Remarks With Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka After Meeting

PRIME MINISTER BELKA: (in Polish) Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to tell you that during her short visit to Warsaw, Secretary of State of the United States, Dr. Rice, met both our foreign minister, and now, as you can see, she has just finished a meeting with myself. We have talked about a whole range of issues of both international and bilateral character. As far as the international issues are concerned, the most important thing is the state of the transatlantic relationships, Euro-Atlantic relationships: how to develop them and how to strengthen them further. We talked about the situation in Ukraine. We talked about how to support the process of democratization in that country and development of Ukraine. We talked about Iraq, about the expected positive consequences of the elections in Iraq. And we also talked about the prospects of the peace process in the Middle East.

As far as the bilateral issues are concerned I would like to mention here two things. First of all we talked about military cooperation. We talked about the United States’ assistance in order to help to modernize the Polish Armed Forces. The second issue was raised during the first meeting Dr. Rice had in Warsaw and it was the issue connected with the visa regime for Poles traveling to the United States. We talked also about some further actions to be conducted in the months and years to come.

And in the last sentence I would like also to mention that Poland is one of the countries with which the United States has run strategic dialogues since last year. This dialogue will be continued and the person to be responsible for the strategic dialogue with Poland on the United States side is going to be Mr. Robert Zoellick, who is the United States Deputy Secretary of State. He used to be a representative for trade affairs, so I want to say that this dialogue will take a new face, more abundant in the economic issues.

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you very much, Prime Minister, for your hospitality and for the excellent discussions that we have just had. We have, of course,had an opportunity to talk about the tremendous ties between Poland and the United States, which are ties of history, for many Americans ties of kinship, and of course, ties most importantly of values. The Polish role in recent years in helping to sustain the momentum toward democratic development and liberty around the world is one that we appreciate so greatly and appreciate your friendship.

We did have an opportunity to talk about a number of issues. I have also talked with the Foreign Minister about them. I would just highlight that Poland’s role in continuing to promote democracy has helped with the Ukrainians, is helping the Iraqis, is helping the Afghans, is enormously important. It is also clear that as the Palestinian-Israeli process moves forward that we are hopeful that Poland, as a country that has good relations with both parties, will be able to play a constructive role in helping in the capacity building of the new Palestinian state in that area. And we talked about some possibilities there.

We also talked about the importance that America attaches to the vibrancy of modernization of the Polish Military Forces, because Poland is of course a key member of the NATO alliance, which is transforming its military forces and making them available, as has been the case in Afghanistan and was the case in the Balkans and is now in the case of training in Iraq, making them available for sustainment of stability operations and provide the basis for peace. So, Prime Minister, you can be certain that we are concerned about and want to contribute to the modernization of the Polish Armed Forces.

Finally, we did talk about a number of bilateral issues and I especially want to say that we are pleased that we believe that we are making some progress on what is a very difficult issue, the visa issue, but one that we have engaged in a spirit of friendship and cooperation and one that we will continue to engage in that way to overcome difficulties in that area. Thank you very much.

If I may just add one final note, I had an opportunity when I was with the foreign minister to say this, but I want to say it in the presence of the Prime Minister, as well. The tremendous contribution that Poland made to the Iraq that we see emerging. The tremendous gratitude that we have for the Iraqi people with what they did on Sunday in facing down terror. But it, in fact, could not have been possible without the contributions of not just the American Armed Forces, but the Polish Armed Forces. I know, Prime Minister, that Poland has suffered losses in that cause and I would just like to say particularly to the families of the fallen but also to the Polish people that that action and that effort on behalf of democracy and freedom is greatly appreciated.

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