Smolensk plane crash made Poland reassess its attitude toward Russia
If Poland and Russia continue to work constructively on their relations, to build them anew, then, in historical terms, the Smolensk plane crash may be mythologized as more of a positive event in terms of the coming together of these two Slavic peoples in greater mutual understanding.
REUTERS/ Denis Sinyakov
Valdaiclub.com interview with Alexander Rahr, Director of the Russia/Eurasia Program, German Council on Foreign Relations.
What prospects do you think there are for Russian-Polish relations considering the political and emotional aftermath of the presidential plane crash at Smolensk?
I am convinced that the Smolensk plane crash made Poland reassess its attitude toward Russia and that Poland, under its current government at least, is trying to devise a very constructive Eastern policy for Europe. I believe that Poland’s presidency of the European Union, due to begin in six months’ time, will generate new, constructive modes of Russia-EU cooperation. We will not slide back into a Cold War as, but for the Smolensk plane crash, we could have.
Is Poland likely to use its EU presidency to put pressure on Russia over this issue?
Poland does not want confrontation with Russia, let alone to involve the whole of Europe in a confrontation like this. Instead, at a recent official dinner in Warsaw the Polish foreign minister said that Poland would attempt to learn from Germany’s experience of how best to bolster constructive and partner-like relations while seeking reconciliation with Russia on historical issues.
The Interstate Aviation Committee report provoked controversy in the Polish establishment and was accompanied by criticism of the committee’s work and allegations that the Russian military airport’s flight controllers were to blame for the crash. What do you make of IAC’s work and the report’s basic conclusions?
I don’t think that Russian experts could have concealed anything. Both parties worked side by side and exchanged information. Perhaps the Russian experts could have overlooked minor details and not all information was accessible, because there are some classified subjects in Russia. Nevertheless, I believe the case was 99% investigated and that the investigation was transparent. The criticism we hear from the Polish side, above all from the late president’s brother, is, to my mind, merely politics. That view is mainly propagated by those forces in Polish politics that became the opposition after Kaczynski’s death. In Polish politics, the “Russian factor” remains a tool or horror story used to achieve particular political aims. So far, there have been no official protests regarding this report from the Polish president or prime minister. I believe the situation is developing in an atmosphere of full cooperation on both sides and also on a highly transparent footing, and that through this tragedy, both sides will eventually find a new formula for positive cooperation.
Who in the Polish establishment will benefit from mythologizing the Smolensk tragedy and why?
First of all I would like to point out that Russia, and not only Russia but also Germany and the whole world should understand what Katyn means for Poland. For the Poles, Katyn is a cursed place and the Smolensk accident only added substance to the Katyn-related myths Poland already has. It is worth mentioning that these myths are very deeply rooted in Polish society. Despite this and in spite of the emotions that engulfed both countries following the accident, and given the fact that Russia, more than any other European nation, expressed its sincere sympathy to the Polish people, this tragedy, to my mind, has started to play a positive role.
We should also bear in mind that, for example, German or French leaders who could have gone to Kaczynski’s funeral by car or by helicopter did not do so, whereas Russian President Dmitry Medvedev flew to Poland even though the skies had been closed following the Icelandic volcano eruption. Touches like that will not be forgotten. Emotional periods like this are etched in a people’s history and memory. So, returning to what I said at the beginning of this interview, if both countries continue to work constructively on their relations, to build them anew, then, in historical terms, the Smolensk plane crash may be mythologized as more of a positive event in terms of the coming together of these two Slavic peoples in greater mutual understanding.
Alexander Rahr
source / read more:
Valdaiclub.com interview with Alexander Rahr, Director of the Russia/Eurasia Program, German Council on Foreign Relations.
What prospects do you think there are for Russian-Polish relations considering the political and emotional aftermath of the presidential plane crash at Smolensk?
I am convinced that the Smolensk plane crash made Poland reassess its attitude toward Russia and that Poland, under its current government at least, is trying to devise a very constructive Eastern policy for Europe. I believe that Poland’s presidency of the European Union, due to begin in six months’ time, will generate new, constructive modes of Russia-EU cooperation. We will not slide back into a Cold War as, but for the Smolensk plane crash, we could have.
Is Poland likely to use its EU presidency to put pressure on Russia over this issue?
Poland does not want confrontation with Russia, let alone to involve the whole of Europe in a confrontation like this. Instead, at a recent official dinner in Warsaw the Polish foreign minister said that Poland would attempt to learn from Germany’s experience of how best to bolster constructive and partner-like relations while seeking reconciliation with Russia on historical issues.
The Interstate Aviation Committee report provoked controversy in the Polish establishment and was accompanied by criticism of the committee’s work and allegations that the Russian military airport’s flight controllers were to blame for the crash. What do you make of IAC’s work and the report’s basic conclusions?
I don’t think that Russian experts could have concealed anything. Both parties worked side by side and exchanged information. Perhaps the Russian experts could have overlooked minor details and not all information was accessible, because there are some classified subjects in Russia. Nevertheless, I believe the case was 99% investigated and that the investigation was transparent. The criticism we hear from the Polish side, above all from the late president’s brother, is, to my mind, merely politics. That view is mainly propagated by those forces in Polish politics that became the opposition after Kaczynski’s death. In Polish politics, the “Russian factor” remains a tool or horror story used to achieve particular political aims. So far, there have been no official protests regarding this report from the Polish president or prime minister. I believe the situation is developing in an atmosphere of full cooperation on both sides and also on a highly transparent footing, and that through this tragedy, both sides will eventually find a new formula for positive cooperation.
Who in the Polish establishment will benefit from mythologizing the Smolensk tragedy and why?
First of all I would like to point out that Russia, and not only Russia but also Germany and the whole world should understand what Katyn means for Poland. For the Poles, Katyn is a cursed place and the Smolensk accident only added substance to the Katyn-related myths Poland already has. It is worth mentioning that these myths are very deeply rooted in Polish society. Despite this and in spite of the emotions that engulfed both countries following the accident, and given the fact that Russia, more than any other European nation, expressed its sincere sympathy to the Polish people, this tragedy, to my mind, has started to play a positive role.
We should also bear in mind that, for example, German or French leaders who could have gone to Kaczynski’s funeral by car or by helicopter did not do so, whereas Russian President Dmitry Medvedev flew to Poland even though the skies had been closed following the Icelandic volcano eruption. Touches like that will not be forgotten. Emotional periods like this are etched in a people’s history and memory. So, returning to what I said at the beginning of this interview, if both countries continue to work constructively on their relations, to build them anew, then, in historical terms, the Smolensk plane crash may be mythologized as more of a positive event in terms of the coming together of these two Slavic peoples in greater mutual understanding.
Alexander Rahr
source / read more:
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