Germany to play dirty trick on 'favorite ally' Poland

Recent statements from Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, made in a recent "tape scandal," suggest that someone is trying to undermine the reputation of the current government of Donald Tusk and diminish the influence of Poland, and, consequently, the United States. In Poland, the "Russian trace" is being discussed actively.

Germany to play dirty trick on 'favorite ally' Poland. 53091.jpeg

If there is any doubt that such an effect is present, one shall recall who signed the famous Protocol from 21 February on the settlement of the situation in Ukraine, during the time of Yanukovych's government. They were foreign ministers of Germany, France and Poland, the so-called "Weimar Triangle", created for running joint policy in Eastern Europe. In the trio, Poland was represented by Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski. He is the central person involved in the "tape scandal."

Polish publication Wprost started the publication of the results of many hours of  wiretapping of conversations of Polish officials made ​​in a luxury restaurant in Warsaw. In one of the conversations, Sikorski suggested that there was no statehood in Poland, because three-quarters of Polish banks belonged to foreigners. In another conversation, he used foul language when talking about US allies. "You know that the Polish-American alliance is worth nothing, - Sikorski said, talking to former Minister of Finance Jacek Rostowski. - It even causes damage, because it gives Poland an erroneous sense of security. We will quarrel with the Germans and Russians and assume that everything is fine, because we did a favor to the Americans. We are losers. Complete losers," he said (swear words have been omitted and/or replaced).

"Diplomatic disaster," Polish analysts said in response to these statements. Officials with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it was a "real look at politics." Noteworthy, Sikorsky affords such statements being the principal conductor of U.S. interests in Europe. It was the interests of Poland in Eastern Europe that the United States relied upon in the development of "Eastern Partnership". It is Poland that more than other European countries wants to "stop the Russian potential aggression" in Ukraine. In particular, Defense Minister Tomasz Semonyak authorized the deployment of a squadron of American F-16 fighters in the Polish town of Lascaux. Sikorsky has repeatedly expressed support for the move to freeze the Russian-European cooperation, in particular, the Nord Stream gas pipeline system, calling it "Molotov-Ribbentrop Project."

"Poland had and still has more ambitions for second-best posts in the European Commission, but the Polish bid for a leading role in the EU does not correspond to Polish capabilities, - Nikolai Mezhevich, Professor of European Studies at the Faculty of International Relations, St. Petersburg State University, told Pravda.Ru. - In this case, the tapegate is indeed a specific illustration of the fact that Poland is being inadequate in assessing its role. The duality of the Polish position can be critically perceived by European and American politicians, who probably share the views expressed in that conversation, but not voicing it publicly."

In Poland, they link the scandal to the political struggle between the ruling party "Civic Platform" and its opposition in the face of the party "Law and Justice". The "Russian trace" is also discussed. The participation of Russian special services is highly unlikely: whatever government may come to power in Poland, the main trend will remain the same - anti-Russian policy. It is much more reasonable to search for the trace of German intelligence. The motive is apparent - the struggle for influence in the bodies of the European Commission after the May elections to the European Parliament.

The scale of the struggle can be seen in the controversy that appeared following the appointment of former Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker on to the post of the head of the European government. Great Britain, working for the disintegration of the European Union, fiercely, in the face of Prime Minister David Cameron, protested against the appointment, but the German protege was approved by the majority of votes. Now there is struggle unfolding for two other key places - the European Commissioner for Energy and High Representative for Foreign Affairs.

Here, Germany and its business elite do not want to see Polish candidates - Jerzy Buzek, (now the position is taken by Guenther Oettinger of Germany) and Sikorsky (currently - Catherine Ashton). As for Sikorsky, now his chances are slim. As for the second appointment, Germany insists Oettinger should stay in office to complete negotiations with Russia and Ukraine on gas prices and ensure the supply of raw materials to Europe, the German press writes.

It is obvious that Germany wants to see its own people, rather than U.S. stooges on key positions in the European Commission. This is the policy of the new German government chaired by Social Democrat, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. His foreign policy concept in relation to Russia is now called "change through interdependence," which is reminiscent to "change through rapprochement" - a program by Egon Bahr, Willy Brandt's closest adviser, who is often referred to as "the architect of new eastern politics." It was Brandt, who managed to improve relations with the Soviet Union in the 1970s. He was called "Brezhnev's secret friend." Brandt also was one of the co-authors of the first warming of relations between the USSR and the West.

It is obvious that Germany is ready for "new Ostpolitik." Germany has been braking U.S. initiatives for the introduction of European sanctions against Russia. Germany does not want to please U.S., thus harming its business interests in Russia. In other words, the German elite believes that one should not blindly follow the Euro-Atlantic Partnership.

The significance of the Weimar Triangle of Germany, France and Poland has been declining after the failure of February agreements. On Tuesday, France welcomed 400 Russian sailors to train them on board Mistral helicopter carriers. Besides, European leaders begin to understand that the war in Ukraine has been going on for too long. For Europe, Ukraine may turn into another Syria. The Poles are not the people who will stop it.

Lyuba Lulko
Pravda.Ru

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