Pres Komorowski heralds new chapter in Polish-American relations

Presidents Obama and Komorowski in Warsaw. Photo: PAP/Bartlomiej Zborowski

In an interview for the TVN24 news channel, President Komorowski spoke of the real chance to meet Warsaw’s expectations concerning a US military presence in Poland, saying that an agreement on the establishment of an American aviation detachment in Poland will be signed.

Mr Komorowski described President Obama’s approach to relations with Russia as ‘very rational’, adding that Poland too wants to shape its relations with Moscow as best as possible, while enjoying at the same time the comfort of security.

Within NATO, Poland could play an important role in lobbying for strengthening Trans-Atlantic ties, Komorowski said, although conceded that the views of Warsaw and Washington are not shared by all members of NATO and the European Union.

According to Janusz Reiter, Poland’s former ambassador to the United States, President Obama’s visit is very important for Poland’s image on the global stage.

Obama’s visit served to remind the world public opinion of Poland’s peaceful transformation to democracy in 1989, an experience that could be a model for countries in Eastern Europe and the Arab world, Richter maintains.

Meanwhile, Andrew Michta, head of the newly-opened Warsaw office of the German Marshall Fund, told Polish Radio that even though no agreements were signed, President Obama’s visit has brought concrete results.

“There is talk of a new formula to ease the visa regime for Poles and how to finalise the stationing of F-16s and C-17s in Poland,” Michta said, adding that “a new normalcy” is being built in Polish-US relations, based on the transformations of the past two decades and on the recognition of Poland as a medium-size country which has a growing importance in Europe. (mk/jb)