Poland does not know the details of the procedures conducted by Germany regarding the blowing up of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, Wojciech Kolarski, Minister in the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland, said on Thursday.
The presidential minister was asked in “Polsat News” about the statement of the former head of the German Foreign Intelligence Service (BND), August Hanning, published on the website of the daily “Die Welt”. Hannig claims that the attack on the Nord Stream gas pipelines must have been carried out with the support of Poland and with the approval at the highest level of the presidents of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky and Andrzej Duda of Poland.
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A clear answer
When asked whether there was an agreement between Poland and Ukraine on blowing up the gas pipelines, the presidential minister replied that the matter was being handled by Germany.
Poland does not know the details of this procedure. What we know is that a European Arrest Warrant was issued against a Ukrainian citizen at the beginning of July. However, the Polish side informed the German side that the indicated person was not in Poland. That is all I know about it and what I can say, repeating the information provided by the head of the National Security Bureau
– the presidential minister noted.
The head of the National Security Bureau, Jacek Siewiera, asked in the morning on “Polsat News” about the arrest warrant for a Ukrainian diving instructor suspected of attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines, who reportedly lived in Pruszków, replied: “( We know) as much as the media reports. It is the German side that has the most knowledge and information.”
When asked whether President Duda was aware “of the Ukrainians’ action,” Kolarski noted that he learned about the case on Thursday in the context of the European Arrest Warrant sent by Germany to Poland.
“The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that top Ukrainian officials were involved in the Nord Stream attack. According to the WSJ, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky initially approved the plan to blow up the Nord Stream gas pipelines before unsuccessfully trying to cancel it at the request of the CIA. President Zelensky’s adviser, Mykhailo Podolak, denied Ukraine’s involvement in the attacks.
German authorities are searching for Volodymyr Z., the suspect responsible for blowing up the Nord Stream gas pipeline, which was recently reported to be in Poland.
After receiving the European Arrest Warrant, the Polish prosecutor’s office had to confirm his place of residence; Volodymyr Z. left Polish territory
– said the spokeswoman of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, prosecutor Anna Adamiak.
On Thursday at 12:00, the website of the daily newspaper Die Welt published an interview with the former head of the German Foreign Intelligence Service (BDN), August Hanning. He claims, without providing evidence, that the attack on the gas pipeline had to be carried out with the support of Poland and with the approval of the highest level of presidents: Zelensky and Duda. According to him, Germany should consider asking for compensation from the Polish and Ukrainian authorities. He bases his argument on the belief that such an action could not have been carried out by a diving instructor, but that logistical support from Poland was needed and that permission could only be obtained at the highest level.
On September 26, 2022, three of the four lines of the two Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines were destroyed at a depth of about 80 meters on the bottom of the Baltic Sea. For years, a large part of Russian natural gas for Germany was supplied directly by Nord Stream 1. Many Eastern European and Western countries have repeatedly and strongly criticized the project and warned of the geopolitical consequences of bypassing Eastern Europe in the transit of the raw material.
During the Russian aggression against Ukraine, Moscow suspended supplies even before the destruction of Nord Stream 1. In turn, the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline was ultimately not launched due to the Russian invasion and the resulting political disputes.
Letter to the Prime Minister’s Chancellery
On Wednesday, the Head of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland, Małgorzata Paprocka, sent a letter to the Head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Jan Grabiec, regarding the procedure for recommending a candidate for EU Commissioner, Presidential Minister. This was announced by Wojciech Kolarski on Thursday.
The presidential office is awaiting the formal presentation of Piotr Serafin’s nomination for EU commissioner to President Andrzej Duda. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he would like to discuss the nomination with the president this week.
Kolarski told Polsat News in the evening that in order to dispel doubts, the head of the President’s Office sent a letter to the head of the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday, in which he informed that in the case of recommending a candidate for EU commissioner, the procedure is very strict. clear.
It is not about certain information, but about something specific. A document is needed indicating that, in accordance with the provisions of the law (…), the candidacy is presented in the form of a document sent to the President together with a portfolio, with information about the candidate himself, as well as the case with judicial or professorial nominations.
– said Kolarski.
The Presidential Minister stressed that it is in the interests of the Polish state that there is no doubt about the selection of the Polish Commissioner. He stressed that the so-called The Competence Act, adopted by the parliamentary majority, is part of the Polish legislation.
He said that the president did not speak to Prime Minister Tusk on Thursday about the Polish candidate for the European Commission. Both politicians took part in the celebration of the Polish Army Day.
On Thursday, the head of the National Security Bureau, Jacek Siewiera, said on the morning program Graffiti on Polsat News that he had not yet encountered a situation in which the president expressed any doubts about Serafin’s candidacy.
It is difficult for me to predict what the President’s decision will be, but formal issues are key
– notes the head of the National Security Bureau.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Tuesday that the Polish candidate for EU commissioner will be the current head of the Polish mission to the EU, Piotr Serafin. According to the head of government, there is a good chance that Serafin will take on the position of budget commissioner.
The Act of 28 July 2023 on cooperation of the Council of Ministers with the Sejm and the Senate in matters related to Poland’s membership of the European Union, the so-called Competence Act, provides that the Government shall submit proposals to the President for candidates for the positions of: Member of the European Commission; Member of the Court of Auditors; Judge at the Court of Justice of the EU; Advocate General of the CJEU; Member of the Economic and Social Committee; Member of the Committee of the Regions and Director of the European Investment Bank. The President may – in accordance with this Act – agree or refuse to appoint a candidate within 21 days.
According to government officials, the law is unconstitutional because the constitution states that foreign policy is carried out by the government.
EU member states have until the end of August to nominate candidates for commissioners. European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen is asking countries to put forward two names: one woman and one man, as part of efforts to uphold gender equality.
gah/PAP
Source: wPolityce