Posted on 02/08/2006 7:58:24 AM PST by Lukasz
WARSAW, Poland -- Poland's new president - a conservative former Solidarity activist jailed by communists in the 1980s - heads to Washington on Wednesday for talks with President George W. Bush on NATO's future and US-Polish trade.
Kaczynski, whose opposition to abortion and gay marriage gives him some common ideological ground with Bush, took over in December from former communist Aleksander Kwasniewski, who had served the maximum two five-year terms.
He meets Thursday with Bush for formal talks and a working lunch, and is also to see Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other officials.
Kaczynski told The Associated Press in an interview before his departure that the meetings will focus on military and political issues such as hopes for further NATO expansion and that Poland hopes to see Ukraine join the alliance in 2008.
"The main issue of the talks will be related to our political-military alliance, NATO, the enlargement of NATO," Kaczynski, 56, said in the interview on Tuesday. "Poland is very deeply interested in Ukraine joining NATO. We would very much like that to happen in 2008."
Kaczynski also indicated that Poland, which is a key U.S. ally in Iraq, might consider expanding its mission past the end of 2006, though he stressed that would call for a formal decision and that he "could not imagine" staying beyond 2007.
"I have said a number of times that staying beyond 2006 is subject to consideration," Kaczynski said, adding no decision has been made.
He also said he would use the visit to tell U.S. leaders that Poland hopes to intensify trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, noting that his country has much to offer in several areas, including heavy industry, food and metals.
"We are No. 60 for the U.S. in terms of economic exchange, but this seems to be too low," he said. "Poland is not 60th in the world, but much higher."
Kaczyznski is one half of an unusual power duo, since his identical twin brother, Jaroslaw, heads their Law and Justice party that won parliamentary elections in September. Jaroslaw pulled back as a candidate for prime minister to help Lech win the October presidential poll; they feared voters would reject having twins in the two top jobs.
The two first won fame as child stars in a popular film, "Two Who Stole the Moon," but that was the end of their film career. Both served as advisers to Solidarity and its leader Lech Walesa in the struggle against Soviet-backed communist rule, which collapsed in 1989-90. Lech Kaczynski, a lawyer, was jailed by communist authorities under martial law during the 1980s.
Kaczynski also plans a trip to Chicago during his four-day trip to meet with members of the large Polish-American community there.
A big American welcome to our friend and ally. :0)
Welcome to the US. I hope you enjoy your stay. :)
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