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Polish FM, US state secretary discuss Russia-Germany gas link

PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki 22.05.2018 11:00
Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed a contested gas link between Russia and Germany when they met in Washington on Monday local time, according to reports.
Poland's Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz (left) and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (right) shake hands during a photo opportunity at the beginning of their meeting at the State Department in Washington on Monday. Photo: EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDSPoland's Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz (left) and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (right) shake hands during a photo opportunity at the beginning of their meeting at the State Department in Washington on Monday. Photo: EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

The two top diplomats also talked about the presence of US troops in Poland and policy on Iran as well as a calendar of state visits, public broadcaster Polish Radio's IAR news agency reported.

After his visit to the State Department, Czaputowicz said that Poland and the United States had similar views on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which has been criticised by both Poland and the United States.

Czaputowicz said he hoped that diplomatic pressure from the United States would cause European companies to withdraw from the controversial project.

The US State Department spokeswoman said in March that the US government opposed Nord Stream 2 as the project would undermine Europe’s energy security and stability.

Kurt Volker, the US special representative for Ukraine, has reportedly said that the United States is considering imposing sanctions on multinational corporations taking part in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.

US troop presence

One of the topics of Czaputowicz’s talks with Pompeo was the threat posed by Russia, IAR reported.

"I pointed out that we want to host American soldiers in Poland so that this presence is constant, so that it is enhanced," Czaputowicz said, as quoted by IAR.

Czaputowicz and Pompeo were meeting a few days after US President Donald Trump pulled out of a nuclear deal with Iran.

Czaputowicz added that his country would demonstrate an understanding for the American position within the European Union, according to IAR.

The Polish top diplomat told reporters that he spoke with Pompeo about a calendar of bilateral visits, including a visit by Polish President Andrzej Duda to the White House, IAR reported.

It quoted Czaputowicz as saying: "We hope that the visit will go ahead still this year.”

Anti-defamation law

Czaputowicz also said that during his talks with Pompeo he raised the issue of a Polish anti-defamation law that created tensions in relations with Israel and the United States earlier this year.

The Polish parliament in late January passed a law that could see a jail term imposed on anyone who accuses Poland of being complicit in Nazi German crimes during World War II.

Polish President Andrzej Duda later signed the bill into law while also referring it to the Constitutional Tribunal for review.

Polish Prosecutor-General Zbigniew Ziobro, who also serves as the country's justice minister, has asked the Constitutional Tribunal to deem part of the new law unconstitutional because it allows people outside of Poland to be investigated and tried for accusing the country of being jointly responsible for war crimes.

Czaputowicz said he told Pompeo during their State Department talks that it was necessary to wait for a ruling by Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal, and he also said he hoped that “very good relations” with Israel would be restored, IAR reported.

(gs/pk)

Source: IAR

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