Russia's Interfax news agency has apologized to Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski for improperly citing the politician regarding alleged “Russian aggression.”“It was a reporter's mistake,” reads the Interfax statement, the incorrect citation “was the result of a reporter's poor work.”
The mix-up began last Thursday when Interfax released a report that Sikorski, during his visit to Washington DC a few days earlier, called for US arms to be placed in Poland “to protect against Russian aggression.”
Poland's Foreign Ministry immediately denied that Sikorski uttered the statement, calling the press release “intentional manipulation” and demanded a verification of facts. Sikorski's 'statement', as translated by Interfax, drew immediate backlash from commentators in Russian media.
“We are pleased that our intervention was effective and that Interfax has corrected a mistake by their reporter which has prompted such unnecessary reactions,” said Piotr Paszkowski, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Monday afternoon after receiving Interfax's official apology.
(mmj)