“Nevertheless, I would prefer if Father Isakowicz-Zaleski did what a priest is supposed to do,” President Andrzej Duda said on Radio Zet, responding to the Chaplain of Borderland Communities’ post on Twitter. “We are pursuing a peaceful policy, not a policy of running with pitchforks, but a policy of peacefully seeking agreement on historically difficult issues, which are many decades old, highly complex and extremely painful indeed for a considerable group of our compatriots.” said the head of state.
“We have a peaceful policy, not a pitchfork-running policy.”
During the conversation, the president was asked about Father Tadeusz Isakowicz-Zaleski’s criticism of Duda’s recent visit to Kiev.
The chaplain of border country communities wrote on Twitter:
Relaxed and smiling, Andrzej Duda made another trip to Ukraine at the expense of the Polish taxpayer. However, he again did not have the courage to light a candle and pray over the “death pits” where the bones of tens of thousands of Poles were rotting. Hypocrisy and cowardice!”
I will answer this: However, I would prefer Father Isakowicz-Zaleski to do what a priest should do
– answered Andrzej Duda. The interviewer asked if the pastor “has no right to speak on this matter?”.
I’d rather he didn’t get involved in politics, but do what a priest is supposed to do
– added.
We are pursuing a peaceful policy, not a policy of running with pitchforks, but a policy of calmly seeking agreement on historically difficult issues, which are many decades old, very complicated and extremely painful for a significant group of our compatriots. This is the tragedy of families, this is the memory that must be preserved and this is the right of every family to have their loved ones remembered. To make it a place to go, put flowers, light candles, and pray for believers
said the chairman.
As he added, “this is something that – I am convinced – is understood by the current Ukrainian authorities, who previously had problems.”
The last element I would like is an attempt to foment hatred between our nations, and unfortunately this is how I see it
he noticed.
Today, according to the president, it is the task of the Polish authorities to “arrange these matters so that they are settled between our nations – Poles and Ukrainians – on the basis of mutual respect, understanding, but also justice and the search for a common future. “
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“Personally, I don’t expect any breakthroughs in these matters.”
When asked if there would be a breakthrough on the 80th anniversary of the Volhynia massacre, Duda replied that he didn’t want to talk about breakthroughs.
Personally, I don’t expect any breakthroughs in this area. I believe that we should act very calmly here, in a consistent manner, counting on mutual kindness, the Polish-Ukrainian kindness, for which the Poles have done a lot lately and have earned the great gratitude of the Ukrainian society
said the chairman.
When asked if Ukraine should apologize for Volhynia, the president replied that we should have reconciliation on this issue.
We need historical truth, we need respect for the victims, and we need mutual respect and brotherhood between nations
Duda said.
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olk/PAP/Radio Zet
Source: wPolityce
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.