course of action, Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz said Friday. On Thursday at the EU summit in Brussels EU leaders announced that the ratification of the Constitution Treaty would be continued but resigned from the procedure's November 2006 deadline. PM Marek Belka, attending the summit, said yesterday that he was for a constitution referendum together with the presidential run on October 9. Cimoszewicz added that decisions on the Treaty in Poland will be preceded by a meeting between the president, the Sejm speaker and the PM. According to the Sejm speaker Poland's rejection of the constitution alongside France and Holland would be a "fatal mistake" as it would "make us co-responsible for the EU's political failure". Asked about a good date for the constitution referendum, Cimoszewicz opted for holding it together with this autumn's presidential elections as this would guarantee a high turnout. Citizens Platform (PO) caucus head Jan Rokita said postponement of the EU constitution issue was the "only sensible step" in the present situation. Everyone in Europe knows that the Treaty in its present shape will never be adopted, but no one wants to be the one to say openly that it's dead", Rokita said. According to Samoobrona leader Andrzej Lepper the constitution referendum should take place in 2007. Lepper said he was very pleased with the EU summit's decision to postpone the ratification deadline. Poland has time, we don't need to hurry with the referendum, Lepper said. Jozef Oleksy, ex-leader of the ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), believes the present parliament should decide whether the constitution is to be ratified in a referendum or by parliament. League of Polish Families (LPR) leader Marek Kotlinowski is for indefinite postponement of the constitution issue. According to Kotlinowski the constitution treaty was a dead issue and other solutions would have to be sought to bring the EU out of its present stalemate. Law and Justice (PiS) leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said today that Poland should resign holding a constitution referendum in autumn. In Kaczynski's opinion the EU's decision to abolish the ratification deadline was "a stubborn attempt to keep the issue alive". Ending the crisis now would require saying: this matter is over and done with, we have the Nice Treaty for now and we'll start a new debate on longterm solutions", Kaczynski opined.
Warsaw, June 20: Prime Minister Marek Belka said he was thinking about leaving politics and added he might even not run in forthcoming parliamentary elections. The PM told Monday Radio TOK FM he wanted to leave politics despite the fact he was one of the founders of the Democratic Party-democrats.pl. Asked whether he was going to run in the forthcoming parliamentary elections the PM said he had not made up his mind yet. The PM admitted he was trying to convince Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz to run for president. Next, the prime minister said he still believed Poland should ratify the EU Constitution. He also said he hoped Great Britain, which is taking over the EU presidency on July 1, would feel responsible for starting a debate on the EU future and reaching a compromise on the EU budget.
PKW: 13 election committees registered
Warsaw, June 17: The State Election Commission (PKW) has registered so far 13 electoral committees which will field candidates for Sejm deputies and senators in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. PKW has received documents from four other committees. A decision on their registration will be announced next week. Candidates for deputies and senators can be forwarded by electoral committees of political parties, party coalitions and voters. First, a committee must be registered by PKW.
Presidential runners present their foreign policy directions
Wroclaw, Warsaw, June 19: Leader of the Citizens' Platform PO and its official presidential runner Donald Tusk told the PO convention on Sunday that Poland and Poles are on the eve of extremely important elections which will decide about the future of the country. We are in a breakthrough moment in which we will have to make three most important decisions for Poland, Tusk said. The convention, perceived also as a start of the PO election campaign served to present the vision of the presidential office and program priorities of the PO in the future government. We want a state friendly to the citizens, the state that will serve to them, Tusk underlined while speaking to participants in the convention. He stressed he could not agree on the promotion of the idea that a sound Poland can be achieved via increased control and repression against ordinary and honest citizens. According to Tusk all parties, except for the PO are very keen on a moral revolution and the healing of hearts and souls of Poles. We will not force Poles to undergo such a healing. We will heal power and politicians for they are the source of the Polish illness, Tusk said. Jan Rokita, who is perceived by the PO as the future PM said the PO wanted to introduce the flat tax of 15 percent rate and will tackle the issue just after elections. As regards economic activity all permits, licenses and certificates will be replaced by a statement signed by a businessmen that he/she will respect binding rules. Later the state services will check whether he/she complies with it. Rokita stressed that PO's future partners should be aware that archives of the National Remembrance Institute should be open. He announced the introduction of courts which will sentenced hooligans and bandits in 48 hours. PO also plans to cut the state administration by 20 percent. Leader of the Social Democracy of Poland SdPl and its presidential runner Marek Borowski presented his idea of Poland's foreign policy at a party Sunday convention. Borowski opted for closer integration with the European Union, the strengthening of relations with the United States and the partnership dialogue with Russia. This will be a policy devoid of historic inferiority complexes and pressures exerted on Poland by other states. Europe and the European Union is our natural environment," he told a party convention in Wroclaw, south-western Poland, on Sunday. He explained that Poland will have to be more firm while fostering relations with the United States. He believes Poland has neglected chances especially economic ones stemming from relations with the U.S. He also was in favour of withdrawing Polish troops from Iraq in a "responsible but firm way." Relations with Russia should be based on "truth and partnership." The triangle made of the U.S., Russia and the East will shape the future of Poland," he said. At a European Convention representatives of the SdPl, the Union of Labour UP, and Greens 2000 also adopted a declaration: "Yes for the Constitution. Yes for Europe."
Minister Rotfeld hands nominations to new ambassadors
Warsaw, June 20: Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld handed Monday nominations to six new Polish ambassadors, the foreign ministry reported in a statement issued Monday. The nominations were handed to Krzysztof Krajewski, who has been appointed Poland's ambassador to Azerbaijyan, Pawel Kulka-Kulpiowski, who leaves for Brazil, Janusz Niesyto, the Polish ambassador to Switzerland, Kazimierz Romanski, who leaves for Kuwait, Krzysztof Suprowicz, the ambassador to Moldova and Andrzej Derlatka, the ambassador to South Korea.
Warsaw, June 17: The Sejm on Friday rejected the candidature of professor Andrzej Rzeplinski for the post of Poland's ombudsman. The Citizens' Platform PO will again forward the candidacy of Rzeplinski. The professor agreed to run for the post once again. 180 deputies voted for the candidature while the absolute majority was 197 votes. 163 deputies were against and 50 abstained. Rzeplinski, a lawyer and human rights specialist, was the only candidate to replace outgoing human rights spokesman Andrzej Zoll. The candidature of Rzeplinski was fielded by centrist Citizens Platform (PO). According to outgoing ombudsman Andrzej Zoll, a proper distance towards politics is the basic condition of ombudsman's activity. Asked if political motives were behind the rejection of Rzeplinski's candidature, he said "I fear so." PO leader Jan Rokita told PAP that the PO was convinced that Rzeplinski was absolutely the best candidate for the post.
Berlin, June 20: EU Commissioner for Regional Policy Danuta Huebner opted for an extraordinary EU summit still this month after a fiasco of the union summit devoted to financial issues. According to Huebner a successive summit would give yet another chance for reaching an agreement on time, she said in an interview for "Berliner Zeitung" on Monday. This is all the more important that lack of quick agreement on the EU medium-term budget may delay the planned assistance programmes for poorer EU regions. Lack of a quick agreement would mean that central and eastern EU countries which should get 53 percent of regional assistance from Brussels would get less money as of 2007.
Brussels, June 17: The European Union summit in Brussels has decided to continue talks on the EU budget for 2007-2013, director of the EU department at the foreign ministry Pawel Swieboda said. The leaders gathered at the summit will discuss the newest proposal of a compromise budget which is to be presented by EU-leading Luxembourg in the evening after the afternoon break. According to Swieboda, evening negotiations will not be prolonged. "The new proposal will either be accepted or rejected," Swieboda said.
Divaniyah, June 17: A 23-strong Iraqi delegation of representatives of Babil, Wasit and Al-Kadissiyah provinces will arrive in Warsaw on Sunday at the invitation of the Polish government. According to political adviser to Centre-South Multinational Division Ambassador Stanislaw Smolen, the delegation includes a group of leading Iraqi archaeologists who would like to get acquainted with Polish methods of archaeological work. Iraqi governors of provinces and chairmen of provincial councils are to learn about local government operations as well as crisis management centres.
PKN Orlen commission to press charges against Belka
Warsaw, Cracow, June 17: PKN Orlen Sejm Commission will notify a prosecutor's office about a possible infringement of the law by Prime Minister Marek Belka. Such decision was taken by the commission on Friday, Roman Giertych told reporters. According to deputies, Belka lied when testifying before the commission as he said he had not signed a document on cooperation with communist-era secret services. There were 4 votes for notifying a prosecutor's office, 3 against and 3 abstentions. Justice Minister Andrzej Kalwas said later on Friday that a prosecutor's office would examine the notification of the Sejm PKN Orlen commission like every other notification. Kalwas told PAP that a prosecutor's office will be carrying out its normal duties. He did not want to say which prosecutor's office will be dealing with the case but added that it might be Warsaw's district prosecutors. President Aleksander Kwasniewski has told PAP that the Sejm PKN Orlen commission to press charges against Belka was ungrounded, provocative and politically-motivated.
Warsaw, June 20: Leader of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) Wojciech Olejniczak said Monday that head of the National Remembrance Institute (IPN)Leon Kieres should declassify the content of Prime Minister Marek Belka's personal dossier. If the PM asked the IPN to lift the secrecy clause from the documents gathered on him the entire case must be cleared. And this should be done not only by politicians but also by the people who are dealing with such issues every day, Olejniczak told Radio Zet.
Warsaw, June 17: The Sejm's Friday rejection of a sex equality bill "compromises parliament, especially the right, and is shameful for Poland", Polish equal rights minister Magdalena Sroda said after the decision."We are the only EU country without equality-enhancing laws. In my opinion the MPs who rejected the bill will be to blame for the fines Poland will have to pay for not introducing EU legislation. They will also be responsible for the lack of assistance to groups which are discriminated against and have less opportunity for public activity despite equality clauses in the constitution", Sroda wrote in a statement to PAP. Under the rejected law sex equality principles would be legally anchored and guarantee women and men the same opportunities regarding public life, education, commercial activity, work and social security.
Gdansk, June 19: President Aleksander Kwasniewski and his spouse Jolanta arrived in Gdansk on Saturday for ceremonies marking Lech and Danuta Walesa names' day. The presidential couple brought red wine, a bunch of flowers and a reconciliation picture presenting both politicians at the Vatican-City. Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz who accompanied the presidential couple apart from wishes handed for former presidential couple a sculpture of a bison as a name's day gift. The ceremony was attended by Senate Speaker Longin Pastusiak and Mieczyslaw Wachowski, head of the cabinet of the first independent president and Solidarity hero.Among several hundreds guest present was also Citizens' Platform leader Donald Tusk and other politicans. We wanted to show that an agreement in Poland is needed in view of problems with the EU constitution, Walesa told reporters.
Kiev, June 17: After Lvov's agreement to open the city's Polish Cemetery Ukraine hopes Warsaw will be ready to resolve the issue of Ukrainians buried in the Polish territory, Ukrainian presidential aide Markijan Lubkivsky said Friday. On Monday city authorities in Lvov agreed for the cemetery's official opening on June 24 in the presence of both countries' presidents.The opening of the cemetery, containing graves of Poles fallen in battles with Ukrainians between 1918 and 1919, ends several years of controversies around the inscriptions on its memorial, which the Ukrainian side considered demeaning for Ukrainians.
Great Britain employs 93,000 Poles after enlargement
Warsaw, June 17: In 11 months after the EU eastward enlargement more than 93,000 Poles found jobs in Great Britain mainly in catering, administration, tourism and agriculture sectors,
indicates a report drafted by the British Foreign Office and conveyed to PAP on Friday. In the said period Poles accounted for 56 percent of the total of 165,000 workers from new EU states. They outdid Lithuanians (24.5 thousands) and Slovaks (17.6 thousand) The least numerous were workers from Slovenia (210). The report concerned only the registered workers. The authors recall that Great Britain was one of the three countries (apart from Ireland and Sweden) which did not introduce transition periods in access to their labour markets.
Eucharistic congress in Warsaw bring reconciliation
Warsaw, June 19: The Mass ending the 3rd Eurcharistic Congress in Warsaw on Sunday was an act of reconciliation between the Catholic Church in Poland and the Greek-Catholic Church in Ukraine. Chairman of the Polish Episcopate Archbishop Jozef Michalik turned to the faithful of both churches saying: "we forgive and we ask for forgiveness." Archbishop Michalik recalled that this was also the message sent 40 years ago by Polish bishops to their German counterparts: "We do not want to call judges, accountants and reporters who would count and make bets who had been more guilty, who was the first to start and who suffered the most. God is the most just judge," he stressed.
Warsaw, June 20: With 1.7 bn euros which may be assigned for investments PKN Orlen is interested in acquisitions in southern Europe, Baltic Sea republics and in the Blakans, wrote Puls Biznesu daily on Monday. Deputy PKN Orlen CEO Cezary Smorszczewski admitted that investment opportunities in central Europe have practically ended so the company was examining other directions, including the above-mentioned ones. He added that preparations for successive acquisitions had started but crucial decisions will be made after the conclusion of the main restructuring stage of the already acquired Czech Unipetrol. Puls Biznesu wrote that according to market speculations PKN Orlen is interested in Petrol company in Slovenia, NIS in Serbia, MOH in Greece, and Tupras in Turkey as well as Mazeikiai in Lithuania. The company also sees investment opportunities inthe west where it may purchase shares in such refineries as Wilhelmshaven, Ruhroil, Schwedt or Leuna.
Warsaw, June 20: President Aleksander Kwasniewski awarded his annual economic prizes to the best Polish firms in several categories during a ceremony held in Poznan Monday. The best Polish company prize went to WSK PZL-Swidnik SA of Swidnik, maker of aircraft equipment and accessories. The best Polish medium size firm prize went to Dr Irena Eris SA of Warsaw, maker of cosmetics. The prize for the best financial institution went to BOS bank of Warsaw, for the best exporter to Solaris Bus&Coach Sp. z o.o. of Bolechow, maker of buses and coaches, and for the best foreign investor in Poland to Kronopol Sp. z o.o. of Zary, maker of wooden and plastic furniture and floor panels.
Four foreign ministers to meet in Warsaw
Warsaw, June 21: Poland is to organize a meeting of foreign ministers of Great Britain, Germany, France in Warsaw next week, Rzeczpospolita daily writes on Tuesday and adds that the four are expected to publish a policy article in European press. Joschka Fischer and Philippe Douste-Blazy have already confirmed their attendance. Jack Straw will miss the meeting due to earlier planned meeting with the Indian foreign minister. He is to be represented by Douglas Alexander - Minister for European Affairs. According to the daily the meeting is to produce a framework for concrete talks among Paris, Berlin and London representatives whose public statements after the fiasco of the recent EU summit are limited to mutual accusations, writes the daily. "We want to play a role of a middleman, as we have the most to lose in this dispute," Polish diplomats say. "We are close to Great Britain when in question are liberal economic reforms and the Union enlargement, and closer to France and Germany when we are speaking on the political construction of Europe and the continuation of structural support," the diplomats stress. Rzeczpospolita writes that the Polish Foreign Ministry is working on a draft policy press article to be published in European press. It is to indicate the future direction of European integration, but the daily is not so sure whether all four ministers will be willing to sign such programme.
Warsaw, June 20: European Affairs Minister Jaroslaw Pietras expects that the adoption of the EU budget for 2007-2013 will take some more time. He admitted that chances for a better proposal than the one presented during the EU summit last week were very slim. The minister stressed that if the budget for 2007-2013 was not adopted Poland might lose even fifty percent of the EU structural funds. And such a scenario is unacceptable, he said. Pietras stressed that Belka's proposal at the EU summit did not speak of any concrete sum but that the point was to win support for the budget which was good for Poland. But it turned out that the old EU countries did not want to discuss money-related questions. So it is deeper reforms of the EU that really matter, Pietras said. According to Pietras, Poland should ratify the EU Constitution as soon as possible. He added that it did not matter whether it was ratified by parliament or through a referendum. But as the future of the document was not clear it would be rather a symbol, he said. Pietras said that a European debate should be held in Poland and stressed once again that the ratification of the EU Treaty would strengthen Poland's position. Parliamentary ratification would be a strong signal and ratification through a referendum would be much more significant, he stressed.
Brussels, June 20: Poland will not support the reform of the sugar market to be officially proposed by the EU Commission Wednesday, agriculture minister Jerzy Pilarczyk told Polish newsmen Monday. Pilarczyk was attending a meeting of EU farming ministers in Luxembourg. "Our sugar production quota does not differ much from home market needs (...) We will not agree for sugar for the Polish market to be produced in other countries," the minister explained. Pilarczyk noted that the reform should focus on sugar produced for exports outside the EU and subsidized by the EU, covered by so-called "B" quotas, not on sugar produced for consumption in the EU under so-called "A" quotas. "We do not agree for proportional cuts in national quotas, irrespective of "A" and "B" quotas," Pilarczyk said, stressing that this was the preliminary position, because the official EU Commission plan would be announced Wednesday. "B" quotas should be eliminated in the EU," Pilarczyk argued, "because this would defuse the conflict brewing up in the WTO. We will not accept any other proposals," he added. Poland has "A" quota of 1.52 m tons and "B" quota of 0.1 m tons.
Huebner wants EU to discuss finances still in June
Berlin, June 20: EU Commissioner for Regional Policy Danuta Huebner opted for an extraordinary EU summit still this month after a fiasco of the union summit devoted to financial issues. According to Huebner a successive summit would give yet another chance for reaching an agreement on time, she said in an interview for "Berliner Zeitung" on Monday. This is all the more important that lack of quick agreement on the EU medium-term budget may delay the planned assistance programmes for poorer EU regions. Lack of a quick agreement would mean that central and eastern EU countries which should get 53 percent of regional assistance from Brussels would get less money as of 2007. Later in the day spokeswoman for the European Commission Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen said the EC sees the need for reaching a compromise on the EU budget for 2007 and 2013 as soon as possible but did not take a firm stand on the organisation of the extraordinary summit still in June.
Samoobrona, KPEiR sign election agreement
Warsaw, June 20 Leader of Samoobrona Andrzej Lepper and head of the National Party of Old-Age and Disability Pensioners (KPEiR) Tomasz Maminski on Monday signed an election agreement under which both parties will run in this year parliamentary elections as an election coalition of Samoobrona-KPEiR. KPEiR will support the candidacy of Lepper in the presidential elections. "We are left-wing, modern and socially-oriented parties and we will spare no effort to prevent left-wing voters from casting their votes on liberals," Lepper said. He added that both groupings views on the situation of farmers, old aged and disabled as well as jobless were similar. Both parties opt for the re-negotiation of the EU Accession Treaty and for holding a referendum on the adoption of the EU Constitution.
Warsaw, June 20: The compilation of reports and expertise on terrorism and ways to fight it will be the main task of Warsaw's new Terrorism Research Centre, opened on Monday at the city's Collegium Civitas. Terrorism is a realistic threat in Poland, the question is where and in what shape it will appear, one of the centre's directors, Krzysztof Liedel, told PAP. Working the the centre will be political scientists, psychologists, sociologists and culture experts.
Oleksy's vetting trial adjourned by July 11
Warsaw, June 20: The Court of Appeal on Monday adjourned the vetting trial of Jozef Oleksy by July 20 as one of Oleksy's defence lawyers withdrew from the case. Oleksy has to appoint a new defence lawyer who must get acquainted with the files. The trial was held behind closed doors. Last December the Vetting Court announced that Oleksy hid the fact that he had collaborated with the communist secret services. The court announced that in the years 1970-1978 Oleksy was an agent of the communist-era military intelligence. Oleksy denied the charges. Oleksy said Monday he expected a just verdict and stressed that his vetting trial had been going on for six years.
Warsaw, June 20: Poland's bishops are looking on at the reconcilement process between Poland and Ukraine with hope, read a Monday statement by the Polish Episcopate.The statement, issued to sum up the weekend's 3rd National Eucharistic Congress, calls on "forgiveness and peace to settle in the hearts of each Pole and Ukrainian and for reconcilement to allow us to look upon the present and past in a new spirit". The statement's authors among others express thanks to Polish catholic primate Jozef Glemp for his contributions to dialogue between Poland and Ukraine.
Gdansk, June 20: The ceremonial unveiling of a banner on one of the highest buildings downtown Gdansk inaugurated on Monday the promotion campaign of the 25th anniversary of the August Agreements and the birth of the Solidarity free trade unions in Gdansk 1980. The inscription on the banner and the motto of the campaign is "It began in Gdansk".Addressing those gathered at the ceremony legendary Solidarity leader, ex-president Lech Walesa spoke of the difficulties of transformations and said that the 50th anniversary which he expects to attend will make Poles enjoy the results of the changes. Photographs of Walesa, the then Solidarity advisor Tadeusz Mazowiecki, the Brandenburg Gate of Berlin, former Czech President Vaclav Havel and Ukraine's Viktor Yushchenko placed on the banner
symbolise democratic changes in Europe, and names of Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Budapest, Tallinn, Vilnus, Riga, Sofia and Kiev, illustrate how far the Solidarity message reached.Gdansk mayor Pawel Adamowicz reminded that there are still countries in Europe waiting for democracy. Apart from Polish major cities the campaign will embrace also Germany, France, Great Britain and Brussels.
Warsaw, June 20: A number of Polish businessmen has returned to markets on which they had earlier cooperated with Arab partners implementing construction, medical and educational projects, President of the Polish Chamber of Commerce KIG Andrzej Arendarski said during the debates of the 1st day of the Polish-Arab Economic Forum on Monday. Arab countries are perceived by the Polish firms as absorptive markets of good perspectives, Arendarski said. He added that Polish companies will be broadly promoted at a Polish exhibition in Egypt in November. According to Economy and Labour Minister Jacek Piechota trade exchange between Polish and Arab countries has stood at 1 percent of Polish turnover with abroad in recent years. The share of exports to the Arab countries totalled 1.5-1.8 percent of all Polish exports. Imports to these countries accounted for 0.2 percent. In 2004 the value of Polish exports to Arab countries exceeded 622 mln USD and the value of imports exceeded 317 mn USD. Compared to 2003 figures it means that Polish exports to these countries rose by close to 38 percent and imports by nearly 30 percent, Piechota said. The Polish-Arab Economic Forum, held at the Royal Castle in Warsaw and at the premises of the Poznan International Fair in Poznan, will end on Tuesday. The meeting is aimed at sending to the Arab countries a clear message from the Polish authorities and firms about their willingness to develop Polish-Arab economic relations. The forum has been organised by the foreign, the economy and labour ministries as well as the KIG. The three hope that this meeting will intensify trade exchange with Arab states, wrote KIG at its website.
Safety hotline for foreign tourists
Warsaw, June 20: Several people daily call in to the Safety Hotline opened for foreign tourists by the Polish police and tourist authorities.The Safety Hotline (0800200300, mobile +48608599999 is available 7 days a week from 8:00 to 20:00 hrs), victims of crimes and other
safety-endangering circumstances may call the police at 997 (mobile 112).
PKP railways plans to spend 3 billion zlotys on investments
Warsaw, June 20: The PKP state railways plans to spend almost 3 billion zlotys (ca. 900 million USD) on investments by the end of this year, PKP spokesman said Monday. The group spent 339 million zlotys on investments in the first quarter year. 40 pc were spent on modernization of railway lines, another 21 pc on modernization of rolling stock, 24 pc on purchases of new rolling stock. One of the major investment projects implemented in the first half of this year is the modernization of Wroclaw-Opole line and its adjustment to speeds of up to 160 km per hour. Also implemented was a thorough modernization of 92 passenger cars and 64 traction vehicles. Means for investments came mainly from PKP's coffers (42 pc), credits (21 pc), and EU funds (10 pc).
Cracow, June 20: Ahold Central Europe (ACE) will open a central European accounting centre in Cracow this August. Ahold Central Europe with a seat in Prague affiliates Ahold companies operating in Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The centre will will employ up to 200 experts in accounting and finances to service its subsidiaries in the three countries. Spokeswoman for Ahold Polska Dominika Kosman told PAP on Monday the centre will render services to more than 430 trading centres operating in the three countries. Cracow has been picked up as the best location owing to the big number of highly qualified specialists and favourable business running costs.
Gliwice Opel factory switches to three-shift production
Katowice, June 20: The Gliwice-based Opel factory began three-shift production on Monday as part of preparations for the production of a new Zafira model late in September. The factory's crew of 2.2 thousand was increased to include extra 700 workers. With the new zafira model Gliwice factory's production capacity will grow to 180 thousand cars a year. Last year's output was 116.5 thousand cars, of which 65.5 thousand was Astra II and 51 thousand Agila.
Bad year for strawberry growers
Warsaw, June 20: Poland's strawberry growers will suffer losses this year, per-kilo buyup prices not expected to exceed 1 zloty (30 cents), national horticulture spokesmen said Monday. The situation on the strawberry market is really bad, the prices oscillating around 1 zloty and at times even down to 45 groszes. We don't expect anything to change for producers this year, either, said Polish Horticulturalist Union head Miroslaw Maliszewski. Last Thursday most EU countries backed Poland's motion for protective measures against strawberry imports from China and Morocco. This year's strawberry harvest in Poland will be higher than 2004's (180,000 tons). Last year's per-kilo buyup price oscillated around 1.6 zlotys.
Warsaw, June 20: The eBay auction portal has introduced Poland's first PayPal online payment system. First introduced in 1998, PayPal is the world's most popular online payment system currently used by 147 million clients worldwide.
Brokerage houses post higher proceeds
Warsaw, June 20: Brokerage offices and houses improved their gross financial result to 519 million zlotys in 2004 from 238 million zlotys in 2003, the Central Statistical Office (GUS) said Monday. Gross turnover profitability indicator was 39.7 percent in 2004 against 24.6 percent in 2003. The result was chiefly due to a better situation on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and the liquidation and reorganisation of companies that made losses in 2003. Revenues on operations totalled 1.31 billion zlotys, including 914.1 million zlotys on brokerage operations.
Warsaw, June 20: Over 2,000 entries can be found in "The Biographical Dictionary of Central and Eastern Europe of the 20th Century" brought out recently in Poland. It contains entries concerning the most important figures in the countries of this part of the continent. The term Central and Eastern Europe refers to the territory within the communist countries' borders after 1945, so it does not cover Germany, Austria, Russia, Finland and Greece. Thus the dictionary contains entries about prominent people from 17 countries, Wojciech Roszkowski, one of the editors of the dictionary, said on Monday. The volume opens with the entry on Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz. All in all, the reader will find about 400 entries referring to Poles such as, for example, writer Ryszard Kapuscinski, democratic opposition leader and politician Jacek Kurod, and social worker Marek Kotanski. Roszkowski stressed that the chief aim of then publication was to get the user acquainted with leading figures of the nations of this part of Europe. The Dictionary was brought out by Rytm publishing house Rytm. There are plans to publish its English version.
German homosexuals sign protests over abuse of rights in Poland
Berlin, June 20: German association of assistance to gays and lesbians MANEO is collecting signatures under a protest over violations of rights of Polish homosexuals by banning their parade in Warsaw. A spokesman for the association Bastian Finke told PAP that the action was making good progress. He charged the municipal authorities in Warsaw with "creating an atmosphere in Poland conducive to acts of aggression against homosexuals."He added that the situation of gays in Poland would be among the chief topics of this year's CSD, an annual parade of gays in Berlin.
Mainz, June 22: The Polish-German reconciliation is an exemplary case of overcoming the monsters of the past by two nations, said president Aleksander Kwasniewski in his Wednesday lecture at the Gutenberg University here. The EU enlargement added new quality to German-Polish relations, he went on. "The time has come now for developing partnership in bilateral relations and raising it onto ever higher levels," Kwasniewski argued. The pattern for deepening this partnership could be the German-French relations. The process of European unification needs many new impulses. Therefore I propose a metaphor of "engines of integration" instead of the metaphor of "hard core" of Europe, Kwasniewski said. The Polish-German cooperation could become one of such engines of integration, he added.
Kwasniewski for continuation of EU enlargement
Darmstadt, June 22: New stages of the EU enlargement are not a threat but a chance in an increasingly integrating world, said President Aleksander Kwasniewski in Darmstadt on Wednesday. The Polish president together with his German counterpart Horst Koehler attended a gala ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the German Institute of the Polish Culture in Darmstadt. If Europe plans to develop and gain in value in the world which has become a global village it should stake its future on creativity, solidarity and openness," Kwasniewski said. He stressed that at present the EU faced serious challenges and problems. A moment of reflection is needed after negative results of referenda on the EU Constitutional Treaty in France and Holland, he said. "Europe should stick to its vision, should not yield to fears that have appeared in recent weeks," Kwasniewski stressed. He believes that new incentives and integration fostering should become the answer to the new problems.
Darmstadt, June 22: President Aleksander Kwasniewski said here Wednesday that lack of invitation of Poland and Lithuania to ceremonies marking the 750 anniversary of Kaliningrad is incomprehensible. The ceremonies are to be attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. "I can tell it only in the most diplomatic words because I can't put it otherwise: I believe that lack of invitations for top brass of neighbouring states, namely Poland and Lithuania is for me incomprehensible," Kwasniewski told Polish reporters. On July 3 Schroeder and Putin are to unveil a commemorative plaque devoted to German philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) who was born and lived in Koenigsberg then belonging to Germany. Jubilee ceremonies have been organised under the slogan: Kaliningrad - the cross point of Russia and Europe.
Darmstadt, June 22: Presidents of Poland, Germany and of several other EU countries are to write jointly an article on EU, President Aleksander Kwasniewski said in Germany on Wednesday. He said the feature would be published in major European papers within a fortnight or so. "The initiative came from the Italian president, the German president is sure to take part in the project and so am I, and as far as I know presidents of Portugal, Finland and probably also of Austria will join," Kwasniewski told journalists. Kwasniewski told newsmen he expects the British to use their upcoming EU chairmanship to reach a compromise on the budget. According to him, also Britain's readiness to concessions is necessary in this compromise.
Darmstadt, June 22: "There is no time and there are no good personal choices to even discuss a change of the cabinet," president Aleksander Kwasniewski told newsmen here Wednesday
replying to calls from PO's Donald Tusk that he persuade PM Marek Belka to step down. The president also said that as far as he knew, basing on reports from the head of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) Leon Kieres and the content of Marek Belka's secret dossier, "the vetting statement by Marek Belka was not untrue." "Marek Belka did not cooperate with secret services of communist Poland, the vetting prosecutor did not ask the vetting court to probe Belka's case, and we should stick firmly to the law," Kwasniewski stressed. He added that Belka wrote the truth in his vetting statement, and documents from 1984 and 1985 that were a part of his secret dossier "were not compromising or discrediting for him. This is my reply to all proposals from all quarters."
Warsaw, June 23: A crisis in the European Union is beginning to affect Poles' moods. The latest European Constitution poll commissioned by the Rzeczpospolita daily found that Poles would adopt the European Constitution but the voting results would not be impressive. Poles are divided over the Constitution. 27 percent see no sense in holding a referendum while 26 percent want the balloting to be held as soon as possible. 24 percent would like to wait and see what other countries will do and 23 percent have no opinion on the issue. Those who support resignation from ratification dominate among small town residents (29-30 percent) and Warsaw residents (39 percent). In the remaining big cities 29 percent believe in waiting for ratification decisions in other countries. If the referendum was held now, Poles would say a weak "yes" with 46 percent voting for, 32 percent against and 22 percent undecided. Two years ago 77 percent of Poles voted "yes" in the EU accession referendum, with 23 percent voting against. The survey was conducted on a representative sample of 980 Poles
on June 15 to 19.
Democrats accuse politicians
Warsaw, June 22: In the current security file war Poland's parliament and National Remembrance Institute (IPN) have "broken laws, ethical principles and the rules of plain human decency", Democratic Party leader Wladyslaw Frasyniuk said Wednesday. The party's presidential candidate, employers' leader Henryka Bochniarz, has moved for a constitutionality check on recent disclosures of confidential security files. Frasyniuk today suggested the dissolution of a parliamentary commission dealing with corruption in Poland's PKN Orlen oil concern, which is largely responsible for the file affair. The commission "was not investigating the Orlen issue but our biographies", Frasyniuk said. According to Bochniarz the Sejm should investigate the commission's frequent overstepping of its legal competencies. Everybody knows about it and everyone's just turning a blind eye. It's time to put a stop to this, Bochniarz said.
Warsaw, June 22: A four-day congress which started in Warsaw Tuesday gathered 120 priests and lay missionaries. Doctor Wanda Blenska who has worked among people suffering from leprosy in Uganda for 43 years is the guest of honour. Priests who came home on holidays concluded that the number of persons determined to go on missions declines, while the number of lay persons willing to become missionaries increases. Polish missionaries work in Africa, South, Central and North-America, Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific Islands. Father Romuald Szczodrowski of the Institute of Lay Missionaries told PAP Wednesday that among over 2,000 Polish missionaries 57 are lay persons. Father Szczodrowski informed that the number of lay persons willing to work on missions grows with every year. Behind such decision are difficulties in daily life, lack of job, sometimes youthful enthusiasm. At the same time the countries of missions badly need lay persons, doctors, school teachers, professional teachers of religion, and even skilled handyman and home repair technicians, he said.
The Institute of Lay Missionaries receives 1000 applications from lay persons each year, he added. Recently, nine persons got ready to go on missions, two of them to Papua New Guinea. Father Ryszard Ficek working in Theological Institute speaking for PAP stressed the rich culture and spiritual sphere of life of African people. There are 2063 man and women missionaries from Poland among over 70 thousand missionaries working in various parts of the world.
1.2 mn euros from Germany to Nazi victims in Poland
Warsaw, June 22: The Polish-German Reconciliation Foundation will get some 5.258 mn zlotys (1.2 mn euros) from the authorities of its partner German organisation Memory, Responsibility and Future for the implementation of humanitarian, social and medical assistance for the victims of Nazism. The decision made on June 16 was unequivocal and covered means which had not been used as a lump sum payment due to a difference in currency rates. The money will be assigned for the purchase of medicines, spa treatment, short-term medical and nursery assistance for terminally ill, the purchase of rehabilitation and medical equipment and social old-age benefits. In April 2004 the foundation launched its ownassistance program worth 10 mn zlotys (2.98 mn USD) The foundation has so far granted
more than 11 mn zlotys for 27,000 people.
Draft national reform package assumes more of high growth
Warsaw, June 22: The continuation of high rate of economic growth leading to job creation is the top priority of the draft National Reform Package for the years 2005-2008 presented here Wednesday. The draft lists steps to be taken by the government to implement the Lisbon Strategy adopted at an EU summit in 2000. "It is important that the draft be debated on in a broad social forum," the minister of economy Jacek Piechota said at the conference. "I would say that the draft offers a good material for an economic programme of every political party," he added. The draft deals with such issues as budget, administration and the labour market. It lists such areas of action as the consolidation and computerization of public finances, greater share of local governments in public spending, rationalization of this spending, reducing the costs of administration, long-term budget planning, social insurance and health reforms, simplification of the tax system and expanding the tax base. Many of the proposed actions were first envisaged by the National Development Plan for the years 2007-2013. "A reform package is indispensable because the existing system offer no chances for catching up with higher developed nations, leads to wasting talents and work and to growing social exclusion," according to Jan Szomburg, president of the IBnGR research institute. He pointed to inefficient law courts, state and local administration as well as slow execution of court
verdicts as factors hampering growth.
Warsaw, June 23: A Polish delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has protested against anti-Semitism charges against Poland in a recent report drawn up by the Council of Europe's European Commission against Racism and Intolerance. On Wednesday the Polish delegation addressed a letter to the ECRI on the issue. The letter says that "the report, citing isolated cases, and in what we believe to be an unfounded way, may create an impression that Poland is a country of widespread anti-Semitism. It also contains critical remarks relating to the situation of Gypsies in our country. Such way of presentation caused amazement and even outrage in Jewish and Gypsy communities in Poland." "We only want to recall that the Jewish community has lived in Poland for close to 700 years, and that a peace Nobel prize winner Shimon Peres once termed Poland 'Israel's homeland.'" The ECRI report said that in recent years anti-Semitism in Poland was expressed "sporadically in the form of physical aggression against Jews, especially by skinhead groups, and in the form of acts of vandalism with regard to synagogues, schools, graves and cemeteries." The Commission noted that such facts are of secondary importance compared to "other forms of anti-Semitism, such as verbal and written insults against Jews."
Warsaw, June 23: The recent conflict between the Citizens' Platfrom (PO) and Law and Justice (PiS) helps PO win more popularity. But if the two parties reach agreement they can win 265 seat in the new Sejm. According to the recent polls PO has been supported by 26 percent of Poles, up by 4 percentage points, whereas PiS has improved its ratings only by 1 percentage point, Gazeta Wyborcza wrote on Thursday. PO has captured support of young people as there are two times more voters under 25 willing to vote for PO than for PiS. PiS has been much more popular among older Poles, the daily said. Zbigniew Religa outdistanced Lech Kaczynski in the presidential race in June, according to a poll commissioned by the Rzeczpopolita daily and published Wednesday. Religa would beat Kaczynski in a runoff election.
Poznan, June 22: Wrzesnia in west Poland will be the traditional site of this year's parliamentary, senate and presidential by-elections on September 18, Wrzesnia authorities informed Wednesday. It is as yet unknown which parties and candidates decide to run in the ballot. Wrzesnia has been Poland's parliamentary by-election site since 1993, the first preliminary presidential ballot took place here in 1995.
Warsaw, June 23: Russian Ambassador to Poland Nikolai Afanasevski died on Thursday morning, Russian embassy's press attache reported.
Warsaw, June 23: The unemployment rate in May 2005 fell to 18.3 percent from 18.8 percent in April 2005, the Central Statistical Office GUS reported on Thursday. The number of the unemployed in Poland stood at 2,867,300 in May, down by 7.3 percent from May 2004. In early June deputy Economy and Labour Minister Jacek Mecina told PAP that unemployment in May fell to 18.3 percent. According to BAEL, the unemployment rate in the 1st quarter of
2005 amounted to 18.9 percent, against 18.0 percent in the 4th quarter of 2004. It fell by 1.8 percent from the 1st quarter of 2004, GUS reported.
Warsaw, June 23: The net profit of insurers rose 70.7 percent in the 1st quarter of 2005 to 1.4 bn zlotys, the Central Statistical Office announced Thursday. The net profit of life insurance companies went up by 104.0 percent and amounted to 823 million zlotys. The net profit of
property insurance companies rose by 38.9 percent and stood at 585.6 million zlotys, GUS reported. Insurers paid out 3.9 billion zlotys worth of compensation payments and benefits, an annual rise of 7.0 pct (a 10.4 pct rise in the segment of life insurance, and 4.2 pct rise in the segment of property insurance). The technical result indicated by all insurers in the 1st quarter
of 2005 was 1 bn and 21 million zlotys, compared with 518.7 million zlotys in the 1st quarter of 2004. The assets of insurance companies at the end of March 2005 were valued at 81.4 bn zlotys, up 4.6 pct from the end of march 2004. The assets of life insurers were 47.5 bn zlotys (up 3.6 pct), and in the segment of property insurance and remaining peronal insurance 34 bn zlotys (up 6.0 pct.) A share of term deposits in the structure of the assets of was 73.1 percent (life insurers - 65.8 percent and property insurers - 83.4 percent).
Int'l festival of theatre schools starts in Warsaw Sunday
Warsaw, June 23: Theatre companies from 15 drama schools from all over the world will take part in the 3rd International Festival of Theatre Schools to be held in Warsaw from June 26 till July 6. The event has been organised by Warsaw's Theatre Academy. The festival first held three years ago has won recognition around the world and entries for this year's competition came from Europe, America, Australia and Asia. Invited to take part in the festival are schools from Australia, Mexico, China, Japan, Spain, the Czech Republic and Russia. The diversified programme will include an Italian farce, a Shakespearean comedy, and contemporary drama. The Warsaw school will present Witold Gombrowicz's "The Wedding" and "An Interrupted Song" after Maxim Gorky's play. Poland will be also represented by a theatre group from the State Higher Film and Theatre School in Lodz. Two Polish plays have been staged by foreign groups. Students from the State Higher School of Music and Drama in Bratislava who come with S.I. Witkiewicz's "The Madman and the Nun," and a group from the Australian Academy of Dramatic Art with their version of Stanislaw Wyspianski's "Wedding". Young artists will also come from the State Academy of Dramatic Art GITIS of Moscow and the Sankt Petersburg Drama Academy, the Central Academy of Drama from Beijing, the School of Dramatic Art Beit Zvi of Israel, the Kyoto University of Art and Design of Japan, and the Autonomous National University of Mexico. Polish actor of international renown Andrzej Seweryn will chair the festival jury.
Warsaw, June 22: A presentation of the Spanish Tragsa Group on efficient ways of adjusting the home economy and administration to EU standards is going to take place in Warsaw on June 23-24. Since 1985, or Spain's integration with the EU, Tragsa has been actively involved in the implementation of infrastructure-related projects aimed at the modernisation of and improvement in farming systems as well as the protection of natural environment. It has been Tragsa's main objective to improve the quality of life of residents of rural areas with means of sustainable development based on wise exploitation of natural resources with the use the state-of-the-art technologies.
Warsaw, June 22: A group of ultra-rightists from the All-Polish Youth organization Wednesday picketed the Spanish Embassy in Warsaw demanding Spain's withdrawal of a government bill granting gays marriage and adoption rights. The protest was a response to last Saturday's mass demonstration against the bill in Madrid. "Mounting aggression on the part of the homosexual milieu should meet with a reaction by the heterosexual majority. We appeal to prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero to withdraw plans of enforcing this controversial act infringing on the union between woman and man", All-Polish Youth wrote in a statement to the Spanish ambassador.
Lvov, June 24: Poles and Ukrainians knew best what the love for Homeland is and what it means to fight for freedom and sovereignty; but the price of freedom was high, it was paid for with thousands of victims, President Aleksander Kwasniewski said during ceremonies at the Monument to the Ukrainian Galician Army in Lvov on Friday. "We are standing at a special place that illustrates the dramatic history of the independence striving Ukraine," Kwasniewski said. "We Poles remember the valour and merits of those soldiers who were fighting shoulder to shoulder for the Homeland under command of Semen Pelura, together with Jozef Pilsudski, along with Polish units. For the long-awaited freedom of the two nations," he added.
Warsaw, June 23: Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld said he was pleased with Thursday's decision of the Ukrainian parliament which annulled its Wednesday resolution calling on the Lvov Council to cancel its agreement concerning the opening of the Polish cemetery. The minister pointed to the ongoing reconciliation process and added that "Poland's investment in the process was what happened in the Polish-Ukrainian relations in the autumn and winter". According to Rotfeld, Thursday's decision of the Ukrainian Parliament is a proof that this should have been done.The foreign minister stressed that no one apart from Poles and Ukrainians understands that it is extremely significant for the two countries not to focus on the cemetery but to pave the way for Ukraine to the EU. Rotfeld also stressed the significance of a joint letter of Polish and Ukrainian bishops on reconciliation between nations and churches for the future of bilateral relations. The opening of the Polish cemetery in Lvov on Friday will be attended by Polish and Ukrainian Presidents Aleksander Kwasniewski and Viktor Yushchenko.
Lvov, June 24: The Polish cemetery in Lvov has not been rebuilt against anybody, Secretary of the Council for the Protection of Struggle and Martyrdom Andrzej Przewoznik said Friday during a gala opening ceremony. The place in which we are meeting today was planned to be completely destroyed. But thanks to the common effort of Poles and Ukrainians we managed to rebuild it, Przewoznik stressed. Polish army field bishop Tadeusz Ploski stressed during a mass that the cemetery should be "a sanctuary of reconciliation, Christian love and mercy".Referring to the 1965 letter of the Polish bishops to the German bishops bishop Ploski said: "We forgive and ask for forgiveness".
Warsaw, June 24: President Aleksander Kwasniewski on Friday once again stressed that a referendum is the best form of ratification of the EU Constitutional Treaty. Speaking to Polish Radio One, the president explained that he has changed his opinion on the date of the referendum as he agreed with EU politicians' arguments in favour of an indepth social debate on the issue in EU countries. The president recalled that in tune with a declaration of the Council of Europe a sum up of the debate on the treaty is to take place in June 2006. "Of course in such conditions Poland's referendum in October would not meet the basic postulate - that there should be a debate. For obvious reasons it would have to be shortened (the debate) and thus my decision," said Kwasniewski. The Polish referendum on the EU constitution was scheduled to take place together with the first stage of presidential elections.
Warsaw, June 23: Nikolai Afanasevski's death is a big loss for Russia's diplomatic corps and Polish-Russian relations, president Aleksander Kwasniewski wrote Thursday in a condolence telegram to Russian head of state Vladimir Putin. Reminding that Afanasevski had always promoted Polish-Russian dialogue, Kwasniewski expressed hope that Poles and Russians "will continue active and creative cooperation in the interest of both our nations". Foreign minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld called Afanasevski a "very experienced and outstanding diplomat" and said his Thursday death was "an immense loss for Russia's diplomacy".
Warsaw, June 24: The United Nations is the only organization covering the entire world. It is not only needed, but it is necessary, Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld said addressing a Warsaw conference marking the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the United Nations Organization on Friday.Rotfeld speaking to journalists stressed that the U.N. is facing three major reforms: improvement of its efficiency in security questions, support of development of underdeveloped countries and an institutional reform, including such issues as the broadening of the Security Council.
Warsaw, June 23: Senate Speaker Longin Pastusiak has told President of the Spanish parliament Manuel Marin that the Polish society supports the EU Constitutional Treaty and further European Union enlargement, a communique sent by the Senate Chancellery to PAP on Thursday said. The Senate speaker, who on Wednesday paid a visit to Madrid also expressed the conviction that Europe must strive for unity in the contemporary world in which economic cooperation is more important than military confrontation. Marin said that Madrid should more closely cooperate with Warsaw in solving EU problems. The Polish Sejm speaker was also received by Juan Carlos King of Spain, who said that Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia, heirs to the throne, were interested in paying a visit to Poland. The Speaker praised bilateral relations, Spanish amicable policy towards Poles living there and raised the question of a possible resignation from the prolongation of the transitory period to the Spain labour market for Poles.
Warsaw, Brussels, June 23: Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld is pleased with British PM Tony Blair's call for the renewal of European institutions and political leadership. According to Rotfeld however, Blair's encouraging program may also have another meaning. Poland in the EU should pursue pro-Polish orientation, the minister said. Rotfeld told journalists that he liked the vision outlined by the British PM because "Europe nowadays needs a fresh approach and an adjustment to the needs of the new world." Rotfeld believes Poland should work out a new model of leadership which cannot be based on antagonisms but on a compromise on different viewpoints.
Brussels, June 23: British Prime Minister Tony Blair's speech at the European Parliament on Thursday on the agenda for his country's six-month EU presidency, which begins July 1, lacked concrete declarations concerning the EU budget for 2007-2013, Poland's Eurodeputy Dariusz Rosati said. Rosati stressed he shared Blair's views on the EU modernization. "I was glad to hear Tony Blair's speech. He presented a vision of Europe and said where it should be heading for. He cleared out doubts that he was an opponent of a Europe with a strong social
dimension," Rosati told PAP. "But at the same time his speech lacked concrete plans concerning his country's six-month EU presidency and proposals concerning the EU budget for 2007-2013," Rosati stressed. "It is still unknown what proposals he will present and when he will do this. And one does not know if these proposals are attractive for new EU members," Rosati added. Polish member of the European Parliament Janusz Onyszkiewicz believes the European parliament warmly welcomed Blair's statement as the MEPs pinned hopes on British forthcoming EU rotating presidency and the person of Blair. "Europe needs now leadership and politicians from big countries (France, Germany and Italy) have to face internal problems and their position is pretty poor," he explained. I hope that Great Britain will strongly stimulate Europe after two recent failures related to the EU constitution and the fiasco in talks on the EU budget for 2007-2013, Onyszkiewicz stressed. It is possible provided that Blair achieves success as regards the British discount and the common agriculture policy, Onyszkiewicz said. Another Polish MEP Michal Kaminski said Polish farmers would benefit on British plans to lift farming subsidies in all EU countries during the British presidency.
Huebner: EU budget summit in October
Warsaw, June 24: EU commissioner for regional policy Danuta Huebner said that the EU budget summit should be held in October at the latest, or else assistance for regions and the timetable of negotiations with Turkey will be endangered. "All efforts should be taken for the summit which is to decide about the future budget to be held in October rather than in December," Huebner said in a radio interview. Huebner announced she would intensify her work as much time is needed to make all mechanisms of regional policy operative from the start of 2007.
Warsaw, June 23: Poland and Slovakia exchanged ratification documents on an agreement on changes of the Polish-Slovak border on Thursday. The key goal of the agreement is the settling of issues concerning three minor changes of the run of the state border between the two countries. The agreement will take effect on July 23. The ceremony was attended by Ambassador of Slovakia to Poland Frantisek Ruzicka and Undersecretary of State at the Foreign Ministry Jakub Wolski. Ambassador Ruzicka stressed he believes "that Slovakia and Poland would become Schengen members within the next several years and the administration border between our countries will disappear." According to him "this will be one of the symbols of liberty and freedom which the EU gives us."
Warsaw, June 23: The Multinational Czech-Polish-Slovak brigade has been officially dissolved during a ceremony held in Topolchani, Slovakia, on Thursday, the Polish Defence Ministry wrote in a press release. The brigade has been formed at the Polish initiative in 2001 with the task to participate in NATO and EU peace missions and to support Slovakia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Top military brass from the three countries attending the ceremony stressed that the brigade fully fulfilled its role. Poland's deputy Chief of Staff, general Lech Konopka also referred to joint service of Polish and Slovak soldiers in Iraq and cooperation of Polish and Czech forces in the protection of the Olympic Games in Athens.
Sejny, June 23: The justice ministers of Poland and Lithuania, Andrzej Kalwas and Gintautas Buzinskas Thursday officially opened a district court in Sejny on the border between both countries. Kalwas said the court would mainly deal with cross-border crimes. The Sejny district court was established in July 2004
Warsaw, June 23: The State Election Commission PKW on Thursday registered electoral committees of another three presidential runners, namely Donald Tusk, Lech Kaczynski and Stanislaw Tyminski. Overall the PKW has so far registered 8 committees that plant to submit their candidates for presidency. Earlier registered had been committees that presented Zbigniew Religa, Marek Borowski, Zbigniew Rolinski, Maciej Giertych and Leszek Bubel for the future president. The deadline for registering candidates is August 15.
Warsaw, June 23: The district prosecution in Warsaw will investigate charges against PM Marek Belka lodged by a parliamentary commission investigating the so-called PKN Orlen corruption affair. According to the commission Belka had lied in his March testimony on the Orlen affair when he claimed he had not signed papers committing him to collaboration with communist police. The PM, who admits to signing a so-called police instruction act in 1984, claims the document did not oblige him to collaborate with security services.
Warsaw, June 23: Solidarity activists in Ursus Thursday protested against using the anniversary of 1976 workers riots in Radom and Ursus by Warsaw President Lech Kaczynski for political gains and presidential campaign. They told a news conference that they were against Kaczynski's plans to invite to ceremonies representatives of the Workers' Protection Committee KOR who, in their opinion, were guilty of a five-million unemployment and the appropriation of state means by the "red nomenclature." They also accused KOR elites of ruining Poland, the biological destruction of the Polish nation, mocking the Polish faith, culture and tradition.
Export main form of foreign expansion of Polish firms
Warsaw, June 23: Export is the key form of foreign expansion of over half (54 pct) of Polish companies. Only every tenth company cooperates with a foreign company and opens its own commercial branch abroad, according to a research carried by KPMG advisory company. "Export is the most simple way of economic activity, it does not demand high outlays as is the case with FDI's or with creating corporate links," Miroslaw Poppe of KPMG said on Thursday. However KPMG experts are concerned that mergers and takeovers on foreign markets (7 pct) and sale of licences (2 pct) are the least popular forms of expansion on foreign markets. For 83 pct of Polish companies the EU market is or is planned to be the main target of expansion. Almost 60 pct of companies point at Germany as the main outlet for their products and services. Russia is the target for 22 pct of companies and Great Britain and France (20 pct). Forty four pct of businessmen positively referred to the fact that Poland became a EU member.
Warsaw, June 23: Poland will offer 400 m. Swiss francs of 2.625 pct coupon maturing on May 12, 2015, the issue agent UBS reported Thursday. This year Poland offered 10-year bonds of the total value of 1.1 bn francs. In April it sold 5-year bonds for 500 m. CHF and 10-year bonds worth 600 m. CHF. In May it increased the batch of 10-year bonds by successive 500 m. CHF. The offered 10-year bonds of the coupon interest rate at the level of 2.625 percent were priced at 15.3 base points above the swap rate. Yield for investors was 2.6125 pct. The first issue of state treasury bonds on the Swiss market took place in March of 2004. Then the finance ministry placed five-year bonds of the nominal value of 400 m. CHF.
Bydgoszcz, June 23: The Belma engineering plant in Bydgoszcz will supply mines and missile detonators for the Polish army under a 70-million-zloty (21.1 m. USD) contract signed Thursday with the ministry of defence.The contract, sealed in the presence of deputy defence minister Janusz Zemke, will allow Belma to launch a modernization programme. Belma SA manufactures landing and anti-tank mines, and detonators for grenades and anti-tank missiles.
Malopolska, Chinese Jiangsu province establish cooperation
Cracow, June 23: The southern Polish province of Malopolska and the Chinese province of Jiangsu signed an economic cooperation declaration on Thursday. The Malopolska province authorities are hopeful that the established contacts will help attract Chinese investments and
boost Polish exports to China. This is the first cooperation accord between the Malpopolska province and China. Specific cooperation areas will be defined within the coming months.
Katowice, June 23: Polish representatives of Germany's Lufthansa airline Thursday announced they expected a rise in traffic between Poland and Germany this year. Lufthansa south Poland sales manager Anita Bozek said Lufthansa was Poland's second-most-frequented carrier after the national airline PLL LOT. Last year the airline carried 500,000 passengers between Poland and Germany. According to Lufthansa managers Poland is one of the airline's
major strategic markets alongside China and India.
Warsaw, June 23: Poland's administration was unprepared to absorb the EU'a cohesion funds for transport and environment projects in the years 2003-2004, officials of the Supreme Auditing Board (NIK). According to NIK delays in introducing cohesion fund instruments were caused by failing coordination between responsible government agencies. Another reason was the lack of adequately trained personnel in the ministries.
Cracow, June 23: Over 180 events: exhibitions, concerts, film shows and workshops feature in the programme of the 15th Festival of Jewish Culture which starts traditionally at Kazimierz, the one-time Jewish district in Cracow, on Saturday. The programme of the festival grows bigger every year at the request of the audience and Jewish artists from many countries, Janusz Makuch, the director of the festival told news conference in Cracow. He added, more and more Jewish artists from abroad want to appear at the Kazimierz festival.
Warsaw, June 24: British PM Tony Blair's Thursday address in the European Parliament was "excellent" but "lacked a readiness for self-commitment", Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski said commenting Blair's announcement of changes in the EU during Britain's presidency of the Union.Britain will take over the EU's rotating chair on July 1. According to Kwasniewski it was "difficult not to agree" with Blair's plans to raise the EU's competitive leverage. However, Kwasniewski said, "it will be interesting to see if the British are ready to put their discount in EU payments on the table when pressing France to resign from the admittedly overexpanded Common Agricultural Policy". The president added that he will back Blair in his plans and voiced hope that Poland's interests would "also be taken into consideration".
Warsaw, June 24: Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld on Thursday met with Primate of Mexico, Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, the Foreign Ministry wrote in a press release published on Friday. During the meeting Minister Rotfeld stressed the histoirc role of Pope John Paul II and the Roman Catholic Church in the shaping of national awareness. He also recalled the Roman Catholic Church's contribution to Polish-German rapprochement and stressed the enormous, many-century-long influence of the Jewish diaspora on Poland's culture. The delegation accompanying Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera is made up of bishops from several Mexican states and from south Texas. The aim of the visit, organized by the American Jewish Congress, was to acquaint delegation members with the Jewish history on Polish territories.During the visit, the delegation met also with Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich, Cracow Metropolitan Cardinal Franciszek Macharski, Ambassador of Israel to Poland David Peleg and toured the sites of former Nazi extermination camps in Auschwitz, Belzec
and Majdanek.
Warsaw, June 24: The United Nations is the only organization covering the entire world. It is not only needed, but also necessary, Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld said addressing a Warsaw conference marking the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the United Nations Organization on Friday. Rotfeld stressed that the U.N. is facing three major reforms: improvement of its efficiency in security questions, support of development of underdeveloped countries and an institutional reform, including such issues as the broadening of the Security Council. The participants of the conference agreed that reforms to be put to vote at the UN General Assembly in September are indispensable though controversial.
Warsaw, June 26: Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz would win a presidential election in October if it were held today, according to the Pentor opinion poll published on Sunday.Almost 23 percent of those polled were undecided as to their political choice, while 22.3 percent of those going to the polls declared they would cast their votes for Cimoszewicz. Cimoszewicz has not yet decided if he will run but early last week he said he was considering running for president. Cimoszewicz would be followed by Warsaw mayor Lech Kaczynski with 19 percent and heart surgeon Zbigniew Religa with 16 percent. Over 11 percent of respondents said they would not go to the polls.
Warsaw, June 26: Social-democracy for Poland (SdPl) leader and presidential candidate Marek Borowski Sunday assured the Union of Labour (UW) congress that he would not pull out of the presidential campaign even if the left's most desired candidate, Sejm speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, decides to run for the post. I'm not even thinking about pulling out. I promised this to my voters and I always keep my word, Borowski said commenting a recent Pentor survey giving Cimoszewicz the strongest victory chances. I'll do what I can to get sufficient support by October 9, Borowski said.
Warsaw, June 24: Simpler and lower taxes would boost investments and speed up growth, presidential candidate Zbigniew Religa said Friday in the Stefan Batory foundation.We need new investments. This is the only way to drive economic growth. In order to raise investments the state will have to simplify and lower taxes, Religa argued. He also spoke out for the introduction of a flat-rate tax. According to Religa only an annual growth rate of 5 percent and over can ensure an unemployment fall, he also suggested freeing upcoming enterprisers from taxes for their first 1-2 years in business.
Torun, June 24: There is a need to streamline the tax system and to introduce a flat rate tax, Citizen's Platform's presidential candidate Donald Tusk said. "We have to introduce a flat tax rate which has been successfully done by many countries. We cannot afford a complicated tax system," Tusk said in Torun on Friday. Tusk praised simple and low taxes as a "friend of the poor," and a chance for economic growth and fall of unemployment. Tusk found it "strange" that the Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz is unable to take a final decision on whether or not to run in the presidential election.
Warsaw, June 24: The annual debate of Polish ambassadors will take place in Warsaw between June 27 and July 1, the foreign ministry reported Friday. The 1st day of debates will also be attended by Foreign Ministers of France and Germany, who have been invited by the Polish foreign minister, as well as British Minister for Europe Douglas Alexander, who will present the priorities of the British presidency of the EU. This year debate is aimed at discussing directions of the Polish foreign policy and the most important aspects of the current international situation especially in the context of Poland's membership of the EU and Poland's participation in the stabilisation missions in Iraq. Participants in the meeting will be received by President Aleksander Kwasniewski, PM Marek Belka and Sejm and Senate Speakeres, among others.
Warsaw, June 25: Europe is a living and changing structure, a process and not an end. Europe is transforming according to our expectations and visions, former British Europe Minister Denis MacShane said in Warsaw on Saturday. MacShane, who delivered a lecture on European changes at Warsaw's European College, said France's May 29 rejection of the European Constitution marked the end of Europe's "ancien regime" and the beginning of a new Europe. This will be a difficult and time-consuming birth. It will be a time of serious reflection about the Europe we would like to have, MacShane said.Denis MacShane is an MP for Britain's Labour Party and was Europe Minister from 2002 to 2005.
Warsaw, June 24: Poland will probably not meet Maastricht fiscal criteria by 2007 as planned, deputy central bank governor Krzysztof Rybinski said on Friday. With fiscal policy planned 3 years ahead it is very probable that we will not be able to meet the fiscal criterion by 2007, Rybinski said. He added that if Poland wanted to introduce the euro in 2009 it will have to join ERM2 by April 2006. Poland wants to cut its budget deficit below 3 percent by 2007 and
join the Euro zone in 2009.
Poland against EU software patent laws
Warsaw, June 24: Poland does not accept the EU's current software patenting directive allowing the patenting of software algorythms. Science minister Michal Kleiber said on Friday that the law may hamper the growth of SMEs due to the high cost of patent applications. Poland's position on the matter is shared by Hungary and Holland. Kleiber said that Poland will suggest amendments to the directive at its second reading in the EP on July 6. Among others Poland will move for precise definitions of terms like "software" and "IT system" to prevent corruption in filing for patents. We don't expect all our proposals to be passed. We're ready to compromise but we'll continue to canvass backing for our position, Kleiber announced.
Kwasniewska denies links with suspected businessmen
Warsaw, June 26: Jolanta Kwasniewska, wife of President Aleksander Kwasniewski, told a parliamentary commission investigating PKN Orlen oil company affair on Saturday she had no links to businessmen investigated by the commission. She also maintained that her foundation "Communication without Barriers" had never knowingly taken donations from people that allegedly hoped she would use her influence and position to help them with business dealings or legal troubles. Kwasniewska also charged the special commission with calling her to testify for political reasons and refused to make public the foundation's list of private donations.
Warsaw, June 24: Warsaw mayor and presidential candidate Lech Kaczynski on Friday was convicted of slandering Mieczyslaw Wachowski, minister at the presidential chancellery of Lech Walesa. A district court in Warsaw ruled that Kaczynski slandered Wachowski by calling him "a repeated criminal" in an interview four years ago and fined him 10 thousand zlotys (some 3,000 USD) plus compensatory damages of 5 thousand zlotys to be paid to the
Polish Red Cross. Kaczynski was justice minister at the time. Kaczynski told a press conference he planned to appeal and complained his constitutional right of defence has been violated. According to Kaczynski the court refused to review linguistic evidence explaining the precise meaning of the world "criminal".
Warsaw, June 24: Three Samoobrona MPs Andrzej Lepper, Krzysztof Filipek and Alfred Budner have been indicted for spilling out grain at a Warsaw train station in 2002 for which they may get a 5-year prison term if found guilty. On Friday a related indictment was sent by the prosecutor's office to the court for Warsaw Praga district, spokesman for the prosecutor's office Maciej Kujawski told PAP on Friday. He added that the MPs' action had cost "Szymanow" grain processing plant in Teresin 5,000 PLN (1,506 USD according to to-day's rate). The spilled wheat was imported from Germany. Lepper claimed the spilled grain was tainted but the prosecution said it was untrue. Samoobrona action was illegal and police were used to chase participants away.
Warsaw, June 26: The 2000-founded Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research (ITF) will hold an international conference in Warsaw on June 27-30. The meeting, hosted by Poland who is currently chairing ITF, will include addresses by ITF president Daria Nalecz and Marek Edelman, one of the leaders of the uprising in Warsaw's Jewish ghetto. ITF was founded on an initiative of Swedish PM Goran Persson.
Beslan survivors vacation in Poland
Warsaw, June 26: A group of 230 survivors of last year's terrorist attack in Beslan, including 191 children, arrived in Warsaw Saturday for a Caritas-funded vacation. The children, ranging from 8 to 17, were visibly interested in their new environment but too shy to talk to reporters.
On September 3, 2004 a terrorist group took control of a school in Beslan taking 1,200 hostages. 339 people, including 172 children, died and over 700 were hurt in the ensuing salvage operation launched by Russian anti-terrorist forces.
Warsaw, June 24: The number of mergers in which one of the sides of the transaction was a Polish entity grew to 70 during the first five months of 2005, according to a report published by KPMG advisory company. According to the report 2004 saw a visible growth of mergers and acquisitions on the Polish market while an analysis of the first five months of 2005 confirmed the continuation of this trend. Authors of the report wrote that the value of 45 out of 70 transactions concluded during the first five months of 2005 reached 1 billion 380 million USD against 2 billion 91 million USD recorded to the end of June 2004.The biggest number of transactions has been concluded in the industry and food sectors as well as in the textile and furniture branches. The high value of transactions in the first half of 2004 is contributed to the closure of a 840 million USD transaction on the acquisition of 28 Metro AG shopping malls by Rida Development Corporation. The report also stresses that foreign investors' interest in the Polish market has dropped compared to 2004 when many EU investors saw it advisable to invest in Poland after the country joined the EU.
Warsaw, June 24: This year GDP growth may "really be lower" than 4 percent predicted in May's inflation projection, deputy central bank governor Krzysztof Rybinski told PAP on Friday. Recent macro data suggest that the balance of risks for inflation and GDP growth decreased so much that we may speak about deflation in 2006.Rybinski attributed low inflation to lasting economic slow down. GDP growth in the 2nd quarter of 2005 totalled 2.1 percent. Economists expected a 3 percent growth.
Warsaw, June 24: In 2004 the Public Orders Office received 28,000 announcements at the total value of some 38.5 bn zlotys (11.6 bn USD), indicates a report on public orders in 2004 and conveyed to PAP on Friday by the Public Orders Office. In 2003 the value of orders was estimated at some 37 bn zlotys, reads the report. It also indicates that construction works accounted for 50 percent of the value of orders, deliveries accounted for 29 pct and services for 21 percent. The average of 3.95 offer was placed during one tender in 2004 compared to 4.01 in 2003. According to EU data 98.7 percent of orders on the Polish market were granted to home firms. Polish contractors received 13 contracts for the implementation of public orders abroad.
Warsaw, June 24: Poland's PKN Orlen petroleum concern wants to buy the Turkish Tupras oil company, Orlen officials announced Friday. Rivalling with Orlen for a 51-percent stake in the Turkish enterprise are Hungary's MOL Rt, Austria's OMV AG, Shell-Turkey, Spain's Repsol, India's India Oil Corp. and Italy's ENI. The bidding deadline is September 2. The price of the Tupras shares is estimated at 1.8 billion USD.
Warsaw, June 24: Polish producers will export 76,000 tons of grain as part of EU tenders even though the EC agreed on Poland exporting 93,000 tons of grain to third countries, spokesman for the Agricultural Market Agency ARR Radoslaw Iwanski told PAP on Friday. The last tender for grain exports from ARR warehouses had already taken place but Poles did not come out with offers. Iwanski explained that the sale of wheat from intervention warehouses was an additional form of getting rid of grain surplus from the European Union.
Warsaw, June 24: Liberalisation of the railway market is the priority of the Office for the Protection of the Competition and Consumer (UOKiK) Cezary Banasinski said Friday. He added that the present situation is unsatisfactory. Other priorities include the full liberalisation of fixed line telephony, the liberalisation of the market of electricity and gas suppliers as well as the lifting on Polish Post monopoly on delivering parcels of up to 350 grams. The conference on the Law on competition and the liberalisation of the Polish market was attended by European Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes, now on a visit to Poland.
Trzebinia, June 24: The construction of paraffines hydrofining installation, the first ever in Central Europe is nearing completion in Trzebinia SA refinery belonging to PKN Orlen capital group. The start-up of the installation worth 60 million zlotys (18 million USD) will take place in the coming days. The technology had been purchased from American ExxonMobil concern.
Modernization of E-30 rail route
Wroclaw, June 24: Trains from Opole and Wroclaw to Zgorzelec/Goerlitz on the Polish-German border will travel at speeds approaching 160km/h after the modernization of this stretch of the E-30 paneuropean rail route linking Ukraine and Poland with Germany.
Ther E-30 route is part of the 3rd paneuropean transport corridor.
Rzeszow, June 24: Forty bands from 13 countries all over the world will take part in the 13th World Festival of Polonian Folk Festival, to be inaugurated in Rzeszow on July 22. The event is held every three years traditionally in the first months of vacations. This year festival will last till July 27. The fact that the festival will be continued in Vilnius is a
novelty. The first festival was held in 1969.
Warsaw, June 26: Fifty-six plastic cows coloured by Poland's leading artists will be on display in various parts of Warsaw over summer in the city's first Cow Parade.
Among the artists on the project are Edward Dwurnik and Andrzej Pagowski. The first Cow Parade took place in 1998 in Zurich, since then the cows have been on show in New York, Chicago, London, Manchester, Prague and Johannesburg.
Kwasniewski, Belka meet French, German foreign ministers
Warsaw, June 27: President Aleksander Kwasniewski and prime minister Marek Belka received here Monday the visiting foreign ministers of France and Germany, Philippe Douste-Blazy and Joschka Fischer. The main topic of the meeting with the president was the situation
in the EU following the French and Dutch referendums. The politicians stressed the need to continue the European dialogue with a view to implementing the European idea. They also discussed the financial prospects of the EU. Prime Minister Marek Belka told his guests that the present situation in the EU was difficult and the worst would come if it evolved into a crisis of the European spirit. Using the Weimar Triangle as the platform for action we can prevent such a crisis, Belka noted. He said that the EU needed reforms and Poland was ready for a dialogue. As far as the budget was concerned, there was no need to start from scratch, Belka said. The French and German foreign ministers came to Warsaw for consultations with foreign minister Adam Rotfeld in the framework of the Weimar Triangle.
President Kwasniewski on Kaliningrad celebrations
Warsaw, June 27: President Kwasniewski described the decision not to invite Polish and Lithuanian officials to the ceremonies marking the 750th anniversary of Kaliningrad as something more than a mistake. "This has been incomprehensible for us," the president told TVN 24 on Monday. Kaliningrad will celebrate its 750th anniversary From June 1 to June 3, 2005. The programme of the ceremonies provides for a trilateral meeting of the Russian, German and French leaders. The president said that both Gerhard Schroeder and Jacques Chirac had their own reasons and would surely attend the celebrations. Asked about plans to build a pipeline from Russia to Germany under the Baltic sea (not through Poland and Belarus) the president said the entire project was raising ecological doubts. "The Baltic Sea Council and the EU must find out if it is possible to build such a pipeline in this shallow sea," he said. The president stressed that it was not good that the EU was not "politically included" in the project. "We expect that all big projects concerning gas and crude oil transport will be discussed by the entire EU as the EU was to receive these supplies," the president said. The Polish president said that during a Thursday meeting of the Poland-Ukraine economic forum he would present a plan to transport crude oil and gas from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan through Ukraine and Poland.
Warsaw, June 27: President Aleksander Kwasniewski met on Monday with Polish ambassadors taking part in their annual meeting and thanked them for the 10-year cooperation. The president stressed that this has been a very important time
both for Poland and the Polish diplomacy.
German, British, Polish ministers on EU problems
Warsaw, June 27: According to German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer and the British Minister for Europe Douglas Alexander the present crisis in the EU is not a debacle, it may well offer a chance to improve on the rules of EU functioning. The ministers addressed the Annual Debate of Polish Ambassadors in Warsaw on Monday. Fischer said that "the EU has to go forward and will do it". European leaders have to meet "the biggest challenge ever faced by the EU," Fischer noted. He stressed that fears expressed in the west in connection with the EU enlargement should be understood and noticed. The enlargement of the EU in the eastern direction was a success, the German minister said. Changes under way in the new EU states were visible and signs of the victory of the European spirit. Therefore obligations concerning another enlargement should be fulfilled, he declared. In his opinion an agreement on the new EU budget had been basically "on the table" in Brussels and Germany had been prepared for "a painful compromise". According to British Minister for Europe Douglas Alexander Europe could not afford a delay in reforming its budget that would lead to a rational spending of EU funds. He stressed that at present some 40 pc of the budget was used to support agriculture, while only 5 pc on job creation. However, many concerns harboured by the Europeans had their roots in economy and growing unemployment. These fears played a role in rejecting the constitution by the French and the Dutch. The priority of the British presidency will be to tackle the causes of unemployment in the EU and to make the labour market more flexible, the minister said. He said that in times of globalisation the European Union should show courage. A policy "dictated by fear and economic protectionism" will not help the EU to meet challenges e.g. to face economic competition of Asian states. Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld told the ambassadors that the first 12 months of Poland's membership of the EU was a success for both Poland and the Union. However, after the rejection of the EU constitution by France and Holland and the fiasco of the recent EU summit in Brussels the EU has to face the crisis, deadlock and lack of ideas. "The European Union is not a multinational firm with the need for efficient managers but a huge and unique political project which requires leadership. And the EU has gone short of such leadership," Rotfeld added, noting that "national egoisms were now supplanting the values that lay at the foundations of the EU." Rotfeld hoped that future initiatives in the EU would be based on the principle of solidarity. As far as the policy on Russia and Ukraine was concerned Poland had the right to expect that its position would be taken into account. This reflected not only our geographical location and historical experience, but also our knowledge of the communist system and problems of transformation in post - communist states. President Aleksander Kwasniewski appealed for a serious debate on the European constitution in the 8-12 months ahead of the referendum in Poland. "Poland should give a good example to other European states showing that a debate on the constitutional treaty is possible and that we do not turn our backs on the European idea," he told the ambassadors. Poland should continue its support for EU enlargement by fresh European states, notably Ukraine, he added. Poland should also strive for the EU budget to be accepted and expect a compromise between Britain and France.
Rotfeld, Fischer on Russia-Germany pipeline
Warsaw, June 27: In the opinion of Polish and German foreign ministers a decision to build the Russia-Germany pipeline on the Baltic seabed, to detour Poland and Belarus, will not have an impact on Polish-German relations. They replied to questions from reporters after the conference of Polish ambassadors held here Monday and attended by Joschka Fischer. The construction of the pipeline, regarded to be in competition to the second line of the Yamal-Europe pipeline that would cross Poland, will begin next autumn. "Relations between our countries are excellent, especially in economy", Fischer said when asked if the German-Russian agreement on the new pipeline would not harm Polish-German relations. Rotfeld also declined to discuss the pipeline issue in terms of success of setback of the Polish foreign policy: "It is the economic factors that decide (..) "there is no final decision in this regard".
Warsaw, June 27: Britain will strive for accord on the EU's 2007-2013 budget before the end of the year, visiting British Europe minister Douglas Alexander said on Monday after talks with Polish counterpart Jaroslaw Pietras. Britain will take over the EU's rotating presidency in July.Alexander, in Warsaw for an annual meeting of Polish ambassadors, did not reveal any budget proposals for Poland but admitted that concrete solutions regarding EU funding in the next years were "important from Poland's point of view". We cannot guarantee anything except that we'll be doing what we can to reach a compromise, he said. Pietras said after the meeting that he was "surprised" over Britain's plans to combine budget talks with debates on changes in CAP. Alexander and Pietras also announced a return to the so-called Bolkenstein directive on service market liberalization enabling Polish service providers to operate in the entire EU. The directive was halted under pressure from German, France and others.
French foreign minister on EU priorities
Warsaw, June 27: French foreign minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said here Monday his country's overriding concern was to ensure that the EU enlargement ended in success. This is why it was so very important to reach agreement on the EU budget. A similar note was struck by German foreign minister Joschka Fischer, who said that "the EU must remain a union of solidarity." Both ministers met foreign minister Adam Rotfeld who told newsmen later that he shared the opinion of his French counterpart that their meeting here attested to the vitality of the Weimar Triangle. Douste-Blazy said that France, Poland and Germany had a common vision of Europe that found reflection in their similar positions on Luxembourg's budget proposals at the recent summit. Without an agreement on the budget "everything will end in a fiasco," the French minister claimed. He said the starting point for budget talks should be the Luxembourg proposals. Douste-Blazy called for solidarity in the EU; Britain should meet its obligations in this respect, he said. "A compromise must always be found between national interests," Fischer remarked. The three ministers agreed that the announcement of participation by the French and German leaders in the ceremonies to mark the 750th anniversary of Kaliningrad on July 1-3 did not attest to a lack of solidarity, even though president Aleksander Kwasniewski was not invited. "Every state makes its own decisions whom to invite," Rotfeld said. "We wish Russia all the best (..)" But he added that it was "natural" to invite neighbouring countries such as Poland and Lithuania for the ceremonies.
Warsaw, June 27: Professor Anna Wolff-Poweska and Professor Klaus Ziemer received awards for singular contributions to boosting development of Polish-German relations. The awards were presented to the laureates by Polish and German foreign ministers Adam Rotfeld and Joschka Fischer in a ceremony held here on Monday. Professor Wolff-Poweska is head of the Western Institute in Poznan, and professor Ziemer is head of the German Historical Institute in Warsaw. Rotfeld stressed that the laureates "gave the German studies in Poland and on Poland in Germany a new character concordant with the nature of changes in Poland, Germany and Europe initiated in 1989-90". "Poland and Germany are aware of their co-responsibility for the future of the European Union and our continent...and started cooperation for the cause of Europe, the Polish minister said. Fischer stressed the role of the two institute in "building Europe of reconciliation, but not forgetting the past. We can reach the genuine rapprochement only if we admit our history, he added.
Cimoszewicz outdistances rivals in presidential poll
Warsaw, June 27: Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz enjoys a 27.1 pct. support of Poles according to the newest OBOP presidential poll commissioned by TVP1 public television. Cimoszewicz, who has not yet officially announced his running in the fall presidential elections, is widely expected to do so on Tuesday. Professor Zbigniew Religa received the support of 18.7 pct. of those polled, while Warsaw mayor and a leader of the Law and Justice (PiS) was supported by 16.8 pct. of those questioned. Deputy Sejm Speaker and Citizens Platform hopeful Donald Tusk received the support of 14.3 pct. of those polled.
Polish-Ukrainian Economic Summit starts Wednesday
Warsaw, June 27: The 8th Polish-Ukrainian Economic Summit starts in Gdynia, northern Poland on Wednesday, the Polish Chamber of Commerce KIG reported Monday. The summit, to be attended by both countries Presidents A. Kwasniewski and V. Yushchenko will aim at broadening the scope of economic cooperation and fostering trade contacts between Polish and Ukrainian businessmen. The agenda of the summit envisages debates of working teams made up of representatives of both countries' governments and the signing of a Polish-Ukrainian agreement on cooperation in tourism. The summit may also bring about the signing of a deal under which 20 pct of shares in FSO car making plant will be sold to Ukrainian AwtoZAZ company. In 2004 the export of Polish goods there totalled 2 b. 23.3 m. USD (up almost 30 pct on 2003 figure) and import from Ukraine amounted to 1 b. 38 m. USD (up 39.5 pct). Poland exports to Ukraine mainly cars and car parts as well as mechanical equipment. The country imports from Ukraine fuels, metals' ores, iron, steel and chemicals.
Warsaw, June 27: Marek Edelman, the last living leader of the Warsaw Ghetto Rising of 1943 believes that "Europe finds itself at a very dangerous turn" and pointed to the "return of nationalistic, chauvinist movements". In this connection one "must fight to prevent the repetition of a holocaust in this or other form," he said. Edelman was speaking at the four-day international conference on the Holocaust which started in Warsaw on Monday. He stressed he had the right to speak about the Holocaust on behalf of its victims killed "for no reason at all." In his opinion the governments have the duty to teach good and love so that humanity should never see the victory of the force of evil. Fifty years after the Holocaust "genocide has not stopped," it continued in Africa, China, and, in the past, in Vietnam, he said. The working group of the International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research on the Holocaust (ITF) created in 2000 is made up of 20 countries . The conference was organised by the Foreign Ministry.
Poland's Army Operating Command achieves full combat capacity
Warsaw, June 27: Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdziski and Poland's Army General Staff head general Czeslaw Piatas on Monday received a report from commander of the Operating Command Major-General Henryk Tacik on the Operaing Command's achieving full combat capacity, reads a communique of the Defence Ministry. The Operating Command was established following a defence minister's decision of October 22, 2003. The OC establishing
process began in spring of 2004. The tasks of this executive body of the Polish Army General Staff includes planning, preparation and command of the Polish Army Contingent Forces and other special forces operating outside Poland in peace missions, rescue operations, humanitarian operations or antiterrorist actions.
EC backs rescue training in Poland
Brussels, June 27: The European Commission is co-financing an international disaster rescue exercise for over 250 salvagers from 14 European countries. The exercise, to last from Monday to Friday, is part of a 4-million-euro EU civil defence programme and includes rescue training in simulated disaster conditions. According to the EC such exercises are to prepare EU rescue teams to cope with big natural disasters.
Lublin, June 27: Commissioner for gender equality Magdalena Sroda has urged women to run in elections. She discussed formation of civil society with members of associations, NGOs and local government bodies on Monday. "If there were more women, politics would look differently," Sroda said. She explained that women are not eager to go into politics because it is traditionally regarded to be a male domain and because they lack experience. She came out in favour of parity between men and women on electoral lists.
Warsaw, June 27: The value of the insured Polish exports was 2.55 billion USD in 2004, up 50 percent from 2003, president of the Export Credit Insuring Corporation (KUKE) Jaroslaw Biernacki told a press conference on Monday. Biernacki added that 3.17 percent of all Polish exports was insured in 2003 and in 2004 it was 3.45 percent. Just as in previous years, the biggest number of KUKE-insured transactions was in the German market (29 percent). It was
followed by the British market (11 percent) and the Russian market (10 percent). KUKE made over 8.3 million zlotys in net profit at the end of 2004, 47 percent more than in 2003. KUKE's financial plan projects net profits at 5.9 million zlotys in 2005.
Warsaw, June 27: Employers and trade unions failed to reach an agreement with regard to social transfers and wage rises in a draft 2006 budget law during Monday's meeting of the Tri-Partite Commission. "Trade unions want faster growth of minimum wages; employers want
investments in development and infrastructure," Economy Minister Jacek Piechota said after the meeting. "If there is no agreement, it will be the government that will take the decision," he added. Employers proposed that minimum wages in the budget sector should rise some 2 percent next year. Trade unions want an over 5 percent rise. Expert of the Polish Confederation of Private Employees "Lewiatan" Jeremi Mordasewicz criticised next year's budget for allocating too little funds to such tasks as infrastructure development or judicial improvement.
Wiener Staedtische to increase stake in Compensa
Warsaw, June 27: Wiener Staedtische will buy the shares held by the German HUK Coburg group in the Compensa SA insurance companies, Wiener Staedtische said in a statement on Monday. After the deal is concluded, Wiener Staedtische will thus own 99.86 pct. of Compensa insurance company and 100 pct.of Compensa Life. Compensa belongs to a group of Poland six biggest insurance companies. In the coming years it is planning to increase its market share to become one of the five biggest property insurers in Poland. Compensa Group property insurer reported a net loss of 32.4 m. zlotys in 2004, down from 40.9 m. zlotys in 2003. In 2004 the collected premiums totalled 30.1 m. zlotys, 30.6 more than in 2003.
Warsaw, June 27: Central European Distribution Corporation (CEDC) signed a final agreement to take over Botapol Holding, the exclusive owner of Bols Sp. z o.o., from Remy Cointreau and Takirra Investment Corporation for USD 270 million, CEDC said in a statement on Monday. Under the agreement, Poland's biggest alcohol distributor took over production, marketing and selling rights of the Bols vodka in Poland and Russia. It also received exclusive rights to import and distribute Remy Cointreau products in Poland.
British presidency's priorities at EU Council
Warsaw, June 28: Warsaw is the first stage of Great Britain's deputy PM John Prescott's tour of several EU states, who met with Prime Minister Marek Belka here on Tuesday, the government information office CIR reported. At the request of Prime Minister Tony Blair, Prescott is visiting several EU countries to present the priorities of the British EU presidency and discuss the best way of acting in the situation the Union found itself after the recent European Council Summit. The talks in Warsaw concerned above all the situation in the EU after the European Council meeting in Brussels during which leaders of 25 states failed to reach agreement on the New Financial Perspective for 2007-2013. Prescott assured that it will be one of the main priorities of the British presidency starting July 1 to overcome the crisis and seek new solutions. A debate will also be initiated on reforms in the EU policy. Belka on his part assured that Poland will take an active part in this debate which, as he stressed, should concern to a greater extent political questions, rather than financial ones. The sides also touched upon the issue of EU enlargement. Prescott declared that the process will constitute one of the British presidency's priorities. Also on Tuesday John Prscott presented British presidency's priorities at his meeting with President Aleksander Kwasniewski. Present was UK Ambassador to Poland Charles Crawford. The president and his guest discussed the political situation in the EU in the context of the referendum results in France and Holland. Prescott stressed the British presidency's determination to start a serious discussion on changing the priorities of the Union budget. Prescott above all drew attention to the need of a reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and signalled Britain's readiness to discuss the British rebate. Kwasniewski stressed that from the Polish point of view early agreement on the New Financial Perspective would be favourable, as this would not delay the realisation of projects financed from the EU funds. The interlocutors agreed that extremely essential is to maintain the positive climate for the European integration in the new EU member states. Prescott declared the British Presidency's readiness to go on with the enlargement process. The sides also discussed the situation in Ukraine, stressing the necessity to continue the EU open door policy.
Belka: Poland ready to discuss EU reforms
Warsaw, June 28: Poland is ready for a debate on EU reforms, Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka told a meeting of Polish ambassadors Tuesday commenting the EU's failure to pass a 2007-2013 budget. Belka said Poland's chief aim was to reach accord on budget matters within the next 6 months, he also stressed that Poland would "enthusiastically join a debate on necessary reforms in the EU". According to the PM enlargement has introduced new elements to the EU's economic, social and foreign policy and was forcing the old EU countries to a debate on internal reforms. These reforms were expected with the introduction of the common currency but they weren't put through at the time, Belka said. As an example of the EU's new foreign policy directions Belka named Ukraine, which became an EU topic largely through Poland's efforts. He also reminded that enlargement was largely responsible for the bloodless course of Ukraine's December 2004 "Orange revolution".
Prime Minister: Solidarity lies in Europe's interest
Warsaw, June 29: Prime Minister Marek Belka believes that solidarity lies in the long-term interest of Europe. Such solidarity, however, requires strong leadership and money, he explained. Belka told a Wednesday conference on Solidarity in the European Union that the recent summit in Brussels that divided member-states into "net payers and money recipients" revealed the third division, namely the one into "egoists and the rest." No one wants to adhere now to the first category and this the optimistic sign as regards European solidarity, Belka commented. The conference has been organised by the Lech Walesa Institue.
Warsaw, June 29: Former President Lech Walesa has said that the 21st century should be the century of solidarity. Walesa was opening a conference on solidarity in the European Union that started in Warsaw on Wednesday forenoon. The former president stressed that the preceding generation "left us a world with numerous divisions," but the epoch that began with the fall of communism is "an epoch of intellect in which solidarity should prevail." "This requires profound dialogue. We must define what solidarity is within the European Union that needs reforms," Walesa said. The conference is attended by Prime Minister Marek Belka, Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld, UKIE head Jaroslaw Pietras and Citizens' Platform PO leader Jan Rokita, among others.
August 31 to be national holiday - Cimoszewicz
Warsaw, June 28: The council of senior MPs gave its backing to a draft law making August 31 a national holiday on Tuesday, according to Sejm speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz. The Sejm speaker took part in a press conference on the Solidarity trade union's 25th anniversary celebrations held at the seat of the Polish Press Agency. Present at the conference were former President Lech Walesa and former Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek. Professor Bronislaw Geremek said that the international conference "From Solidarity to freedom," to be held in August to mark the 25th anniversary of the Solidarity trade union, is to show Solidarity's place on Europe's road to freedom. "It is not only that Solidarity altered the face of our country. Solidarity made the first step to break the communist system in Europe," Germek stressed. Lech Walesa, who will head the honorary committee of the commemorations of Solidarity's 25th anniversary, said that today's Solidarity is a "prisoner of the past, a prisoner of victories." He recalled he had earlier proposed to "roll up the banners" but nobody would listen to him.T oday's Solidarity has 600-800 thousand members while it had 10 million in its prime, he noted.
Foreign ministers meet ambassadors
Warsaw, June 28: Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld said Tuesday that Poland's membership in NATO and the EU creates optimal conditions to advance Poland's national interests. This opinion was shared by former foreign ministers that met with participants in the annual Conference of Ambassadors on Tuesday. Rotfeld said that problems with the adoption of the European Constitution and the EU budget were a "handicap but not a collapse" for Poland. He stressed that all ministers participating in the conference were agreed that the present situation in the EU was difficult but there was a chance for agreement. The meeting with journalists was also attended by former foreign ministers Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, Bronislaw Geremek and Andrzej Olechowski. Geremek stressed that Poland's foreign policy should be based on an agreement above party conflicts and should be guided by Poland's reason of state. Olechowski and Cimoszewicz were agreed that a position of Poland's delegation during June's EU summit in Brussels was one of the biggest successes of Poland's foreign policy in recent months.
Rotfeld on report of World Jewish Congress
Warsaw, June 28: Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld on Tuesday told PAP that Jews who had lost their property in Poland should be treated as all other ethnic groups in the same situation. The minister was commenting on a World Jewish Congress report which appealed to Poland for full restitution of property taken away from the Polish Jews during and after WW2. If the property cannot be returned then compensations higher than the envisaged 15 percent of the property total value should be paid, the report claimed. "No ethnic group should be treated in a different way," Rotfeld said and added that the reprivatisation law should be based on two elements, namely justice and respect for the law. "Respect for the law requires respect for the property and the element of justice in case of Poland, the country the most experienced by the war, consists in taking into consideration that compensations higher than 15 percent would practically made every country bankrupt," he stressed.
Ha'aretz daily apologizes for "Polish death camps"
Warsaw, June 28: The English-language edition of Israeli Ha'aretz daily apologized for using the terms "Polish death camp" and "Polish concentration camps" to describe Nazi camps located in occupied Poland during World War Two. The Polish foreign ministry said in a press release Tuesday that the Polish embassy in Tel Aviv contacted the authors of two articles published June 21 and 22 who denied having used the terms in the Hebrew text. They both blamed translators into English. This was confirmed by the editors of the English-language edition who promptly apologized. A correction of the misleading expressions was published in the weekend edition of the daily.
Rotfeld: false history builds false policy
Warsaw, June 28: If politics abuses history then false history builds false politics, believes Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld. Rotfeld told the participants in a conference "Memory and foreign politics" in Warsaw on Tuesday that more than half a century ago outstanding British writer George Orwell wrote in his famous book "1984" that those who control history define the future. This is the shortest definition of what we often term "the instrumental approach to the history" (...) This instrumental approach to history serves to meet the needs of current political issues which is the main reason behind the role the history plays in today's discussion on foreign policy, he stressed. The minister said that at present, in the time of globalisation, European countries return to their historic memory so as not to get lost into the shapeless image of the past. According to Rotfeld, we should strive to make facts known but we also should be aware that interpretations of these facts may be different.
SLD head: Cimoszewicz stands good chance for winning elections
Warsaw, June 28: Leader of the Democratic Left Alliance SLD Wojciech Olejniczak believes Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz stands a good chance of winning the presidential elections. He announced that the SLD would promote Cimoszewicz's candidacy and support his electoral committee. This is very good news, Olejniczak said and added that he was very glad that Cimoszewicz decided to run for presidency. Olejniczak stressed that the Sejm speaker will be a supra party candidate. Asked whether Cimoszewicz belongs to the SLD he replied that Cimoszewicz was a good man. Another presidential runner and leader of the Social Democracy of Poland SdPl Marek Borowski told PAP he was not taken by surprise hearing Cimoszewicz's decision. He added he would not withdraw from the race. "I will not change my decision and I will continue to do my job," Borowski said. "I will try to convince people that I represent an honest left-wing free from pathology," he explained.
Presidential wife to head Cimoszewicz election committee Warsaw, June 29: Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz confirmed on Wednesday that Ms Jolanta Kwasniewska would head his election committee. Ms Kwasniewska confirmed that she would do this. I am much obliged. I respect and like her. This is a wise and brave woman, Cimoszewicz told Radio Three. On Tuesday Cimoszewicz said he would run for president in October elections. Cimoszewicz said an avalanche of requests from the public persuaded him to reverse an earlier decision to withdraw from politics after his term as speaker expires in thefall. Presidential minister Dariusz Szymczycha told Radio Zet that usually a candidate asks various people to join his committee and added this must have been the situation with Ms Kwasniewska and Cimoszewicz. Szymczycha added that every citizen can participate in public life, support various politicians and get involved in political affairs.
Pope John Paul II's beatification process begins
Vatican, June 28: Pope John Paul II' beatification process started at St. John Lateran basilica in Rome on Tuesday. The ceremony was attended by a delegation of Poland's episcopate,Poland's ambassador to Vatican Hanna Suchocka and collaborators of Pope John Paul II, including his personal secretary archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, and Cardinal Franciszek Macharski.
Warsaw, June 28: The National Bank of Poland on Wednesday launches gold, silver and bronze one-side plated coins for collectors as well as 2-zloty worth coins for mass circulation with the image of Pope John Paul II. The news was broken on Tuesday by central bank governor Leszek Balcerowicz in the headquarters of the Conference of the Polish Episcopate. Balcerowicz and papal nuncio to Poland Archbishop Jozef Kowalczyk explained that the move was prompted by the need to commemorate the pontificate of John Paul II and contribute to the account of "New Millennium Deed" foundation which distributes scholarships for particularly gifted young people. Balcerowicz stressed that it is the 12th time the NBP launches coins with John Paul II image which is an absolute record.
Poland will get 100 m USD for armed forces
Warsaw, June 28: Poland will get the promised 100 m USD in military assistance from the USA in 2006, MEP Bogdan Klich told PAP Tuesday. He added that secretary of state Condoleezza Rice signed a document to this effect last Sunday. Klich said he had been told about the decision in a private conversation with Daniel Fried, an assistant secretary of state. Klich is in Washington as member of the European Parliament delegation for talks with U.S. Congress. Military assistance to the tune of 100 m USD was promised Poland by president George Bush last February, but later signals appeared that the sum could be lower.
Miller to decide about his political plans by weekend
Warsaw, June 29: Former PM Leszek Miller, who has just returned to Poland from the U.S., is expected to make a decision on his future political plans by the end of the week. Miller told PAP on Wednesday that the decision will come as a result of talks with the leadership of the Democratic Left Alliance SLD and the SLD Lodz branch. According to unofficial information Miller may run for the Senate. Miller said that Sejm Speaker Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz was the best possible presidential runner of the broadly-understood centre-left and that his decision to run was a great chance for all wise Poles. Miller spent four months in the U.S. at the invitation of the Wilson Institute to write a report on the role of contemporary Poland in central and eastern Europe and on Polish-American relations. Miller said he wrote that all goals Poland had set to itself at the start of transformations have been achieved.
Stockholm, June 28: The Swedish NCC corporation will modernize a route from Szczecin to Stargard Szczecinski under a 68-million-zloty (20.5 mn USD) contract, NCC officials informed Tuesday. Work on the 10-kilometre stretch is to start next year. When ready, the route will be an expressway with multilevel crossings and five bridges. NCC is one of Scandinavia's biggest constructors, specializing in housing, industrial and road construction. The company, whose sales topped 22 bn zlotys last year, has been carrying our road upgrades in Poland for the past several years. NCC also runs several asphalt plants in Poland which jointly turn out over 1 million tons of asphalt a year.
Warsaw, June 28: The Finance Ministry expects this year's budget revenues to be higher than planned by some 1.5 billion zlotys (453 million USD). Finance Minister Miroslaw Gronicki said Tuesday that a large part of that sum will be used to lower the budget deficit palnned at 35 billion zlotys. The budget deficit after May 2005 was 18 billion and 290.6 million zlotys.
Warsaw, June 29: Warsaw is an unquestionable leader among Polish towns and cities striving for EU funds. Poland's capital applied for 530 million zlotys (117.6 USD) from Brussels but will get some 400 million zlotys, a sum considerable exceeding the amount granted to all municipalities, writes Zycie Warszawy daily. Nobody has expected such efficiency from Lech Kaczynski's administration after all its problems with the planning and implementation of municipal investments, the paper writes. This time however the city hall proved it is not paid for doing nothing. City hall motions to the EU have been positively approved by the Economy and Labour Ministry. All approved motions for subsidies topped 727 mn zlotys but since the EU subsidies for Polish investments amount to some 500 mn zlotys all municipalities will get one third less then expected.
20 pct of FSO sold to AwtoZAZ, agreement signed
Warsaw, June 30: A tentative agreement on the sale of 20 percent of FSO to Ukrainian car market AwtoZAZ was signed in Gdynia on Thursday in the presence of Presidents Aleksander Kwasniewski and Victor Yushchenko. According to the state treasury ministry the rights to shares will be conveyed after a consent of the head of the Office for the Protection of Competition and Consumer UOiK and another consent of the Interior and administration minister. Under the agreement and in line with the five-year investment plan AwtoZAZ is to ensure the continuation of the company operations, increase production and guarantee the rights to a new car make it plans to start producing in 2006. The agreement was signed during the 8th Polish-Ukrainina Economic Summit. President Aleksander Kwasneiwski said "we show that our words are followed by deeds, that we do not deal exclusively with history but we also think about the everyday life and the future."He said he hoped for other companies to follow this example and for European markets to open to goods made by our eastern neighbours. "We send a clear sign to Europe to get open to Ukraine," the president said. Eighty per cent of the Warsaw car factory is still owned by Korean Daewoo, however Daewoo has resigned from operational control over FSO and gave away, in favour of the Treasury, majority votes at the General Meeting of Shareholders. Economy Minister Jacek Piechota said the Treasury will not receive any payment for the 20 per cent of FSO shares in view of the company's debts. However, he added the deal means that the looming bankruptcy of FSO has been averted and that 2.2 thousand workers will keep their jobs.
Gdynia, June 30: Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski Thursday told members of the 8th Poland-Ukraine Economic Summit in Gdynia that he would press the EU to introduce visa-free travel to Ukraine and abolish visa fees for EU-travelling Ukrainians. Attending the Gdynia meeting among others is Ukrainian president Victor Yushchenko. I'm convinced we, the EU, should adopt such standards, especially as they have been working well between Ukraine and Poland over the past months, Kwasniewski said. He added that he and Yushchenko would discuss Ukraine's NATO accession during an informal meeting on Friday.
Kwasniewski also voiced hopes for Ukraine's prompt accession to the EU. I am convinced there will come a day when Poland will welcome Ukraine in the EU. I believe we will walk that road together, the Polish president said.
Warsaw, June 30: PM Marek Belka on Friday starts a week long visit to south-eastern Asia. The PM will pay an official visit to the Philippines, the first ever visit of the Polish PM since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973 and two working visits to Indonesia and Malaysia. According to a statement issued by the government information centre CIR the visit is aimed to stimulate further development of relations between Poland and south-eastern Asia with talks and meetings being devoted to the promotion of Poland and the Polish industry. Political relations with Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia are very good but we want to improve economic relations and to bring them to the level which would be satisfactory for both sides, deputy Foreign Minister Boguslaw Zaleski said. In Indonesia, the first stage of the Polish delegation's journey PM Marek Belka will be received by President Susilo Bambanga
Yudhuyono. The two politicians will be present during the signing of an agreement on fighting international crime and other crimes. In the capital of Malaysia Marek Belka will meet PM Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi to discuss political and economic cooperation. Malaysia is one of Poland's chief partners in defence industry. The PM and his spouse will be received by the Royal Couple HM Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Raja Permaisuri of Malaysia. In the Philippines the PM will be received by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to discuss bilateral relations as well as legal and treaty-related issues. Talks are to centre on the development of cooperation in defence and military equipment deliveries to Phillippines. Zaleski underscored Poland's deficit in trade turnover with the three countries. "Exports to Indonesia total some 60 mn USD but we have a huge deficit. In recent years its total value exceeded one billion USD. Imports from Indonesia to Poland in 2004 amounted to 340 mn USD, he added. Polish-Malayasian trade turnover in 2004 exceeded 490 mn USD with Polish exports accounting for some 57 mn USD and imports at 434 mn USD. The deficit totalled 377 mn USD. Polish-Philippine trade turnover last year exceeded 100 mn USD.
London, June 30: A nearly 600 page report of the Polish-British Historical Committee will be presented in the headquarters of the British Foreign Office on Monday, July 4. The report was prepared on the basis of classified and public British and U.S. archives from the times of WW2, the British Foreign Office reported Thursday. The presentation will be attended by British and Polish Foreign Ministers Jack Straw and Adam Rotfeld.
Warsaw, June 30: Representatives of the Foreign Ministry who met with the Sejm Foreign Affairs Committee Thursday believe that the Weimar Triangle is not an "equal-sided triangle" because Poland on the one side and France and Germany on the other differ in their political and economic potentials. All the same, they think that this form of co-operation is worth pursuing because the Weimar Triangle is an element of our reason of state. Weimar Triangle was set up at the initiative of the Polish, French and German foreign Ministers in 1991 to back up Poland's European integration bid. The scope of co-operation has been next expanded onto other fields. The Thursday meeting discussed the present-day and prospects for this cooperation. According to deputy Foreign Minister Boguslaw Zaleski, from Poland's perspective the balance-sheet of the Triangle's achievements is "not bad" but "should have been better." PO deputy Bronislaw Komorowski claims that the Triangle is in a serious crisis and its role is limited to a discussion forum, rather than provide a platform of joint actions of the three countries. He insists that at present we have to do with a "Moscow triangle" and recently a "Kaliningrad triangle," that is intensified contacts between Paris, Berlin and Moscow. In this situation one could not treat the Triangle as an efficient common policy instrument. Tadeusz Iwinski (SLD) pondered whether "economisation" of the Triangle thorough broader economic co-operation might save it. Ministry's Europe Departament head Adam Halamski said that "although we are not an equal side of the triangle, nevertheless we are in it. The Weimar Triangle is not a mere element of our foreign policy, it is an element of our reason of state," he declared.
Warsaw, June 30: The Finance Ministry wants to revise its average annual inflation forecast from 1.5 to 1.0 per cent, Finance Minister Miroslaw Gronicki said Thursday. Gronicki said that it is rather unlikely that inflation would be higher than 2.0 per cent in June 2005 and expects it to fall to 1.0 per cent at the end of the year. The minister stressed that both the external and internal situation creates a favourite climate for the lowering of the inflation rate and added that according to him the zloty should rather strengthen than weaken itself. Gronicki upheld an earlier forecast of a 3 per cent GDP growth in the 2nd quarter of 2005 and noted that the economy is slowly accelerating.
Another group of soldiers off to Iraq
Bydgoszcz, June 30: A group of 170 soldiers from the Pomeranian Logistic Brigade attended a farewell ceremony in Bydgoszcz pending their departure to Iraq in the 5th shift of stabilization troops. The shift will number about 1,500 troops. The soldiers will be used in peacekeeping and stabilization missions in Iraq.
Warsaw, June 30: Fighting unemployment, economic growth, new investments and supportfor enterprise were the most frequent economic postulates forwarded by Poland's political parties at a Thursday politicians' meeting hosted by the Confederation of Polish Employers. The meeting, attended by representatives of Poland's leading political groupings, centred on measures to improve the economy and reform Poland's complicated tax system. Social-democracy for Poland (SdPl) leader Marek Borowski said curbing unemployment was the main political goal in Poland. He also proposed more aid for the SME market as a way to boost the economy and create more jobs. Waldemar Pawlak from the Polish Peasant Party (PSL) spoke out for more support of investment, education and construction. He also criticised postulates to cut taxes and impose a lump tax system.
Warsaw, June 30: A presidential proposal to establish the distinction in the form of a Cross of the Solidarity trade union aroused a heated controversy in the Sejm on Thursday. The project is supported by the Democratic Left Alliance SLD. Opposition parties are against quoting the trade union as saying that the parliament should rather commemorate the 25th anniversary
of the formation of the union by declaring August 31 the Solidarity Day.
Lodz, June 30: Italian capital and investment group Palladio has been holding talks with 18 Italian companies to invest in Lodz special economic zone to set up a group of White Goods producers there, zone manager Andrzej Osniecki told a news conference here Thursday. Osniecki added that Palladio, known on the Italian market is going to give financial guarantees and attract the Italian companies to the zone. According to Osniecki, first plants will be constructed in cooperation with Palladio at the end of next year. Lodz special economic zone was established on 1997. Between 1997 and 2003 43 licenses for operations were issued. Firms pledged to invest a total of 1.5 bn zlotys and employ 3.5 thousand people. In 2004 the zone issued successive 12 permits to such companies as Gilette, BSH, Merloni which plan to invest more than 1.2 bn zlotys and employ 2.5 thousand people.
1st Equal stage ends Friday
Warsaw, June 30: The 1st stage of the Equal Initiative, the European employment and social inclusion strategy ends on Friday with 107 projects fighting discrimination and inequality on the labour market being picked up. Also a joint strategy and a plan of actions at the national and supra-national level was adopted, Anna Przedrzymirska of the economy and labour ministry told PAP on Thursday. The 2nd stage of Equal, to last 33 months will start on July 1. It will be devoted to the testing of innovative solutions and developing international co-operation. The third and the last stage will start in 2006 and, as it was written in the ministry's statement, will be devoted to "promoting good practices, topical co-operation and the application of results to national and EU Policies." It will last till March 31, 2008. The projects were selected at the end of 2004. Their total value amounts to some 840 mn zlotys (252 mn USD). 75 percent will be allocated from the EU funds and 25 percent from the state budget.
Negative audit of PHARE 2000 and 2001
Warsaw, June 30: High training costs, low effectiveness and excessive participation of foreign firms in training schemes were the main objections against the implementation of PHARE 2000 and PHARE 2001 professional activation programmes in Poland voiced Thursday by the Supreme Auditing Board (NIK). From 2003 to 2004 alone the EU's 2000-launched PHARE 2000 and PHARE 2001 professional activation programmes helped retrain 78,000 Poles, including 37,300 unemployed and 31,000 company employees. NIK especially criticised the excessive share of foreign organizations in vocational training. According to the board training conducted by Polish firms would have cost four times less. Also judged as poor was the programmes' effectiveness. Only 17.6 percent of the participants found work after the courses and only 5.4 percent ventured out in business, NIK said. NIK blamed most of the mismanagement accompanying the PHARE schemes on the Ministry of Labour, the Office of the Committee for European Integration and the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development. PHARE 2000 and 2001 officially closed in 2005. Poland is currently receiving aid under the EU's Phare 2003 scheme.
Warsaw, June 30: The European Agency for the Management and Operational Cooperation at External Borders will start operations this fall, the agency executive director Ilkka Laitinen said in Warsaw on Thursday. Laitinen, vice-President of the European Commission Franco
Frattini and Luxembourg's Justice Minister Luc Frieden paid a visit to the agency on Thursday to adopt guidelines of the agency, approve its organisational structure and staff and budget policy, deputy Interior Minister Tadeusz Matusiak said. The agency, headquartered in Warsaw, will coordinate EU member-states actions aimed at managing its external borders, assist in training border guards and in expelling illegal immigrants.
Warsaw, June 30: A current account surplus in April was 537 million euros, compared with a 235 million euro surplus a month earlier, the National Bank of Poland announced on Thursday. The bank reported a negative balance of merchandise trade of 7 million euros against a deficit of 334 million euros in March. Exports, counted in euros, grew by 5.6 percent year-on-year while imports fell by 9.7 per cent. Meanwhile c/a surplus after the 1st quarter of 2005 reached 379 million euros against a 94 million euro surplus in the 4th quarter of 2004.
The merchandise trade gap fell to minus 315 million euros from a deficit of 1 billion and 15 million euros in the 4th quarter of last year.
Warsaw, June 30: From July 1 Poland's securities market will be conformant with simultaneously introduced EU directives despite parliament's failure to pass three bills streamlining Polish and EU legislation, Poland's Securities and Exchange Commission announced on its website. In July the EU will change rulings on the compilation of emission
prospectuses.In this situation we must consider applying European law and our current securities trading laws. This means European legislation will have priority over domestic laws, the Commission wrote. Under article 91 of the Polish Constitution EU laws have priority over Polish legislation in conformance cases.
Warsaw, June 30: Lotos SA Group has signed a contract for the delivery of 8.3 billion zlotys (2.4 million USD) worth of fuels to Statoil Polska in 2006-2010, Lotos announced in a Thursday press release. Lotos CEO Pawel Olechnowicz was quoted as saying that Lotos has been delivering fuels to Statoil since 2003. Olechnowicz said that the strategic cooperation of the two companies has been highly assessed by both sides and thus we have agreed on its continuation. Statoil had 220 petrol station in Poland at the end of 2004.
Centralwings, Ryanair present winter season offers
Warsaw, June 30: Low fares airline Centralwings on Thursday started to offer tickets for flights to five new cities - Dublin, Shannon, Edynburg, Grenoble and Milan.Centralwings is also introducing additional flights from Warsaw and Cracow to London-Gatwick.Meanwhile, competing Ryanair announced the sale of its tickets for the winter season. The airline offers flights to London-Stansted from seven Polish cities. Additionally it offers flights from Gdansk and Rzeszow to Frankfurt-Hahn.
Leuk, June 30: Polish writer Adam Zagajewski and German authoress Barbara Honigmann will receive the annual literary Spycher Literature Prize, the Swiss-based Castle Leuk Foundation announced Thursday. Each year the prize awarded to two writers offers them a five-year free stay in Castle Leuk, Canton of Valais. The ceremony of awarding the prize will take place in the Castle Leuk on September 11. Adam Zagajewski (b.1945 in Lvov) a poet, essayist and novelist, is one of the best known and respected Polish contemporary authors
abroad. His works have been published in the USA, France, Israel, Germany and Sweden.
"Swirling" festival to promote Central European theatre
Warsaw, June 30: The first edition of a new festival "Swirling" (Zawirowania) designed to promote dance theatres from central Europe, including the Czech Republic, Slowakia and Hungary is to be held in Warsaw this weekend.The festival will be inaugurated between July 1 and 3 by the Hungarian troupe Two in One presenting a project "Dialogues and Dances". The troupe was set up in 1996 by Austria's Michaela Pein and Akos Hargitay of Hungary. The Slovak Dance Studio of Banska Bystrica comes with the production titled "Aina for 5 Singles" and Tanec Praha of the Czech Republic will show "Vibrations." Poland's reputed Polski Teatr Tanca of Poznan will also perform. The second stage of the festival will take place in September with more performances and dance workshops and classes in the programme.
Based on the service of the Polish Press Agency (PAP)
More information is available at the website– http://www.pap.com.pl