Tusk’s party decided to avoid the term “genocide”
But is it enough to keep the mutual understanding between Warsaw and Kyiv?The Sejm’s commission considered six draft resolutions on the 70th anniversary of the Volhynian tragedy. And only one draft, prepared by the ruling party, does not contain the word “genocide,” reports tvn24. In particular, the term “genocide” is not present in the draft resolution, prepared by the MPs from the governmental party Civic Platform. All other drafts, including the one by Civic Platform’s coalition partner Polish Peasant Party, contain this term.
The commission decided to continue further elaboration of the final texts with all the drafts in mind. “There’s no avoiding the fact that the Sejm’s resolution is a political factor, even when it is history-related,” explained Civic Platform MP Robert Tyszkiewicz, who dissuaded his party colleagues from using the term “genocide.” “And that is how our Ukrainian partners will perceive it.”
According to Tyszkiewicz, the Civic Platform’s draft resolution refers to “crime,” because the usage of the term “genocide” will be perceived by Ukrainian side as extremely controversial. MP Tyszkiewicz added that the Civic Platform’s standpoint on the text of the resolution is also focused on the November summit of the Eastern Partnership in Vilnius, where “the European choice of Ukraine will be decided.”
Let us remind that in April 2013, the Polish Sejm registered a draft resolution on recognizing the OUN, UPA, and SS Division Halychyna as criminal organizations, which committed genocide against the Polish population in Kresy Wschodnie (“the Eastern Territories”) from 1939 to 1947.
Den has already written about this (see “Let Us Appreciate the Atmosphere of Reconciliations,” No. 77, April 26, 2013) and noted that such resolution is harmful for the development of relations between the two countries, which have managed to reach a point of conciliation. This opinion is shared by a number of MPs in the Polish parliament. In particular, in his interview to the newspaper, Miron Sycz, Sejm MP and activist of the Union of Ukrainians in Poland, noted: “The project, proposed by the Peasant Party, is too radical and it will be hard to pass it in this form. And passing some general declaration by both chambers that would bring our nations closer instead of pushing them apart would be the best option. It would be devastating if after 70 years, we made resolutions that alienate our nations and countries rather than pull them together.”
COMMENTARY
“WARSAW STARTS ABUSING THE VOLHYNIAN ISSUE, DESTROYING WHAT HAS BEEN BUILT OVER THESE YEARS”
Myroslav MARYNOVYCH, writer, religion expert, vice dean of the Ukrainian Catholic University, former political prisoner:
“What is happening this year in Poland is the effect of the compressed string, which is now coming to be stretched. The voice of Kresy dwellers, who were forced out of Volhynia, was not allowed in Poland for a long time. During the Soviet and communist time it was for one reason. Then, in the 1990s – for another, because Poland was concerned about its eastern borders and wanted to join Greater Europe; it wanted peace and calm. Besides, Poland counted on Ukraine declaring its European orientation loudly and clearly. Instead, the situation is different today, Poland feels much safer now, being a member of NATO and the EU. The partnership of the Communist regime victims is gradually forgotten. Secondly, Ukraine did not live up to Europe’s expectations, including those of Poland, which is tired of defending Ukraine’s interests sometimes more ardently than Ukraine does it. Poland has slipped into a kind of reverse reaction now – if this is the way it is, it is necessary that Ukraine admits its crimes. It is obvious for me that this year Poland went over to the other side. Warsaw starts abusing the Volhynian issue, destroying what has been built over these years. We need to keep calm and think about the future. This wave, which is rising in Poland today, will eventually ebb away. We have good partners in Poland and we will continue our cooperation.
“Trying to understand history should not interfere with relations, because it is the right of people to deal with their past. Just as we now cannot understand Poles in their process of figuring history out, they could not understand us when the matter of Bandera was brought up. For Poles, it was an obvious anti-Polish campaign. “How can you glorify Bandera’s name? This is a criminal who acted under clearly anti-Polish slogans!” Of course, such voices are heard both from Poland and Ukraine, blaming the other side in misinterpreting history. But this is the right of the people, so that is why I am talking about understanding.”
Interviewed by Ihor SAMOKYSH, The Day
