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Bielecki, Tomasz
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5 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Right-wing populism a disgrace
EU Commissioner Viviane Reding's criticism of France's Roma expulsions is fully justified, writes the liberal daily Gazeta Wyborcza: "'This is a disgrace!' With these words EU Commissioner Viviane Reding has finally told the full truth about the expulsions of the Roma from France. The most painful problem in France isn't the unemployment or criminality of the Roma, but the attempt to make the French feel that foreigners pose a threat. ... President Nicolas Sarkozy has learned from Silvio Berlusconi. The Italian prime minister's coalition won the most recent elections by striking fear into the hearts of Italians with the spectre of mass immigration and rising criminality, although statistics even indicated a slight decline."
» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU Policy, » Minorities, » France
Hoping to improve Polish-Russian relations
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk is holding talks with President Vladimir Putin and others in Moscow today. Tomasz Bielecki considers the first visit to Russia by a Polish head of government since 2001 as an indication of détente. "The Kremlin is striving to improve relations to the west and needs a normalisation of relations to Warsaw to achieve this goal. Russian diplomats admit that Moscow learned to appreciate Poland's strong position in the EU only recently. ... The only tangible effect of a moderate thaw between Poland and Russia can be the development of economic relations. Even though Moscow often exploits trade in energy commodities to play international games, it can be very pragmatic in other realms. The prime example is Russia's relations with Latvia. Despite acrimonious political disputes with the Kremlin, this country has been conducting trade with Russia intensely over the past two years."
» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Poland, » Russia
Italians are thrust back into political incertitude
Tomasz Bielecki finds the Catholic Church is partly to blame for the end of Prodi's government: "One of the more important arguments in the fight against Prodi's administration was the defence of the Church and 'Christian civilization.' Some Bishops and right-wing politicians blame Prodi for the scandal over Pope Benedict XVI's cancelled plan to visit Sapienza University of Rome. They charge Prodi with tolerating 'deviant laicism.'... The Bishops suggest that the Interior Ministry warned the Vatican against causing a major uproar. The government defended itself, saying it had advised Benedict not to visit the university. The Vatican accused the government of lying and withdrew its confidence. In addition, Catholic media have charged Prodi with promoting a left-wing 'moral revolution' – with the aim of accepting legal partnerships for homosexuals, or legalizing assisted suicide."
» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Italy
The Condemnation of the Crimes of Communism
Tomasz Bielecki sees the negative stance of Russian delegates to the Council of Europe as an attempt to have Russia portrayed in a more positive light in the annals of history. "For many of them, communism is associated mainly with the Soviet Union and Karl Marx. Basically what they're trying to do is defend their own history. The Russians are afraid that the Baltic States will use the resolution to elicit an apology for the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact and the difficulties of post-war history... A diplomatic trick has enabled the Russians to prevent an analogy being made with the condemnation of Nazi crimes from the outset."
» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » History, » Europe
The Cold Gas War
Tomasz Bielecki sums up Poland's view of the political aspects of the Russian-Ukraine dispute over gas supplies. "In retaliation for its 'betrayal of the Kremlin', Ukraine is being blackmailed with threats to cut off its gas supplies. Moscow's propagandists refer to the threats as an accelerated 'return to market principles'. Russia is trying to convince the West that the 'unpredictable Ukraine' is to blame for the disruption of gas supplies to Western Europe. A year ago, Polish politicians were able to convince European governments to back the Orange Revolution. Today it's their duty to inform Europe of the Kremlin's strategy of using its gas supplies to re-conquer Ukraine."
» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Russia
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