Tomaszewski: The correct rhetoric is the most important

Politicians of both countries are responsible for Polish-Lithuanian relations, said Waldemar Tomaszewski, MEP and leader of the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania. According to Tomaszewski, solving the problems of national minorities does not necessarily have to lead to automatic improvement in relations between countries.

Tomaszewski told reporters that: “It’s hard to say, because I cannot speak for the authorities of my country. This autumn a new parliament will be chosen, but the presidential term of office will last a few years more. International relations depend on the mutual relationship, on contacts between politicians, yet these relations can go wrong. One irresponsible statement and… it’s difficult for me to say anything.”

Tomaszewski believes that, rejecting the problems of national minorities and personal attitudes of individual politicians, there are still economic relations. In this field positions of the countries are often similar. An important role in mutual relations, according to Tomaszewski, plays the rhetoric; therefore, it’s important to choose the words carefully.

„Sometimes, there are some problems on the way, and the relations are not entirely correct, but the correct rhetoric is the most important. No hasty statements should be made. Grybauskaitė in Chicago announced that Poland chose Russia as a friend, and everyone wondered what does this statement mean.” – explained the MEP.

According to Tomaszewski, during the Lithuania’s presidency in the European Union in 2013, the careful rhetoric will be an especially important aspect. “It will be a great challenge and it will not be easy.” – said the politician.

Source:  http://pl.delfi.lt/aktualia/litwa/tomaszewski-najwazniejsza-jest-poprawna-retoryka.d?id=59002279

Tłumaczenie Ewelina Zarembska w ramach praktyk w Europejskiej Fundacji Praw Człowieka, www.efhr.eu. Translated by Ewelina Zarembska within the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights, www.efhr.eu.