We have already started a difficult historical dialogue with Ukraine: Polish FM

"We have managed to reach truth with many nations that caused us harm, so I am convinced that in this case too we will be able to reconcile," Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said on Tuesday.

Waszczykowski started the two-day visit to Ukraine by laying wreaths at the Military Cemetery in Bykivnia, a memorial site for 3,500 Polish victims of NKVD terror in Ukraine.

He also met with members of the Polish community there.

During his meeting, he said that he is visiting Ukraine at an important time in Polish-Ukrainian relations.

“Our states have had friendly relations for 25 years,” the minister said. Waszczykowski said that more thought needs to be given to how to make better use of the years ahead for Poland and Ukraine. He said that this is something that he would raise during his official meetings in Kiev.

He stressed that he is starting his visit to Ukraine at a site that is evidence of a great tragedy and a criminal system that had been in power for many years. In his opinion, it is a positive development that after many years of neglect about the murdered victims, we can finally “remind the world about them and about those criminal times”.

“These cemeteries help make politicians more willing to dig up the truth and use this truth to unite societies,” Minister Waszczykowski said. “We already started a difficult historical dialogue with Ukraine some time ago,” the minister said.

“We have managed to reach truth with many nations that caused us harm, so in this case too I am optimistic, I am convinced that we will be able reconcile, sooner rather than later, we will manage here as well,” Waszczykowski said. (rg)

Source: PAP, MSZ