Posted on 12/20/2004 11:18:02 AM PST by Grzegorz 246
WARSAW (AFP) - Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka is to pay a Christmas visit to Polish troops stationed in Afghanistan (news - web sites) and Iraq (news - web sites) this week, unofficial sources said. Belka "will go to Afghanistan and then Iraq. He will also go to the Balkans, either to Kosovo or Bosnia," the sources said.
The trip was not immediately confirmed by official sources.
Instead a defence ministry statement said Belka will "Tuesday and Wednesday go to the Middle East and Balkans," adding he would be accompanied by Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski.
A contingent of 120 Polish soldiers are deployed in Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). There are also Polish troops in Kosovo and Bosnia-Hercegovina.
Some 2,400 Polish troops are also deployed in Iraq. Poland, a close US ally in the conflict in Iraq, said last week that it was cutting the number of its troops to 1,700 after the Iraaqi elections due on January 30.
Some 700 other soldiers based in Poland have been put on reserve to be sent to Iraq if needed.
Wouldn't it be a nice present if Bush could make a surprise visit for Christmas to both places? Our troops would just love it!
This is a great thing for the PM to do. I think it is a marvelous morale booster.
In recognition of the support of the Polish people, I gave Polish Pottery as Christmas gifts this year. I think I might even make it a tradition.
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