Swearing in the twin

Poland is trying to become a major power that Europe will reckon with, and Warsaw will be doing its best to achieve this goal. This conclusion stems from the maiden speech of Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski whom parliament confirmed in office on the proposal of his twin brother President Lech Kaczynski by 240 votes to 205. Addressing the Sejm, the new head of the Polish government outlined the principles and priorities of domestic and foreign policy.

The prime minister announced that Warsaw wants to increase its role in the European Union. “We want to take part in processes that will help overcome the current constitutional crisis in the EU.” He also emphasized that the European community should not only expand but also allow new member states to become more involved in the EU’s real decision-making mechanisms.

“In this respect we are going to use our own position, and we will also turn to our Weimar Triangle partners (Germany, Poland, France) and the Visegrad Four (Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland).” In his view, Warsaw should have an opportunity within the EU framework to consider decisions that concern Poland’s specific historical and geopolitical situation, for example, energy security, culture, and traditions. Poland has already raised the question of establishing an “energy NATO.”

The Polish prime minister told parliamentarians that he cannot imagine a future EU without Ukraine as a member. “It is a question of the Union’s cohesion and security, and if Ukraine becomes part of the EU, then such an enlargement can be surely called an enlargement of the decision-making area.” He also emphasized the necessity of establishing equally good relations with Poland’s eastern neighbors, including Russia. “There has been much evil but also much good” in Polish-Russian relations. Kaczynski would like their closeness to be felt more clearly and for evil to disappear over time.

Prime Minister Kaczynski also broached the subject of cooperation between Poland and NATO, especially the US, the alliance’s leading member. He noted that this alliance is being strengthened by means of joint operations in Iraq and other places. He admitted that the war in Iraq is controversial, but he reiterated that Poles should continue to be part of the US- and British-led coalition.

In his opinion, the problems in this region must be resolved some day. So there can be no question of “desertion.” “Poland is not a country of deserters, and the Polish people are not deserters,” Kaczynski emphasized. Further cooperation with NATO will allow Poland to rationalize defense expenditures and modernize its armed forces.

Can the new prime minister affect relations between Poland and Ukraine? What effect will the comeback of Viktor Yanukovych as Ukraine’s prime minister have on Ukrainian-Polish relations? In the following interview Polish international affairs columnist Jerzy-Marek Nowakowski discusses these questions.