Polish president renews calls for permanent NATO presence
PR dla Zagranicy
Alicja Baczyńska
04.11.2015 09:22
Poland looks to “a boost in the alliance’s rotational forces and, in the future, permanent NATO bases on Polish territory,” Andrzej Duda said in Bucharest on Tuesday, a day ahead of a summit of NATO's eastern members.
Polish President Andrzej Duda (L) and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis. Photo: PAP/Jacek Turczyk
The statement was made following a meeting with his counterpart, Klaus Iohannis, on the first day of Duda’s official visit to Romania.
Iohannis, meanwhile, underlined that even in the face of threats from Europe’s ongoing immigration crisis and Islamic State, NATO must remain committed to its eastern flank.
The statements came a day ahead of a top-level meeting of NATO member states from Central and Eastern Europe in the Romanian capital. Alongside President Andrzej Duda, Wednesday’s event is to be attended by his opposite numbers from Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, NATO’s deputy secretary general Alexander Vershbow, as well as the speaker of the Czech Parliament. The attendees are to discuss international security issues in the context of Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Other topics on the agenda of talks held by the Romanian and Polish presidents on Tuesday included the planned construction of Nord Stream 2, a gas pipeline linking Russia and Germany across the Baltic Sea bed.
Duda, who reiterated his opposition towards the project, called it “a political decision, which lacks either economic or financial grounds,” and one which “does not increase Europe’s energy security.” As the Polish head of state argued, EU countries should rather use their gas resources more efficiently and diversify their sources.
The Polish president also offered help in treating the casualties of last week’s tragic fire at a Bucharest night club. The blaze claimed the lives of 31 people and left 180 injured. Duda said that the Center for Burns Treatment in Siemianowice Śląskie, southern Poland, the country’s leading facility specializing in the field, is ready to assist those in need.
The Polish president continues his two-day trip to Romania on Wednesday. Duda’s visit, aimed at tightening collaboration in the region, also included meetings with Prime Minister Victor Ponta and Senate Speaker Calin Popescu-Tariceanu on Tuesday. (aba/rk)