Obama hails Poland, condemns Belarus, at end of Europe trip

May 28, 2011, 14:07 GMT

US President Barack Obama (L) and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (R) hold a joint press conference after their meeting in Warsaw, Poland, 28 May 2011. Obama met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to discuss, among other things, the situation in Afghanistan and economic issues, including shale gas. EPA/RADEK PIETRUSZKA POLAND OUT

Warsaw - Poland is an example for Europe and the world because of its combined economic and democratic success, US President Barack Obama said Saturday in Warsaw after a meeting with his Polish counterpart Bronislaw Komorowski.

Obama stressed it was Poland's role to show nations like Ukraine, which may one day join the European Union, the road to democracy and democratic reforms.

The US president also criticized neighbouring Belarus, noting that the country was 'backsliding' and had a 'total disregard for democratic values.' Political opponents of President Alexsander Lukashenko have been beaten up and imprisoned.

He added that it was important to help Belarus build a democratic society.

'The kind of repressive actions we're seeing in Belarus can end up having a negative impact over the region as a whole,' Obama said. 'And that makes us less safe and less secure.'

The visit was seen as a bid by the US to reassure Warsaw of its position as one of Washington's senior allies in the region. Obama called Poland one of the 'strongest and closest' allies for the US in the world.

Obama reiterated Saturday that the missile defense system slated for Poland was something that the US and Russia can cooperate on.

Poland is already hosting a US Patriot missile battery, which has caused tensions with Moscow. Russia says the system is aimed at its nuclear arsenal and not - as the US has said - against Iran. There are also plans to station SM-3 interceptors in Poland as part of a missile defence shield.

Obama later met with Poles who had played a crucial role in toppling Communism in 1989, including activists from the labour union Solidarity. Remembering the founding of Solidarity, Obama said he wanted to urge all nations who were seeking freedom to take example from Poland.

But Lech Walesa, the founder of Solidarity, did not attend the meeting because he felt it would be nothing more than a 'photo opportunity.'

Obama also met with Prime Minister Donald Tusk on what was the final stop of the week-long European tour he began Monday in Ireland.

Tusk said he wanted to bring Poland's experiences to countries in North African and the Middle East, who are struggling towards democracy. Obama said the former Soviet-bloc nation can 'play an extraordinary role' in promoting democracy.

Before departing Warsaw, Obama lay a wreath at a monument commemorating the victims of a plane crash that killed Polish President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others in Russia in April 2010. He also met briefly with family of the victims.

Obama arrived in Poland Friday to attend a meeting of some 20 central and eastern European leaders on how to support democratic changes in the Arab world and Belarus.

Poland has become an increasingly important player in the European Union, which it joined in 2004, and was the only nation in Europe to avoid recession in 2009.

The ex-communist nation was part of the US-led mission in Iraq, and currently has some 2,500 soldiers stationed in Afghanistan.

Critics have said Warsaw has received little in return for that support: Poles must still apply for US travel visas, critics say, while most Europeans can travel to the US without such restrictions.

Obama said he supported changing the criteria for granting visas to Poland, and that he urged US Senators to change the law to allow Poles free travel.

Obama departed Poland later Saturday and headed straight for Joplin, Missouri, where he was to tour the tornado-torn city and speak at a memorial service.

In Missouri, Obama was to meet with local and state officials on the recovery effort of the region, which was hit by a tornado Sunday.

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