Medvedev arrives in Poland to discuss crash probe, Katyn

Dec 6, 2010, 11:07 GMT

Warsaw - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Warsaw on Monday for a two-day 'milestone' visit that it was hoped would open a new chapter in Polish-Russian relations.

Medvedev was to meet with Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski and Prime Minister Donald Tusk in the first visit of a Russian president to Poland in eight years.

The talks were expected to focus on the commemoration of the April plane crash in which Polish president Lech Kaczynski was killed, as well as historical issues that continue to haunt Russian-Polish relations, like the Soviet-era Katyn massacre of some 20,000 Poles during World War II.

Poland wants Russia to release more archival documents from their investigation into the massacre to conclude their own probe, saying it needs the materials for rehabilitation of the victims' families.

Medvedev was also expected to announce plans to set up 'dialogue centre' - one in Russia and another in Poland.

The centres would build understanding between Russians and Poles on history and national heritage by hosting seminars, lectures and cultural events.

Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said Medvedev's visit was a 'milestone' in normalizing Polish-Russian relations.

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