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Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

Poland is Still Oriented Toward Ukraine

13 November, 2012 - 00:00

Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski ended his visit to Russia which analysts tend to regard as an attempt to soften Russia’s sharp response to Poland’s Western orientation and joining NATO.

The Poles do not want to discard their prospects in the huge Russian market where better quality and less expensive Polish goods compete effectively with local products. Evidence of this is the invitation that President Yeltsin visit Poland this December.

However, in terms of political alliance Poland is still Ukraine-oriented. Remember: Mr. Kwasniewski flew to Kyiv first and to Moscow afterward. His statements in Kharkiv sounded considerably warmer than during his meeting with President Yeltsin. At a news conference in Kharkiv, the Polish leader noted that his country welcomed Ukraine’s consultations with the European Community and its readiness to join the World Trade Organization. The Poles also seem to have made the step from welcoming to actually supporting Ukraine’s request for associate EC membership and full WTO membership.

Ukraine has a tremendous deficit in its trade with Poland which is especially conspicuous considering goods supplied through third countries. The Polish President tried to calm Kyiv fears by stating that Poland has a generally even balance, including a negative one with the West, primarily Italy, Germany, and Great Britain. This is not much consolation for Ukraine, because Poland can at least make up for its trade failures in the West. To do so, Ukraine would have to look for some incredibly primitive country.

The Polish President declared that the next century will be one of peace, dialogue, cooperation, as well as severe competition, adding that Ukrainian products could be made competitive if its science and technologies were developed.

There are over 300 Ukrainian-Polish joint ventures in Ukraine, among them two joint banks in Kharkiv and Lviv and a firm manufacturing Bison harvesters. Mr. Kwasniewski was the first foreign political leader to visit the Malyshev Tank Plant in Kharkiv, only recently a very secret project, the pride of the Soviet and later Ukrainian military-industrial complex.

The Ukrainian and Polish Presidents agreed to combine efforts in the international arena, particularly in preventing the isolation of Belarus. At the same time Mr. Kwasniewski said, “President Kuchma and I talked and came to the conclusion that our neighbor’s incomprehensible actions are dangerous.” The Russians, after giving vent to tempestuous anti-NATO emotions, can hardly expect Poland to coordinate, let alone conform, its foreign policy with theirs.

One is left wondering at Polish patience. This country offers a helping hand, and it time and again meets with the amorphous, nonviable, and sometimes foul reality of Ukrainian politics.

 

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