BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

04/08/2008

The Belarusian opposition calls on Polish Solidarity leader Lech Walesa to host their round-table talks

Press reviewed by Aleksander Kropiwnicki

Leaders of the Belarusian anti-totalitarian opposition have prepared a proposal for President Aleksander Lukashenka: the national round table. As DZIENNIK informs, the democratic politicians want Lech Walesa, the Polish Solidarity icon and former president of Poland, to run the negotiations. Mr. Walesa should be our mediator and the head of our round table, they say. Mr. Lukashenka, being stuck between the Russian economic pressure and Western political boycott, is expected to consider the offer seriously. Is Lech Walesa ready to play his role in Belarus? 'I can persuade Lukashenka to accept the round table,' he says. In 1983, Walesa was bestowed with the Nobel Prize for his peaceful fight against the then Communist regime in Poland.

Is Poland losing Ukraine as its main Eastern partner? Poland's conservative opposition accuses the liberal government of downgrading contacts with Ukraine. In his article printed by the FAKT daily, former conservative deputy foreign minister Pawel Kowal points out that the main goal of the Polish government is to oppose conservative President Lech Kaczynski wherever it's possible, which also concerns Poland's foreign policy. The liberal government puts Russia ahead of Ukraine. At the same time main European figures have already announced the Ukrainian EU membership in the future - something Poland hasn't dared to mention, writes Mr. Kowal.

Mr. Kowal is not right, writes Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, Polish liberal MEP, in his article printed by the same newspaper. After numerous warm declarations about Ukraine, delivered by numerous Polish governments, this cabinet has decided to act, and to do it fast. Warsaw is now active in building the common Eastern policy of the European Union. Poland's hard work inside the EU obviously pays. If the EU is now changing its attitude, becoming more convinced that, one day, Ukraine can be accepted as a member state, Poland should celebrate, writes the politician.

Poles are getting rich, unfortunately, writes RZECZPOSPOLITA. As the newspaper informs, five Polish provinces can lose money from European funds soon, due to their economic progress. So far, all Polish regions are considered to be poor enough to receive financial aid from the EU budget. However, after 2013, when the new European budget is introduced, Western and Central Poland may turn out to be too wealthy to be supported. As for Eastern part of the country, much poorer and less developed, it can still count on further financial aid. 'We are proud of our fast development but, on the other hand, it means a real challenge,' says a Polish expert quoted by the newspaper.

Source:

http://www.polskieradio.pl/zagranica/news/artykul88466_Monday_press.html

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