Deputy Minister Szynkowski vel Sęk and Minister Lührmann also attended a panel discussion on Poland-Germany relations at the Institute for Western Affairs in Poznań, and visited the Museum of Bamberg Settlers. This year’s 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Poland and Germany is an opportunity to sum up our bilateral relations.

The talks mainly focused on the multidimensional aid for the resistant Ukraine. Deputy Minister Szynkowski vel Sęk listed the prerequisites for Ukraine’s efforts to succeed: immediate deliveries of weapons, effective sanctions, isolating Russia in the international community, and fighting its false narratives. As regards energy security, he reiterated that it is necessary for the West to become independent of Russian energy resources, in particular of its natural gas. The deputy head of Polish diplomacy presented a comprehensive assistance scheme, including in-kind and financial aid, which Poland has been delivering to Ukraine.

Summing up the 50 years of Polish-German relations, Deputy Minister Szynkowski vel Sęk noted Poland’s expectations that Germany should urgently resolve many unsettled issues, in particular teaching Polish as a native language in Germany, in line with the spirit and the letter of the Treaty on Good Neighbourship and Friendly Cooperation.

As for the situation on the border river of Oder, the Polish official referred to the results of laboratory tests proving absence of toxic substances in amounts that could lead to an ecological disaster. He also noted the ongoing efforts of relevant authorities to determine the reasons for golden algae growth in the Oder and the measures to prevent its recurrence in the future.

Referring to the report on wartime losses published on 1 September, the secretary of state forcefully underlined that Poland has never received any reparations from Germany for the war of aggression, the devastating hostilities, and Germany’s criminal policy of occupation. Deputy Minister Szynkowski vel Sęk also raised Poland’s indisputable moral right to demand compensation for the injustice suffered at the hands of the German state. He also added that Poland has never effectively waived its right to reparations, and the alleged unilateral declaration quoted by the German side bears a substantial legal defect, and is thus invalid. “Poland expects Germany to use the report showing the extent of Polish losses to start an open, facts-based dialogue between the two countries, which would lead to resolving the issue of war reparations,” stressed the deputy minister.

 

Łukasz Jasina
MFA Press Spokesperson