Polish Radio
March 11, 2015
MoD Siemoniak: Poland ‘cannot ignore threats’
Poland’s Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak has said that despite the unstable situation in eastern Ukraine, Poles should feel safe.
“However, we cannot ignore any threats and we have to remember that after years of peace, suddenly one country decides to the change the borders of another,” Siemoniak told the public broadcaster TVP on Monday evening.
“[Poland is] a member of EU and NATO and as such we are safe,” Siemoniak maintained, adding that “let us not forget that NATO is much stronger than Russia in military terms”.
Siemoniak underlined that Poland’s security is maintained by Article 5 of the Washington Treaty – the founding charter of the military alliance – which calls for mutual defence in case of an attack on one of its members.
“US forces have been stationed in Latvia precisely for this reason, to underline their presence,” Siemoniak said.
The comment comes as the United States on Monday sent heavy armour to Latvia and also announced that it will send some 3,000 troops to the Baltic states for joint exercises over the coming months.
“The deliveries are intended to “demonstrate resolve to President (Vladimir) Putin and Russia that collectively we can come together,” US Major General John O’Connor told the AFP news agency in the Latvian capital, Riga.
O’Connor added that the equipment would remain there “for as long as required to deter Russian aggression”.
Meanwhile, Minister Siemoniak said that a Polish training mission for Ukrainan army officers and NCOs will be finalised later this month.
“We would like to undertake this mission in Poland, although there an idea to conduct these exercises in Ukraine has also surfaced,” he said. “Our decision will made regardless of what the Russians think, what’s more important is that this cooperation is effective”.
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Polish Radio
March 11, 2015
Kopacz: Europe faces greatest security crisis since Cold War
Prime Minister of Poland Ewa Kopacz has stated that the Ukrainian crisis has triggered an unprecedented security threat to contemporary Europe.
”We have the greatest security crisis in Europe since the Cold War,” she affirmed in an interview with public broadcaster TVP. ”To disregard this would be irresponsible,” she added.
”Yet sending signals that spark anxiety among our citizens would also be too much.
”So we need to have a balanced position,” she said. Kopacz claimed that Poland’s membership of NATO is the country’s guarantee of security.
To date, Poland has been one of the most vigorous defenders of the new Kiev government. ”We need to protect our own interests, but at the same time to fight for something that Ukraine is fighting for today.
”For the first time, blood is actually being shed for the European Union, or for an attempt at integration into the European Union.”
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