ICE - special Poles the only European nation to back Bush's run for presidency
Almost two weeks after the re-election of US President George W. Bush to a second term in the White House, European governments are getting used to the idea of another four years of a sometimes difficult trans Atlantic relationship. Many of them expected or hoped that they will be working with a Democrat administration led by John Kerry. But not all. Poland is the only EU country where opinion polls showed a majority of the population backed the Bush camp.
US President George W. Bush, photo: CTK
Poland has been associated as a staunch advocate of Bush policies, which
became particularly evident in the case of Iraq. However, as Senate
speaker Longin Pastusiak observes, Poland has fallen victim to certain
political stereotypes:
"We Poles are very often accused of being the American Trojan horse in the European Union which, I think, is an exaggeration. The United States does not need Poland to be present in Europe. The US is already present in Europe - present militarily, politically through the connections of the North Atlantic Alliance, present culturally, economically to invest, and in trade and so on."
Longin Pastusiak, photo: www.polska-zbrojna.pl
Should Poland adopt any policy change vis-à-vis the US in Bush's second
term? Political analyst Krzysztof Mularczyk:
"Poland has developed a very Euro-Atlanticist position over the last couple of years, of being maybe not the principle allies of the United States in Europe, because that role is still performed by Great Britain, but being a very close ally. I think that strategy has got to be maintained, a strategy of trying to build bridges between Europe and America. And Poland, I think, would be very foolish to try and change this strategy now. That would be very confusing, both within Europe and also to the United States. So, I don't foresee any major changes being made here, either by the current government or any incoming government."
Why do Poles look up so much to the United States? Senate speaker Pastusiak:
"Maybe Polish companies will get more contracts in Iraq. I hope for some liberalization of the American visa policies towards Poland and Polish citizens, maybe some improvement in economic trade relations, because the level of trade between Poland and the United States is relatively low. Last year it was 2.9 billion US dollars and they are the number one economy in the world. So, there is a need for improvement".
Polish Euro-deputy Dariusz Rosati says Poland has won together with the Bush administration:
Dariusz Rosati, photo: www.pomaturze.pl
"Most European governments expected, or hoped for, election of
Senator Kerry. This puts Poland in a privileged position, in a way,
because now everybody knows that Poland enjoys very good relations with
this administration and with the president who will govern America for
another four years. And Poland can exploit diplomatically and politically
this privileged position. For Poland it's a good development".
And Prof. Rosati adds this privileged position assigns Poland a special role in Euro-Atlantic relations:
"We should work in favour of eliminating differences that currently divide Europe and America. And we can be very well placed for this kind of activity. We should insist on our American allies that they should be more open and should be more prepared to restart dialogue with countries such as Germany and even France. Likewise, we should work within the European Union with our European partners to be more open and forthcoming in relations with President Bush".
