- August 6, 2012
- 437
Komorowski: the problems concerning minorities should not be carried over into the security policy.
In an interview for Wprost magazine, Polish President, Bronisław Komorowski, said that a firm stance should be adopted in relations with Lithuania. The Polish president is strongly against political interference into military cooperation.
The President is of the opinion that Lithuania has not fulfilled all the obligations with respect to the Polish minority. „Under the Polish-Lithuanian Friendship Treaty signed in 1994, Lithuania promised, among other things, to introduce Polish spelling of surnames. I’m a realist – things will not be resolved on their own. We need to adopt a firm stance. Everybody remembers that two days prior to the Smoleńsk plane crash Polish President was met with an affront. Lithuania made promises that the visit of the Polish President to Vilnius would facilitate the country’s implementation of the treaty. However, it turned out later that at the time of the President’s visit, the Lithuanian Parliament rejected the bill on Polish spelling of surnames” – Komorowski said.
According to the President, political relations between countries should be shaped in a way that assures mutual satisfaction. „What do I suggest? A policy package should be adopted, with the principle of mutual benefits in mind.”
When asked about Poland’s pulling out of NATO Air Policing mission, he flatly denied such a possibility. „No. On the contrary, I have acted in support of my country’s participation in this mission. The problems concerning minorities should not be carried over into NATO security policy” – the President stressed.
Tłumaczenie Katarzyna Różańska w ramach praktyk w Europejskiej Fundacji Praw Człowieka, www.efhr.eu. Translated by Katarzyna Różańska within the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights, www.efhr.eu.
