Poland, politics and diplomacy
By Mohammed A. R. Galadari
12 August 2005
CURIOUSLY, it is diplomacy in reverse gear, when it comes to Poland and Russia these days. Is politics at the heart of the diplomatic stand off between the two sides?
Dear readers, when three teenage children of a Russian diplomat in Warsaw were mugged and beaten by wayward Polish youths, some days ago, the matter should have ended there with a complaint to the police. But it didn't. <o:p></o:p>
Instead, it is not only raising much heat in diplomatic and governmental circles in Moscow and Warsaw, but also prompting retaliatory attacks in the streets of Moscow. A senior diplomat was attacked in a street in the Russian capital two days ago, that was preceded by another attack on another Polish embassy staff.<o:p></o:p>
Apparently, Russia has made much ado about what, prima facie, was a simple incident. President Putin gave a political twist to it by going as far as to directly intervene and seek an apology from Poland. He branded the incident as an "unfriendly act" towards Russia, which only goes to show the suspicion that is building up between the once-friendly nations. Russia may now have a grouse against Poland, that it is veering towards the West, especially as it has been inducted into the European Union last year. <o:p></o:p>
This, for Poland, was a logical step forward from its divorce from the Communist era 25 years ago. Moreover, EU entry brought economic benefits to Poland. It is now a market-driven economy. The results are showing in the faster progress there as also increased opportunities for the youths to take up jobs in the developed EU states. Poland's growing closeness to the West is also evident from its association with the US in the Iraq War. And, looking back, it is also the Lech Walesa-led revolution in Poland that ultimately led to the disintegration of the once-mighty Communist empire in Europe.<o:p></o:p>
There's more to it. Poland supported the Ukrainian Orange Revolution that brought down a pro-Moscow dispensation and installed a Western-friendly government into power there last year. That saw an assertion of the democracy process in the ex-Soviet republic, with direct support from the US. Reports are also that Kremlin is unhappy about Poland's criticism of the Russian military offensive in Chechnya. Moscow closes its eyes and ears against frequent complaints of human rights violations in Chechnya by the Russian military. Russian soldiers are accused of large-scale rape and killings there for years now. Poland, or any country for that matter, cannot be expected to support such actions. <o:p></o:p>
But, politics is politics. Political differences do not mean that a simple matter, essentially of criminal nature, must be taken to this level, and retaliatory street fights staged or presidential intervention made. By doing so, Putin has perhaps unwittingly blown the issue out of proportion. On its part, Poland has expressed regrets over the incident. The matter should have ended there. Russia says it will not be satisfied with anything less than an apology. Clearly, Putin is acting tough. Instead of hanging on to the Soviet-era mindset, he must begin appreciating dissent, and change with the changing times.
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