Posted on 10/30/2006 6:46:40 AM PST by twinself
Mr Kaczynski is expected to raise two issues souring ties - a gas pipeline that bypasses his country, and WWII-era claims by Germans against Poland.
Mr Kaczynski told the German daily Bild he hoped "misunderstandings" between Berlin and Warsaw could be ironed out.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it was time to bury wartime grievances.
"After all the pain Germany inflicted on Poland during the Nazi era, after all the years of separation, we at last have a chance to take Europe into the future together," she said at the weekend.
However, the bitter legacy of the war is still afflicting relations.
Warsaw has objected strongly to an exhibition in Berlin that highlights the plight of Germans expelled by Poland after World War II, and to recent reparation claims made by Germans against Poland.
Poland suffered horrifically at the hands of the Nazis and Mr Kaczynski is sensitive to any attempts by Germans to portray themselves as victims, says the BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw.
The prime minister told Bild that "Germany should renounce all claims once and for all".
Energy troubles
The two countries have also recently fallen out over energy security.
The Polish government was incensed when it was not consulted about Germany and Russia's decision to build a gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea, bypassing Poland.
"Poland must not get into a situation in which neighbouring states exert pressure on us with the lever of energy," Mr Kaczynski said.
Mrs Merkel made conciliatory noises over the weekend, describing the visit as "symbolic of how we should develop our relations" as good neighbours in the European Union.
Mr Kaczynski's arrival in Germany - his first since he became prime minister - was marked with military honours.
ping!
Most Poles that I met did not like the Germans, but they hated the Russians even more.
Most Poles I know definitely don't like Putin but have nothing against common Russians or Germans. German and Russian animosities are thing of the past. Atl least for the time being ;).
"With the Nazis, we lose our lives. With the Russians we lose our souls." - General Anders to General Patton.
I'd hate to be in the role of Mrs. Merkel.
Her predecessor made a deal with russia and now she has to explain why he didn't ask poland.
There's so much cooperation of poland and germany on the business side - so many polish students on german universities - prosperity and trust is programmed. Now kaszinski is playing the good ol' hate the neighbour card to trump his inner political near defeat. So sad.
I believe the poles will teach him manners.
Acting according your interest doesn't mean "hate the neighbour" policy. Besides if you asked public opinion in Germany they'd hate Poles more often and would have much more negative views on their Eastern neighbours than the people on the other side of Odra river.
You must know that Kaczynski's views on Germany in regards to the issues like: Baltic pipe, expulsions' center or compensation for WW2 victims are shared by vast majority of Poles. So it's not that his support is thin - another guy from PO (Civic Platform) or post-commie would do exectly the same but with better looks.
Simply some problems between our nations had been swept under the rug for many decades and only now can be discussed openly. It is not a reason to turn your head away from them.
Realistically Germany could win much in Polish politicians by playing right accords in historical policy and foreign relations. Something Russia could never do and what could go through the mouths of a German politician very easily (like closing ridicule issue of compensations or stressing German-US alliance).
In truth Poland is too weak to play an important role in the East without the support of EU (especially Germany). And Germany is too weak to be a global player as Russia would want it to be.
Cold-blooded business approach Merkel is showing is fair enough for me but then I wouldn't expect trust and understanding from Polish political class on EU solidarity.
There's not really a negative image of poland where I live.
That changed when farmers where interviewed that had polish harvest helpers substituted by german unemployed. The later used to fail in short time because tehy didn't like the work.
So there's an image of hard working people.
On the other side there are a lot of your people on german universities - and they are not lazy or stupid either.
Then there's that tendency of german industry to invest inpoland and be successful there (VW, Pfleiderer etc.)
I've not heard a polish car theft joke in the last years.
Maybe (I don't know) there's more suspicious looks in the areas around the border though.
I share your view that discussions and friction are a sign of a new won freedom. We must pay attention though that this doesn't poison our mutual trust (there is a lot of it compared to earlier times) because it's the soil our societies are growing on - either one beeing to small to be heard in the world.
I just don't understand the point on this pipeline. Germany decided to do the deal with the russians while poland decided to be very strict and anti-russia. Now that contracts are signed there's people demanding their share of what looks like a good deal on cheap energy. Well - you can't have the cake and eat it.
Criticizing germany for it's stance on Iraq is allowed - as it was for us to say no to the rules of engagement in iraq.
So it's about not beeing in the project... but that's what you got !?
Yes. So what? The project itself creates strategic danger for Poland. Now whether Russians like it or not they can only provide NG to German friends via Polish territory. With Baltic pipe it'll change and Polish "brothers" could be easily switched off if they were not obediant to Russian "brothers". Knowing it all Schroeder and now Merkel (even after Ukrainian incidents) chose benefit. I could not blame them. They acted in their country's interest. Whether it was your best understood interest - time will tell. Anyway message for Poland's clear and for some people historically obvious - within EU or not you guys take care for yourself on your own. I am not a EU fan. For me trusting in some European solidarity was stupid on the part of some Polish politicians. Poland should be truly independent country - that's why we need not only nuke energy but shortly after also nuke weapons just like our long forgotten brothers in Israel.
Kaczynski to Germans: Tough Shitski.
So it's polands right to control imports of gas to germany ?
Hardly.
So your plan is not to live like switzerland or ireland but more like north korea ?
Well if that's freedom the world is a disc.
Don't get me wrong but all this "don't trust the EU,UN Germany" stuff is good and well and noone can be forced to do so - but if you don't trust anybody you're not doing business at all.
Objectively speaking for now it has. Of course we're not so civilized as Gasputin crew and don't use pipes as pressure tools in foreign politics.
Twin,
I can only very hardly believe that a free market company would limit it's contractual regulated exports to poland just because russia wants poland to obey it's orders.
In the case of ukraine the russians lowered the gas pressure in a pipeline through a land that took considerable more gas out of that pipeline then it was agreed on or paid for and that was after this country didn't want to pay market prices but only the highly reduced prices they used to get as a part of a communistic country.
Now the ukraine sold some steel plants to mittal steal of india and these guys consumed the gas that was subsidized by the russian state - you can hardly hold it against russia that they where unwilling to continue that.
Certainly in other questions (like the one of belarus or kasachstan) russia shows some straight forward support for dictatorship but I wouldn't guess Russia would be able to do that to poland. With or without that pipe.
Make Poland strong and independant - look at estonia, switzerland or sweden. There's many ways to go there - but you need to trust people to get there - much more then you need nukes.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.