On the German side, the realization is growing that this matter cannot be swept under the rug and that waiting for the autumn elections will do no good. This case is spreading not only in Poland, but also around the world, Deputy Foreign Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk told PAP.
During the National Congress of Remembrance, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Deputy Chief of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participated in the panel “War Reparation in the 20th Century through the Eyes of Politicians”.
Mularczyk recalled that diplomatic and political activities are still being carried out, with the aim of raising international organizations’ awareness of the problem of Germany’s non-binding obligation in terms of liability for damage caused by the Second World War.
Awareness Policy
Before us are a number of meetings in the US Congress, the Senate, but also in the UN and the Council of Europe. We are planning further actions in Germany, in Berlin, but I also hope that a resolution of the Council of Ministers will be adopted soon, emphasizing that the issue of war damages and reparations has never been resolved in Polish-German relations, and Poland never gave up
he stressed.
According to Mularczyk, this will form a basis for further legal, political and diplomatic actions in this area.
It is extremely important that a session of the Constitutional Court will take place on May 10 on so-called immunity from jurisdiction, which aims to undermine that hiding Germany from the claims of Polish victims of World War II against the Polish Constitution, because it violates the right to a court and human dignity
– he said.
He recalled that talks are also underway with representatives of the German government.
I think there is a growing realization on the German side that this matter cannot be swept under the rug and that waiting for the autumn elections will do no good. This problem is already spreading not only in Poland, but all over the world
he said.
I am convinced that if the Polish Government and the Polish State are consistent, sooner or later we will sit down to talks with representatives of the German Government
Mularczyk concluded.
On April 13-15, the Congress of National Remembrance will be held at the PGE Narodowy in Warsaw under the slogan “History speaks through generations”. Historians from Poland and abroad will participate in 26 panels dedicated to the history of Poland in the 20th century, including Prof. Andrzej Nowak, Prof. Stéphane Courtois, Prof. Stephen Hicks, Prof. Hans-Jürgen Bömelburg, Prof. Grzegorz Kucharczyk, dr Ladislav Kudrna, publicists, journalists, social activists, bloggers and people directly related to the history of our country, including The daughter of General Anders – Anna Maria Anders.
The Institute of National Remembrance also organizes numerous educational and cultural events, a film festival, a zone of new technologies and multimedia exhibitions. There is also an educational zone for the little ones and meetings with historical reenactment groups.
Germany’s silence
During the National Memorial Congress, Deputy Foreign Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk and Deputy Culture Minister Jarosław Sellin participated in the panel “20th Century War Reparation through the Eyes of Politicians”.
During the debate, Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk presented a report on Polish war losses. As he noted, “the amount we have adopted is a conservative amount, I would even say minimalist.”
With this report we say enough silence, restriction and oblivion
he stressed.
Minister Mularczyk pointed out that Germany was trying to “push the issue of reparations off the international agenda”.
Today, Germany is holding talks with African countries in the spotlight as it apologizes for colonialism. This is of course correct and necessary. But how does this relate to the problems associated with Poland – as its largest neighbor and trade, political and economic partner – not being able to demand talks about reparations?
– noted the deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He said that the report on Polish war losses is being distributed in English and a translation into German, Spanish, Italian and other languages is being prepared.
We want to inform the world about German war crimes and the fact that Germany does not want to be held accountable for them. This subject cannot be swept under the rug. Our goal is to bring about a turning point in Germany and a revision of World War II history
– stressed Arkadiusz Mularczyk.
He judged that “Germany has erased its historical memory”.
They do not see the will and need to talk, because according to them the case is closed. It is a certain process, but we are working on an international forum
he noticed.
He said that meetings and talks with the Greeks are also being held.
We are building a broader coalition. We also have some scientific and expert events ahead of us, which will provide a basis for action
Mularczyk said.
According to him, “the key is to convince the Germans themselves to reconsider their history”.
He also drew attention to the issue of a possible resolution of the Council of Ministers.
The Germans should show this resolution of the Bierut government. This would also open up a potentially new field of political and diplomatic activity
he noticed.
For years, dozens of lawyers and historians talked about Bierut’s resolution, but no one saw it. It is for the German side to present this document or other documents which would prove that the Polish side has waived the reparations. It’s hard because they don’t exist
Mularczyk emphasized.
According to him, the judgment of the Constitutional Court would also be important.
It would give a completely different dynamic to the case, as in Italy
Mularczyk added.
He stressed that the lack of willingness to start talks is an expression of a lack of compliance with the rules of international law – redress and compensation, as well as victims’ right to a court.
Before us, the process of working on Germany lies in the perception of the history of the Second World War. We have to teach the Germans their own history, because they don’t want to remember it
observed Mularczyk.
He also stressed that the ecumenical, demographic and economic consequences of the Second World War still affect the situation in Poland.
Restitution of cultural property
In turn, Secretary of State for Culture Jarosław Sellin referred to the return of cultural heritage.
However, I would like to point out that reparations should be distinguished from reparations for cultural works. It has been going on for many years, conveying and accelerating certain effects. They are two different things based on different legislation, as national and international laws give the means to recover works of art
– emphasized the deputy head of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
Reparations are a new topic, but it is in Germany’s interest to resolve the matter
– he said.
Minister Sellin recalled that “we have the right to reclaim them from the territory of the present Republic of Poland”. He notes that the indications for the confiscation of works are complex. These are Germans, but also works looted by Soviet trophy brigades and second-hand art trades.
Today it is difficult to say how many of these works can be found in present-day Germany, Austria and Russia, as well as other countries, due to secondary trade
he explained.
The fact that of the 700 recently recovered works of art, more than 400 come from Germany, shows a certain proportion. Refund requests are also sent to Russia, but are not being processed. Everything that came from the territories of the former Third Reich as part of the raid is spoils of war and cannot be returned. And Russia understands these areas very broadly. The effective possibility of recovering lost works from Polish territories will be possible after a change in the political situation in Russia
he stressed.
Systematically accelerates the process of returning goods, as the past seven years have shown. However, it is still work for generations
– reviewed Jaroslaw Sellin.
The Institute of National Remembrance also organizes numerous educational and cultural events, a film festival, a zone of new technologies and multimedia exhibitions. There is also an educational zone for the little ones and meetings with historical reenactment groups.
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Source: wPolityce