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Unger, Leopold
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5 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Stauffenberg and Hosenfeld
The writer Leopold Unger writes in the Gazeta Wyborcza on the posthumous fates of Claus von Stauffenberg, the ringleader of the plot to assassinate Hitler, and Wilm Hosenfeld, a German officer from a Catholic background. During World War II Hosenfeld saved the lives of several hundred Jews and Poles. "Both Germans have their place in history. But they are now returning almost simultaneously into the public eye, if admittedly in very different ways. Stauffenberg on the silver screen [in the film 'Valkyrie'] and Hosenfeld on the wall of the Holocaust memorial Yad Vashedm in Jerusalem. ... But one important aspect distinguishes the two. Stauffenberg believed in the superiority of the German race, ... while Hosenfeld helped save the life of a Polish Jew [the musician Władysław Szpilman]."
» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » Film, » History, » Poland
Central Europe is Europe's conscience
Commentator Leopold Unger writes in Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper that Central Europe is the conscience of Europe. "There is a Central Europe in our memories and our experience. There is a Europe of the sell-out of Czechoslovakia in Munich in 1938, a Europe of the partition between Hitler and Stalin, a Europe between Auschwitz and the Gulag, a Europe that remained on the wrong side of the map after Yalta. There is the hinterland of the Reich and there is the Soviet satellites, and finally there is a Europe of former dissidents, opposition figures, a Europe that doggedly refuses to recognise the primacy of gas supplies over principles. This Central Europe stands as the defender of the revolution in Ukraine and Georgia. ... And today - strengthened by its Soviet experience and a thorough mistrust of the new Russian state's imperial ambitions - this Central Europe acts jointly, as a group of two countries over the missile defence shield, and as a group of six with the defence of Georgia. Just as it formerly sought to bring Europe to Kiev, so today this Europe wants to bring Nato to Tbilisi. It wants to awaken Europe's conscience and understanding at Moscow's attempt to make its 'close neighbours' once more into satellites. ... Such a Europe exists, although it has not yet made itself felt."
» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » History, » Russia, » Central Europe
Criticism of Donald Tusk's "Russia first" tactic
Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland goes to Moscow on 8 February for political discussions. But when it comes to visiting Ukraine, there is no date set, two months after Tusk's inauguration. Leopold Unger criticises the new Polish government for putting Russia ahead of Ukraine. "There is talk in Warsaw that the Prime Minister has tactical and political reasons for putting off his trip to Kiev. Don't do everything at once, first win the battle in Moscow, according to the ' Russia first' strategy. This seems like a correct assessment. It is well known that Putin does not like Poland's closeness to Kiev. But how will Poland react if other countries – such as Germany - also adopt the 'Russia first' motto?"
» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU enlargement, » Poland, » Ukraine
The EU-Russia summit ends with harsh words
German Chancellor and current EU President Angela Merkel clashed with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the subject of human rights at the EU-Russia summit which took place on May 17-18 in Samara. Although the summit was not very productive, Leopold Unger welcomes the fact that the EU adopted a hard line against Russia: "In Samara [Putin] was forced to hear what he should have been told very clearly long ago: that the EU will not submit to blackmail. Not only because - as with the three musketeers - solidarity is one of the pillars on which the EU is founded, in matters both great and small, but above all because Russia's blackmail tactics would just go on and on, as recent European history has shown... As [former Polish Foreign Minister] Rotfeld pointed out, Europe needs Russia, but Russia needs Europe even more. Now we must convince Russia of this. It's a question of time and of unity within Europe - true unity."
» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » EU enlargement, » Russia
The EU and Russia seek to improve relations
On May 19, Russia took over the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe for the first time. Columnist Leopold Unger says it's outrageous that Russian Foreign Minister Sergej Lawrow is now head of this European institution, the main purpose of which is to protect human rights and the rule of law. "Russia always was and still is far from meeting the requirements of the Council. Chechnya is still suffering, and the number of victims of racist attacks is growing... Even if you do accept that Russia, with its political history, needs more time to adjust, its membership in the Council of Europe always was and still is 'morally questionable', to say nothing of its holding the chairmanship! A state that is standing trial before the European Court of Human Rights – there are currently 9,000 cases against Russia (even more than against Turkey) – is now to guide the work of an institution aimed at defending these very rights."
» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Domestic Policy, » Russia
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