Prime Minister Donald Tusk: He and Polish leaders of all

stripes ‘expect’ an Obama apology.

 

 

Prime Minister Tusk Tells Obama: ‘These Words Very Deeply Hurt All Poles’ (Rzeczpospolita, Poland)

 

“We cannot accept such words, even if spoken by the leader of a friendly power. … We always react the same way when ignorance, a lack of knowledge, or ill-will lead to such distortions of history, which are so especially painful for us in Poland, a country that suffered during World War II like no other in Europe. For Poles … this is something that we cannot remain indifferent to.”

 

-- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk

 

Translated By Agnieszka Gosiewska

 

May 30, 2012

 

Poland – Rzeczpospolita – Original Article (Polish)

Former Polish resistance fighter Dr. Jan Karski, in a file photo from 1995: In a gesture that was in part meant to further cement Polish-American relations, in awarding Dr. Karski with a postumous Presidential Medal of Freedom, President Obama made a gaffe that may cause significant damage to relations - unless he quickly apologizes, according to Wes Mitchell, president of the Center for European Policy Analysis. NEW YORK FINANCIAL PRESS VIDEO: Obama's comments at Medal of Freedom ceremony stir trouble with Poland, May 22, 00:02:55

Prime Minister Donald Tusk said today that the U.S. president’s comment in regard to a “Polish death camp” very deeply hurt all Poles.”

 

Expectations toward friends

 

“We always react the same way when ignorance, a lack of knowledge, or ill-will lead to such distortions of history, which are so especially painful for us in Poland, a country that suffered during World War II like no other in Europe. For Poles … this is something that we cannot remain indifferent to,” Mr. Tusk said.

 

“Here in Poland, we cannot accept such words, even if spoken by the leader of a friendly power,’ the Polish prime minister said. 

 

He added: “We expect integrity, due diligence and respect from our friends on issues as important as the memory of the Second World War.”

 

“When it comes to Polish-American ties, friendly respect for the smaller partner should be the most prominent mark of the relationship,’ he noted.

 

At a ceremony to posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Dr. Jan Karski's, the U.S. president used the term "Polish death camp" to refer to a Nazi facility located in Poland.

 

 

SEE ALSO ON THIS:

Rzeczpospolita, Poland: Obama’s ‘Death Camp’ Gaffe Has Done Poland a Favor

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland: ‘Polish’ Concentration Camps: ‘Major Blunder for Obama’
Telegraph, U.K.: Obama Insults 38 million Poles with Crass Remark

Daily Mail, U.K.: Aide Apologises Obama's Calling Death Camp 'Polish'

 

 

Komorowski addressed a letter

 

Presidential Office spokesperson Joanna Trzaska-Wieczorek said today that President Bronisław Komorowski has sent a letter to the U.S. President Barack Obama in connection to Obama’s statement, in which he called a Nazi facility in Poland a “Polish death camp.”

Posted by Worldmeets.US

 

Trzaska-Wieczorek told reporters that the Foreign Ministry would reveal the contents of the letter at a later date.

 

“The contents of the letter - I think - will soon be released to the media; we ask for just a little patience,” Trzaska-Wieczorek added.

 

The Presidential Office spokesperson said that the letter would be published on the president’s Web site.

 

Polish politicians, including Kopacz Marshal and former President Lech Walesa, expect an apology from the U.S. president.

 

Foreign Minister Sikorski expects a response

 

Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski thanked President Obama for honoring Jan Karski with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and said he hoped the United States would respond to the appeals of Polish authorities.

 

“We hope that the United States will find a way to respond to appeals from the prime minister and the president of the Republic of Poland, so that these unfortunate words can be a starting point for a joint educational effort aimed at global public opinion about the role of Poland during World War II,” the Polish Foreign Minister said. 

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