My activities will be carried out until Germany starts an honest dialogue with Poland on the payment of compensation for damage caused during World War II – wrote the deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Arkadiusz Mularczyk in “Poland – Metropolii Warszawskiej”.
On Friday, September 1, on the anniversary of the outbreak of World War II, Mularczyk’s statement was published in the daily newspaper “Polska – Metropolia Warszawska”.
The most tragic fate befell our capital: Warsaw, which the German invaders destroyed for more than 80 percent. and its infrastructure for almost 100 percent. As a result of the mass genocide, the city lost about 700,000 people. inhabitants and lay in ruins. A similar tragic fate befell many Polish towns and villages, which were looted, destroyed and their population exterminated
– wrote the deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
As he judged, “These events left their mark on Poland’s contemporary history and also influenced the shape of post-war relations with neighboring countries.”
The tragic consequences of the war affected every Polish family and pushed our country into an area of backwardness, poverty and poverty for decades, and as a result contributed to a massive economic emigration.
Mularczyk added.
Mularczyk also referred to Polish attempts to obtain reparations from Germany.
At present, despite declarations of will to reconcile with the Polish nation and assurances of remorse for war crimes committed, the authorities of the Federal Republic of Germany refuse to enter into any dialogue on reparations, compensation, compensation or restitution of looted cultural property and banking resources . To this day, despite public statements and resolutions of the Bundestag, no monument has been erected in Berlin to commemorate the victims of German crimes against the Polish nation.
– He wrote.
Exactly one year ago, on 1 September 2022, on the 83rd anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War, the Report on the losses suffered by Poland as a result of the German aggression and occupation during the Second World War 1939-1945 was presented at the Royal Castle in Warsaw. For the first time since the end of World War II, the government of the Republic of Poland has taken real political and diplomatic steps to obtain appropriate reparations, compensation and compensation for the losses Poland suffered as a result of German aggression and occupation.
– recalls the deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The issue of regulating the issue of reparations and compensation by Germany was the subject of my numerous meetings with representatives of many countries and was raised in national and international forums. These actions will be carried out until Germany starts an honest dialogue with Poland on the payment of compensation
– stressed Deputy Foreign Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk.
The reparations case is getting publicity
The issue of reparations is now well known in the world and poses a serious image problem for Germany, Deputy Foreign Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk told PAP on the anniversary of the presentation of the report on Poland’s losses as a result of the German aggression and occupation during World War II.
On the anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War, Deputy Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk emphasized in an interview with PAP that “we are facing a new reality in terms of perceptions in the world, but also in Germany itself, of the question of post-war settlements the second World War. WWII.”
The first such milestone was the publication of a report on war losses – he stressed.
This report formed the main basis of our work. It is evidence but also an economic calculation that was placed on the table of Polish-German relations and it was a key issue when it comes to taking diplomatic, political and information activities
– added the deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
As he recalled, “after the quick and brusque reaction of the Germans to the diplomatic note, who wrote that the case is closed, there was another important moment: the adoption of a resolution by the Council of Ministers.”
The resolution states that the case has not been closed, that Poland has not waived reparations, that the case is open and that the Council of Ministers demands the conclusion of a bilateral agreement in this area.
– added.
A similar resolution demanding reparations from Germany was previously passed by the Polish Sejm.
We are dealing here with a dynamic sequence of events, which form a strong basis in the international forum – underlined Arkadiusz Mularczyk.
He also recalled some of his speeches on reparations, including at the UN Forum, the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, the European Commission, as well as the US Congress and Senate, as well as the Bundestag and Bundesrat. He also drew attention to the activities of Polish consulates and embassies promoting the subject of reparations and informing public opinion.
He also mentioned the Council of Europe summit in Reykjavik, where a resolution was passed stating that the precondition for reconciliation between countries in a war conflict should be the payment of reparations and reparations.
This is stated in the statement signed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz
– added.
This has internationalized the issue to a great extent and has shown that it is not just a bilateral Polish-German issue, but that the issue is much broader in nature.
– emphasizes the deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
As he noted, the question of reparations by Germany, especially in the context of the war in Ukraine, takes on a new dimension.
Over the past year and a half, Poland has shown that it is a country that supports and fights for democracy, that it fights against Russian imperialism, that it is a country that is open to refugees, that it supports them, and this has given Poland tremendous confidence , and our voices are much more listened to than many years ago
he pointed it out.
He also recalled his activities in Germany itself, where he visited the local foreign ministry many times, met German parliamentarians and gave interviews to the local media.
This put pressure on Germany – politically, media, and this causes nervous movements on the German side
he assessed.
I think that the German side is constantly operating on the principle of denial and protection against this inconvenient truth and taking chaotic actions without fully appreciating the power of our actions, which is – in my opinion – wrong.
– added.
The result of our activities is also the opinion of Jewish circles, American rabbis, who publicly declare that the issue of reparations is open.
Mularczyk emphasized.
An important step by the US congressman
He also recalled that US Congressman Chris Smith (Republican Party), who has represented New Jersey since 1981, issued a statement on Wednesday calling on the US government to support Polish war damage claims.
This also triggers this discussion at the level of the US Congress
– admitted the Polish politician.
As he emphasized: “The past year has been a year of hard, hard work, which made the international community aware of the problem with Germany, which denies its responsibility and does not want to engage in dialogue on a fundamental issue: responsibility for war crimes. .”
This issue is already well known in the world and represents a serious image problem for Germany, which stubbornly awaits the end of the elections in Poland, hoping that the issue will disappear from the Polish-German agenda
Mularczyk added.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said in early July this year that “as long as PiS holds the reins of government, we will never let go of the issue of reparations and we will come to an effective conclusion so that Germany will have to pay.”
September 1 last year presented a report on the losses suffered by Poland as a result of the German aggression and occupation during World War II. October 3 last year Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau signed a diplomatic note to the German side about reparations. In it, Poland demands, among other things: compensation for material and immaterial losses in the amount of PLN 6 billion 220 billion 609 million and compensation for damage.
3 January this year The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to this note. According to the German government, the issue of reparations and compensation for war losses remains closed and the German government does not intend to enter into negotiations.
gah/PAP
Source: wPolityce