Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland
Why East European
Leaders Have Issued a Plea to Mr. Obama
"We
aren't against renegotiating the agreement on the anti-missile shield
installation. They [the U.S.] can even include the Russians, but the must have regard
for Poland and its other partners. Nothing that involves us without us."
-- Polish Foreign Minister Adam D. Rotfeld
Interview with Foreign Minister Adam D.
Rotfeld
Conducted By Paweł
Wroński
Translated By Halszka
Czarnocka
July 17, 2009
Poland - Gazeta Wyborcza - Original Article (Polish)
GAZETA WYBORCZA: You authored a study that became the basis for an appeal of distinguished
European politicians to President Barack Obama. Last Thursday it was presented
at a conference in Washington. Are relations between Central and Eastern Europe
and the U.S. so poor that we need to appeal for their improvement?
Polish Foreign Minister Adam D. Rotfeld: First of all, I am just one of six authors from nations
in Central Eastern Europe. A few months ago, we decided to focus on the
relationship between our part of Europe and the United States. In early July,
the idea emerged to rework our report into a letter to be presented to
President Barack Obama. It is not about making an appeal, but about signaling
certain problems.
After 20 years of change,
initiated in Poland by the Round Table talks
[1989 negotiations between the Communist Party and the Solidarity movement] and
the first non-communist government, and after its entry into NATO and the
European Union, not only the situation in the countries in our part of Europe have
changed. The way we are viewed from across the Atlantic has changed, too. The
United States has a global political perspective. From their point of view, the
problems are in Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Korea, and the Middle East. Europe,
particularly Central and Eastern Europe, have ceased to be a problem. We became
a “normal” part of the world, which also equals less interest. And in our
societies, this is perceived as a snub.
GAZETA
WYBORCZA: So we've become victims of
our own success. Should we be disillusioned by this?
Adam D. Rotfeld: That's not the point. At a time when many political problems are
trivialized; what we want to do is initiate a debate about U.S. relations with Central
and Eastern Europe. The truth is that our part of Europe does have problems, of
a different nature than years ago, but problems nonetheless. They are matters related,
on one hand, to the economic crisis, and on the other, restructuring transatlantic
institutions, like, for example, the new strategic concept of NATO. In addition,
there is a certain nervousness evident among smaller NATO members when they
contemplate [Russia's] conflict with Georgia.
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It's also important that the U.S.
government reach out to a new generation of politicians. These are people who don’t
remember totalitarianism, don’t remember the years of fighting for freedom. This
freedom - they simply have and always have had. Therefore, their approach is
different to certain problems. We want our policies to continue to be based on
values that were important to the previous generation.
GAZETA WYBORCZA: Barack
Obama himself belongs to this new generation. What is that "difference"
you speak of?
Adam D. Rotfeld: I’ll give you an example. There are many politicians, particularly
among the younger generation, who treat the matter of the energy supply exclusively
in terms of business. Somebody has a financial interest to sell, somebody else
to buy. But from our point of view, the issue of the energy supply isn't just a
matter of business; it's an issue of national sovereignty.
This letter is not an expression
of frustration. There are great hopes riding on this new American
administration. Our relationship with the United States is of tremendous value and
must be protected and nurtured.
GAZETA WYBORCZA: Our “privileged” relationship with the United States is a result of the
fact that some European countries didn't share American ideas in Iraq.
Adam D. Rotfeld: We aren't disappointed that today Europe has a common position (...) I don't remember hearing Polish expressions of satisfaction about the situation back then. That was not the case. I myself spoke of how horrible it would be if Poland
had to choose between the United States and the European Union.
GAZETA WYBORCZA: In the text of the letter, there is a passage that
says the
anti-missile shield issue could be a litmus test of U.S. intentions toward this
part of Europe. After President Obama’s visit in Moscow in which he was trying to
improve relations, this sounds like apprehension - even a reproach.
Adam D. Rotfeld: This isn't the case. We would like the United States treat its
partners seriously, regardless of whether this installation has any military
significance. On this point we all agree, although the authors of the report
have different views on the question of the shield, and there's no consensus on
the issue among the nations of Central Eastern Europe.
Nevertheless, we all assume
that the promises that were made should be kept. We aren't against
renegotiating the agreement on the installation. They [the U.S.] can even
include the Russians, but they must have regard for Poland and its other
partners. Nothing that involves us should be done without us.
I think if such a
global system were to be created, it would be best to include Russia. But
there's the matter of additional commitments on the part of the U.S. - the
installation in Poland of Patriot
missile batteries. We all know it has no true military significance, but
there is a symbolic significance. We know it - and the Americans and Russians
know it. But the more symbolic such a commitment is, the more one needs to
comply with it.
GAZETA WYBORCZA: How does the U.S. administration show that it attaches importance to
relations with Central and Eastern Europe? Through a visit from President
Obama?
Posted
by WORLDMEETS.US
Adam D. Rotfeld: That would be nice, but I wouldn't put too much weight on this type of
event, which is a kind of political PR. What we have to do is stop the erosion
of relations with the United States on lower levels. For instance, at the level
of relations between institutions - human relations. Look, for some time Poland
has been bumped to the category of “other” country, and many fellowship
programs have been suspended. Young Poles now go to study in France, Germany
and Great Britain.
Another issue is the matter
of visas. I understand that for some time in Poland, the problem has stopped
being of great interest to the public, because Poles simply go elsewhere - so
this humiliating situation continues. I understand why we've grown
disinterested in this, but it pains me that the U.S. administration is so
indifferent and isn't doing more to change it.
GAZETA
WYBORCZA: Last Thursday President
Lech Kaczyński endorsed the ideas expressed in the letter.
Adam D. Rotfeld: I am very pleased with this. The Washington conference was chaired on
Thursday evening by a well-known friend of Poland, Ron Asmus [of the
German Marshall Fund], whose knowledge of Polish politics was recently
acknowledged by the President, without even knowing him personally. Asmus said that
he would like to meet the President over dinner. I hope that happens one day.
CLICK HERE FOR POLISH VERSION
[Posted
by WORLDMEETS.US July 19, 5:49pm]
