Europe News
Most Poles want sanctions against Russia
Sep 1, 2008, 9:38 GMT
Warsaw - A majority of Poles wants the European Union (EU) to introduce political and economic sanctions against Russia at its emergency summit on the Caucasus crisis, according a poll published Monday in the daily Dziennik.
Fifty-three per cent agree to sanctions while 30 per cent are against, said the poll conducted by TNS OBOP on August 30. Fifty-nine per cent say Poland should act strictly in accordance with the EU's official position on the issue while 27 per cent believe Poland should present its own tough stance in support of Georgia.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday that Poland will use Monday's summit to press for humanitarian and infrastructure aid to Georgia along with regular consultations to maintain Georgia's territorial integrity.
President Lech Kaczynski has advocated a tougher stance against Russia and emerged as one of Georgia's strongest supporters after its recent brief but bloody conflict with Russia over its breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Both politicians were slated to attend Monday's EU summit in Brussels.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev last week recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent, defying Western criticism.
In response Poland's Foreign Ministry called for respect for Georgia's territorial integrity, while the US and the EU also reaffirmed support for Georgia.
Medvedev stressed that Russia has long held back from recognizing the regions' pleas for independence, but Georgia's attack on South Ossetia had forced its hand.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
'MAD'VLAD states that RUSSIA has a moral responsibility 'to protect' - the only thing is the 'NEW-CZAR' wants to 'protect' POLAND, UKRAINE, EAST GERMANY, HUNGARY, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, YUGOSLAVIA - in short all the 'satellites' the old SOVIET UNION lost!!! All will hail 'MAD'VLAD and his new zone of 'PROTECTED EUROPE'!!! Ha.
This is ridiculous. Georgia started this nonsense. THEY are the ones who should be 'sanctioned'.
predun
turn poland into swiss
Whaat the swiss is not independent because of its military power it is
independent because it decided to make no differnece between the money from corrupt politicans or criminals or dictators or drug, weapon or humantrafficing money or regular business.i am sure putin and saakiasvili have their account's there.so you think the polish people will learn to be frindly even to the russians?
well i dont think so it
Russia started this whole thing. You can see from the months leading up to the event. Georgia was just protecting it country. I talked to an x-KGB he knows they started it. Its the old tactics from the past. Georgia even has evidence when Russia blew up its spy plane. It clear to see that Russia started it when you look at the whole picture. Russia had a full army ready to go. Why do you think Russia was so afraid of a missile shield unless they where up to no good. Russia also did not want Georgia & the other neighbors in NATO. The other country in the world know that its not a matter at who is at fault they know it is Russia. Now it is a matter of how to deal with it.
Finally South Ossetia and Abzhazia are free from Georgian rule. They fully deserve it. Georgian regime will never again terrorize freedom-loving Ossetian people. Thanks you President Medvedev for liberation of my people. Gob Bless Russia!
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Starry PerdunSep 1st, 2008 - 11:57:28
Given Russia's/Soviet Union's recent histories, Poland should with great haste, start turning itself into a Switzerland.
The EU will not be there to help when Putin decides it's your turn to return to the Russian fold.
Poland is on it's own, as are all the old Soviet slave states. Georgia is just the first.
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