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Poland ready for ‘new opening’ with France: FM

PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk 23.05.2017 12:06
Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski has said that Warsaw is ready for “a new opening” in relations with Paris following Emmanuel Macron’s victory in the presidential election in France.
Witold Waszczykowski.Witold Waszczykowski.Photo: W.Kusiński/Polish Radio

In a telephone conversation with the newly appointed French minister for Europe and foreign affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, Waszczykowski referred to the long tradition of partnership and cooperation between the two countries.

He expressed hope that they could come up with joint initiatives and projects, including within the European Union and NATO.

Waszczykowski said that a constructive dialogue between Poland and France is indispensable in efforts to solve the crises facing the European Union.

In his view, the Weimar Triangle group, which comprises Poland France and Germany, should play “a special role in building a secure Europe, a Europe that responds to the needs of its citizens.”

Waszczykowski has invited his French counterpart to visit Warsaw.

Macron angered top officials in Warsaw when he suggested during his election campaign that Jarosław Kaczyński, the head of Poland's ruling party, is a “friend and ally” of Marine Le Pen, Macron's right-wing rival in the race for the French presidency, placing Kaczyński alongside Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Meanwhile, a French daily cited Macron as suggesting that he wanted sanctions against Poland, which he said had “violated all the EU's principles”.

While speaking during his election campaign to striking factory workers of multinational white goods manufacturer Whirlpool, which will move some of its production to Poland, Macron accused Poland of playing on differences in labour costs.

Poland’s Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski responded at the time that "unjustified" accusations by Macron against Warsaw stemmed from France’s inability to compete with ever-stronger economies to the east. (mk/pk)

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