Posted on 11/26/2008 12:15:46 PM PST by lizol
Poland, Georgia fates linked vs Russia--Kaczynski
26 Nov 2008 14:31:10 GMT
Source: Reuters
WARSAW, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Poland must stand firm with Georgia in its conflict with Russia because the two countries' fates are intertwined, the leader of Poland's main opposition party and twin brother of its president said on Wednesday.
Jaroslaw Kaczynski was defending a decision by Polish President Lech Kaczynski to join Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili on a trip last Sunday to the de facto border between Georgia and breakaway South Ossetia, which is backed by Moscow.
The two presidents' convoy came under fire in an incident both men have blamed on Russian forces. Moscow denies any involvement. Some Polish newspapers have branded Kaczynski's trip to the South Ossetian border area as irresponsible.
"There's a link between Polish and Georgian independence. Only a complete idiot can fail to see that," Jaroslaw Kaczynski, a former prime minister and leader of the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, told reporters.
"It is in Polish interests to prevent a restoration of the Russian empire," he said.
President Kaczynski, a conservative nationalist, emerged as Tbilisi's strongest European ally during the five-day war between Russia and Georgia in August over South Ossetia, rushing to the ex-Soviet republic to underline Polish solidarity.
Kaczynski has also urged the European Union to take a tougher stance on what he has branded "Russian imperialism".
Many Poles are deeply suspicious of Russia, which helped carve up their country in the 18th century and again dominated it during the communist period after World War Two.
Poland's centre-right government, which has been more circumspect in its criticism of Russian actions in Georgia, is conducting an investigation into last Sunday's incident.
Courage.
My suspicion is that our incoming Obama administration will leave Poland to its own devices; Obama will see a resurgent Russia as the natural order of things. If Russian influence and intimidation increases in eastern Europe or even in western Europe Obama will not consider that to be a matter of interest.
I believe Obama’s primary interests are remaking domestic US law and policy; I don’t think he is interested in foreign policy particularly and particularly not interested in Europe, except in terms of treaties or agreements that will limit our economic liberty. He will want to put US foreign policy under UN supervision as much as possible.
It won’t work, but that will be his aim.
I am expecting that while Obama is in office Poland will be very much on its own. I hope I am wrong, but I don’t think I am wrong.
pinging you to this thread.
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