Interview with Polish President: Krakow Energy Summit – an Attempt to Reinforce Cooperation between Central Europe, South Caucasus, and Central Asia

Interview with Poland’s President, Lech Kaczyński on the threshold of the Kraków Energy Summit, May 11-12 2007:

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(2007-05-12) A. Gasimova; E. Husseynov

Poland committed to property restitution

Poland is committed to dealing with the prickly issue of Holocaust property restitution, Polish Foreign Minister Anna Fotyga said, adding that she could not say whether a bill on the issue before parliament would be passed by the end of the year.

"We are willing to take [on] this problem... but the issue is extremely complicated because of our budgetary obligations," Fotyga told The Jerusalem Post during a state visit to Israel timed to coincide with Holocaust Remembrance Day.

(2007-05-12) Etgar Lefkovits

Russia's far abroad

Recent developments revolving around energy supplies and the future of Kosovo demonstrate how an emboldened Russia is intent on dominating the European agenda. Moscow's strategy toward the European Union consists of three core elements: disrupting EU consensus; gaining influence over key states; and preventing any further NATO or EU expansion.

In his landmark speech at the Munich security conference in February, President Vladimir Putin spelled out his priorities: to diminish the effectiveness of international organizations that obstruct Moscow's expansionist ambitions and to restore Russia's stature as a global power. Centralized control over growing energy revenues has enabled the Kremlin to accelerate the pursuit of these objectives.

(2007-05-12) Janusz Bugajski

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