Pres. Komorowski: ‘We don’t want conflict with Russia’

The comment came at a meeting of Komorowski with his German opposite number Joachim Gauck in Hamburg on the occasion of the age-old St. Matthew’s Banquet at the city’s town hall on Friday.

Taking the floor during the dinner, Komorowski said that Poland and Germany, as well as other European partners, had made extensive moves to try and stem an escalation of the crisis in Ukraine.

However, Poland’s head of state added that European policy towards Moscow should be reconsidered.

“We have to let it be understood, that we do not want conflict with Russia, but we should also show that we are able to counteract any threat caused by the country,” Komorowski said.

“One part of the strategy is the creation of NATO’s rapid reaction force, as we have to give a clear signal that we are ready for an immediate and decisive answer [to any threats],” he continued.

Komorowski also said that Europe cannot return to ‘business as usual’ with Russia, underlining that sanctions aimed at Moscow should remain in place to offset the country’s hostile policy.

While both Poland and Germany are also paying the price due to the ongoing sanctions, allowing Russia to continue its aggression in Ukraine would have much further reaching consequences.

“It is clear that the Ukrainian conflict is used [by Moscow] to divide Europeans and put a strain on the Euroatlantic alliance,” Komorowski said, adding that “this is why the coordination of European foreign policy and the upholding of a unified stance with the United States must be our priority”.

Poland’s president also spoke of the country’s transformation in 1989 to a democratic state and said Polish-German relations are built on the solid foundation of freedom.

The Matthiae-Mahlzeit - St. Matthew’s Banquet - traces its history back to 1356 and is one of the world’s oldest feasts. (jb)

Source: IAR

From left: German President Joachim Gauck, Polish President Bronisław Komorowski and the Mayor of Hamburg Olaf Scholz during the St. Matthew's Banquet (Matthiae-Mahl), 20.02.2015 Photo: PAP/Jacek Turczyk

Guests at the St. Matthew's Banquet in Hamburg Photo: PAP/Jacek Turczyk