The Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and the EU postponed work on the draft resolution submitted by PiS on Poland seeking reparations for damage caused by Germany during World War II. Marek Borowski, senator from KO, requested the postponement of work on the draft resolution.
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Senate Committee Reparations Resolution
On Wednesday morning, the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and the EU was due to carry out the first reading of the draft resolution tabled by the PiS on Poland demanding reparation for the damage caused by Germany during the Second World War. The Sejm adopted a resolution with the same content on September 14.
The Senate draft calls on the German government to “unequivocally assume political, historical, legal and financial responsibility” for all consequences caused by Poland and its citizens following the outbreak of World War II by the Third Reich.
A formal motion to defer consideration of the draft resolution was presented by Senator KO Marek Borowski.
I must admit that I feel average if we have to vote for an identical project that has already come to life and is known to the public. In addition, following the Sejm’s decision, the Foreign Office took certain measures and sent a note to the German government. There were a few circumstances at that time
– said Borowski.
He added that Borys Budka, the president of the Civic Coalition club, had sent a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in which he requested this diplomatic note.
We would like to know whether and what reparations the Polish Government is asking the Federal Republic of Germany. What way of negotiations is proposed by the Polish side, was this report (on reparations – PAP) attached to it? We are also interested in the answer, because duplicating the same resolutions is inefficient. We would like to know what this note contains and what is the response of the German government
– He said.
Are we also going to demand reparations from Russia?
Senator Jolanta Hibner (KO) asked why the PiS senators’ draft resolution on reparations did not also call on Russia to compensate Poland for the losses Poland suffered during World War II. She argued that such a provision should be included in the draft resolution under consideration.
According to Senator Jerzy Czerwiński (PiS), the claims against Russia are justified, but they should be preceded by the preparation of another report.
If we wait for the next steps with regard to the Russian Federation and at the same time hold back any action against the German state, this will be read as a kind of indecision
– rated Czerwinski.
If the resolution were adopted (in the Senate) in the same form as in the Sejm, it would strengthen the political position of the government, and we are after all on the effectiveness of this action. The adoption of a resolution with the same content gives an increased degree of certainty that this issue will not be wasted after possible political changes, that it will be an issue that will bind the Poles
– Czerwiński added.
He called not to suspend work on the draft resolution and to adopt it in the same form as in the Sejm.
Finally, the formal motion to defer consideration of the bill, presented by Senator Borowski, was approved. 20 senators voted for, 11 against.
Jabłoński: There was an absurd situation
Deputy Foreign Minister Paweł Jabłoński, who was present at the committee meeting – assessing the outcome of the vote – will stress that the situation was “absurd”.
You asked the senator several questions and you expected the Department of Foreign Affairs to take certain actions. I wish I could have commented on this as it might have influenced the outcome of the vote
– He said.
The position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the rules adopted must be followed in diplomacy. If we send a diplomatic note to another country, we do not disclose it publicly and we do not discuss it publicly. In this case, in addition also for the reason of not creating a pretext for internal conflicts
– He said.
He pointed out that in the Sejm a similar resolution was also supported by opposition deputies.
Any attempt to change this resolution or postpone the vote certainly does not strengthen the Polish position, but weakens it
– added.
The draft points out that Poland has never received compensation for personal and material losses caused by the German state, nor for damages caused by its citizens.
The Senate of the Republic of Poland declares that the duly represented Polish State has never renounced its claims against the German State. The claim that these demands have been legally withdrawn or barred has no basis – neither moral nor legal. The harm caused to millions of Poles will cry out until it is justly repaired
– we read in the project.
The draft also states that Poland did not receive compensation for losses suffered during World War II as a result of Soviet aggression. As stated, “these losses require the identification and submission of the necessary estimate, which will serve as the basis for taking appropriate action against the Russian Federation.”
War casualties report
On September 1, a report on the losses suffered by Poland as a result of German aggression and occupation during World War II was presented, which shows that the total amount of losses is more than PLN 6 billion 220 billion PLN 609 million.
The report was prepared by a team operating during the previous legislature, led by PiS MP Arkadiusz Mularczyk.
At the beginning of October, Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau signed a diplomatic note on war reparations addressed to the German side.
Deputy head of the foreign ministry, Piotr Wawrzyk, later explained that the note to the German government was the implementation of the Sejm resolution, so the phrases used in it “correspond to those used in the resolution. Sejm”.
As he recalled, the word reparations appeared in the original draft of the Sejm resolution, whereas the adopted resolution does not contain it.
The head of the German Foreign Ministry Annalena Baerbock, referring to the note sent by Poland, said during her last visit to Warsaw that “the question of reparations from the point of view of the federal government is closed”.
“They will do everything to avoid the responsibility of Germany “
Civic Platform senators have blocked work on a resolution to seek compensation from Germany, these people will do everything to avoid accountability for their crimes during World War II, Deputy Foreign Minister Paweł said on Wednesday. Jabłoński.
On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and the EU postponed, at the request of KO, the work on the draft resolution tabled by the PiS on the continuation of compensation by Poland for the damage caused by Germany during WWII.
The Deputy Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred to the decision of the Senate Committee.
Platform senators just blocked work on a resolution seeking compensation from Poland for damage caused by Germany during World War II. These people will do everything in their power to ensure that Germany is not held accountable for its crimes.
– Jabłoński wrote on Twitter.
Mularczyk: Shocking and Scandalous News
The Civic Platform decided that it would block the Polish government from pursuing Germany’s reparations claims; The lack of adoption by the Senate Committee of a resolution on this issue is a very worrying signal – PiS MP Arkadiusz Mularczyk assessed on Wednesday in the PAP Studio.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and the EU was due to proceed on Wednesday to the first reading of the draft resolution tabled by the PiS on Poland demanding compensation for the damage caused by Germany during the Second World War. The Sejm adopted a resolution with the same content on September 14. The Senate draft calls on the German government to “unequivocally assume political, historical, legal and financial responsibility” for all consequences caused by Poland and its citizens following the outbreak of World War II by the Third Reich. Marek Borowski, Senator KO, requested that work on the draft resolution be postponed, and the majority of committee members supported this motion.
On Wednesday, PiS MP Arkadiusz Mularczyk was questioned, among other things, in an interview with PAP.PL that the Senate Committee is postponing work on the draft resolution.
Something changed in the position of the Civic Platform, something new happened and the Platform simply decided to prevent the Polish government from pursuing Germany’s reparations claims. I think we will know the motives soon, but this is shocking and outrageous news to me
– He said.
Mularczyk underlined that during the parliamentary vote, all the political formations supported the resolution and that the action of the Senate committee today is a “very worrying signal” which, in his opinion, “aims to obstruct the negotiations future with the German government”.
The deputy believes that the next general elections will focus on “whether the Polish state, the Polish government will indeed raise the issue of compensation related to the Second World War in bilateral and international relations”. As he said, if the PiS wins this election, of course he will pursue this matter.
If the PO wins, it will simply postpone ad Kalendas Graecas, which means that today the PO, I hope not, is acting in the interest of Germany
– he rated.
“Today, we must clearly ask ourselves what interests Donald Tusk serves”
The PiS MP noted that the adoption of the resolution by the Senate would “significantly strengthen the government’s negotiating position” with the German government.
It would show that we are united in this matter, it would shake the Germans from the argument that this is a political issue, a campaign issue, that it is fun to chase a rabbit
– added.
Today, we must clearly ask ourselves what interests serve Donald Tusk, what interests are served by the senators of the Civic Platform
Says Mularczyk.
aja / PAP
