Polish president 'reminds Obama of visa promise'

Bronislaw Komorowski, President of Poland speaks after a wreath laying ceremony at the monument of Polish-American General, Thaddeus Kosciuszko, at the West Point Military Academy in West Point, New York, USA, 25 September 2012. EPA/RAMIN TALAIE

Though the White House has said that President Obama will not be having one-to-one talks with national leaders attending the UN General Assembly sessions currently on in New York, President Bronislaw Komorowski said that he managed to speak briefly with the US president at a special dinner for the delegates on Monday.

“The conversation was an opportunity to remind the President of the US of his commitments on visa-free travel for Poles, “ Komorowski told Polish journalists on Tuesday, referring to a promise Obama made when elected as president in 2008 to abolish Poles' need for visas when travelling to the United States for a period of up to 90 days.

Poland is one of just four EU states that still requires a visa.

President Komorowski added that the 6 November elections in the US “may open the way for success” on the visa issue.

“We must be aware that voting [on the visa issue] needs votes not only from Democrats, but also from Republicans,” Komorowski said.

On Tuesday, Poland's president also spoke with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Mun and President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, with whome he discussed the “situation shortly before the parliamentary elections" in the country.

On Tuesday, President Komorowski also visited the New Point Military Academy in New York.

Komorowski will be giving his speech to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday. (pg)