PM Kaczynski denied meeting with President Bush

Warsw Business Journal ^ | 1st September 2006

[lizol]

PM Kaczynski denied meeting with President Bush

From Poland A.M.

PM Jaroslaw Kaczynski will make his first visit to Washington On September 13 where he will meet with vice president Dick Cheney, secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, the chairman of House of Representatives and the head of the Energetics Department.

He will not, however, be meeting with President Bush. Polish diplomats have attempted to set up a meeting with the US President. US officials have explained that he simply has no time due to the upcoming 9/11 anniversary, November election campaign and ONZ's general assembly.

Former Polish PM Leszek Miller and Marek Belka both met with president Bush in the White House. Nicholas Rey, the former US ambassador in Warsaw says that this is an example of the Bush administration's attitude to foreign relations. When the US needed Poland there was no problem arranging such meetings.

During Kaczynski's visit the Americans will hear Poland's evaluation of the situation in the Ukraine and talks will probably also concern Poland's involvement in missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon. (Gazeta Wyborcza p.10) M.M.

[lizol]

According to today's Polish newspapers vice-President Dick Cheney probably will not meet PM Jaroslaw Kaczynski either.

[lizol]

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[Gay State Conservative]

I'm no expert on diplomacy,but it seems to me that Poland has been,and is,a reliable ally.If this is true,I would think that Bush could find time to meet their PM.

We can't afford to diss our allies..particularly now that it's very un-chic to be an ally of the US.

[somemoreequalthanothers]

That's what I thought, one of the few allies that stuck by us through the entire Iraq deal and they snub them. That sucks, if true. Me being half Polish has a little to do with it as well.

[Gay State Conservative]

Sorry,lizol,I didn't realize that you were Polish.I hope that the Polish people don't interpret this as a sign of disrespect from the US.

Many here recognize that Eastern Europe has had a very difficult time over the last 70 years or so.Having so recently suffered oppression,Poland and her neighbors are acutely aware of how dangerous the world can be and,as a result,understand that there are forces even today that must be overcome...islam being one,but only one,of them.

[lizol]

The Prime Minister Kaczynski is going to give a lecture at the Heritage Foundation during that visit.

The Fall of Post-Communism: Transformation in Central and Eastern Europe

Date: September 14, 2006
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Speaker(s): His Excellency Jaroslaw Kaczynski
Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland

Note: A simultaneous English translation will be available for our Auditorium guests.

Host(s): Phillip N. Truluck
Executive Vice President,
The Heritage Foundation


Details:
Location: The Heritage Foundation's Allison Auditorium

Jaros³aw Kaczynski was appointed Prime Minister of Poland in July of this year. He was born in 1949, graduated from Warsaw University and holds a Ph.D. in Law. In the early 1970s he was involved in the dissident movement and cooperated with the Workers' Defense Committee (KOR). He was a member of the underground authorities of the Independent Trade Union NSZZ Solidarnosc. In 1989-1990, he served as the chief editor of the weekly newspaper Tygodnik Solidarnosc. During the first free elections in 1989, he was elected as a Senator representing the Citizen's Parliamentary Party (OKP). He represented Solidarnosc in negotiations to form the government headed by Tadeusz Mazowiecki. He served as Deputy to the Sejm for the years 1991-1993, 1997-2001, 2001-2005; and he was Head of the Chancellery of the President Lech Walesa in 1990-1992. He was Founder and Chairman of the "Centrum Agreement" Party in 1990-1998, then in 2001 co-founder of the Law and Justice Party (PiS). In 2003 he was elected Chairman of PiS, succeeding his brother, Lech Kaczynski. In September 2005 he was re-elected to the Polish Parliament.

http://author.heritage.org/Press/Events/ev091406a.cfm

I'll tell you, that if this information given in the above article turns out to be true - I'll feel very, I mean very disappointed.

And I don't suppose I'll be the only one in Poland with such a feeling.

[Heatseeker]

I haven't got a drop of Polish blood in my veins, and I think it's flat-out stupid of this administration.

[ccmay]

I want to know what the hell they are thinking in Washington. This snub of a major ally is a very poor idea. I suspect it is due to bad advice from the striped-pants cucumber-sandwich-eating termites in the State Department.

-ccm

[livius]

Especially after they approved Kahmeni's grand tour.

[Cicero]

This is very, very stupid, especially after Poland offended the French and the other Old Europeans by supporting the US.

It's also very, very stupid to do this just at the time when the Polish government is being bashed by the EU for being openly Christian. You don't treat your friends like this, especially when they have put themselves out and made themselves unpopular for you.

[lizol]

I know, I know.

That's why I'm really surprised with this information.

As far as I've read - PM Kaczynski wanted to emphasize during this visit ideological links between our countries, both supporting conservative, traditional values.

That's why I find this situation very surprising.
Especially, that Poland really needs support in relation to this issue.

EU knocks Poland's Christian values

[bruinbirdman]

"I'll feel very, I mean very disappointed."

These visits are all set up in advance, including itinerary. There is no snub.

Does GW get no break, even from his supporters?

yitbos

[capydick]

This is a mistake. Poland has been a reliable ally of the US going from the days of our revolution up to and including Operation Iraqi Freedom. I would think the President or VP could carve an hour out of the day to show our appreciation.

[lizol]

You know, Poland doesn't have good publicity in the western MSM recently.

We are conservative, not gay friendly, pro-US, pro-life, Christian and so on, and so on.

In this situation - what the hell to meet such a guy for???

BIG SARCASM, of course.

[Asfarastheeastisfromthewest...]

One hates to see something that looks like a snub to an ally - but my guess is that the logistics of it said that the itinerary was full and couldn't be altered. Too bad but one can't be in two places at the same time. More planning and time needed next time.

[Gay State Conservative]

These visits are all set up in advance, including itinerary. There is no snub.Does GW get no break, even from his supporters?

As I said earlier,I know very little about international "diplomacy".But I must ask....when the President/PM of a friendly country makes an official visit here,is it customary (or even essential) that the President should meet with that leader?

If so,why can't Bush find time to meet with the Polish PM? Poland is an ally! Granted that Bush is busy with 9/11 but why,for example,couldn't Bush bring the Polish PM with him to NYC?

If he can travel with the Japanese PM to Graceland,he can share the podium at Ground Zero with the leader of another staunch ally!

Just my 2c worth.

[goldstategop]

Stupid, stupid, stupid! Why we would alienate one of our best friends in Europe is beyond me, considering Poland is led by a conservative government. I don't buy the President's BS. What's the REAL reason he doesn't want to meet with Prime Minister Kaczynski?

(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )

[Lukasz]

Wait till he will visit US, actually this is story from GW, certainly not trustful source.

[isom35]

if only Kaczynski were both chinese and communist, then Bush would find the time.

[ccmay]

These visits are all set up in advance, including itinerary. There is no snub.

Yes, and Bush has the power to change them with a wave of his hand. F**k the simpering courtiers and their precious schedules and plans. Who's in charge in down there anyway?

Perception is reality in the modern world. This is not going to be perceived well on the streets of our greatest friend in Eastern Europe. This is a stupid, stupid move, and if Bush's lickspittles can't do better than this then he should invite them to leave and never return.

-ccm