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Wielinski, Bartosz
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4 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Normal German-Polish relations
The left-wing liberal daily hails yesterday's meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in the Polish city of Gdansk as a success. "From this perspective the fact that Tusk has managed to normalise relations with Berlin within the space of six months is a considerable achievement. Yet he has not swept any problems under the carpet. ... It is unrealistic to expect both countries to step out of the shadow of the past and overcome the social stereotypes in the near future. The Polish Prime Minister and the German Chancellor will often face these problems in times to come. But it does not require a breakthrough to deal with these problems; all that is necessary is to maintain normality. It is thanks to this kind of cooperation that Poland's role within the EU can grow."
» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Germany, » Poland
Dispute over the Centre against Expulsions resolved
After nine years of debate, the dispute between Germany and Poland about a planned Centre against Expulsions in Berlin was officially resolved. Poland will not participate formally in the planned documentation centre in Berlin, but collaboration on the part of Polish historians was not ruled out. Bartosz T. Wieliński remains sceptical. "Yesterday's compromise ... did not end the discussion about a place of commemoration for the expellees. The dispute took too long. Too many politicians in Poland and in Germany bear mutual animosity for the agreements reached yesterday to be able to end their argument. Politicians of the [Polish party] PiS will continue to pillory the government because it allegedly capitulated to Germany. The German Federation of Expellees will cry out because it wants to dictate how people commemorate the deportations, not the German government."
» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » Exhibitions / Museums, » Migration, » History, » Germany, » Poland
Criticism of the exhibition on expulsion in Berlin
Bartosz T. Wielinski, the daily's Berlin correspondent, was not very impressed with the "Forced Destinies" exhibition on mass expulsions in Europe currently on show in the German capital. The exhibition "draws parallels between the bloodbath in Armenia, the conflict in Yugoslavia and the dramas of the Second World War. In other words, it compares events which are not comparable. Erika Steinbach claims she wanted the exhibition to be give an objective portrayal of the victims. However, one can seriously doubt its objectivity because the graphic composition – the series of plaques describing the expulsions – conveys the impression that all the expellees are equally victims but fails to address the issue of Nazi Germany's responsibility in triggering the Second World War. It also lacks the right sense of proportion because almost as much space is dedicated to the Cyprus conflict and the war in ex-Yugoslavia as to the Second World War."
» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » Exhibitions / Museums, » History, » Germany
Chancellor Merkel in Russia
Berlin correspondent Bartosz Wielinski observes the end of the Putin-Schröder era with satisfaction, seeing it as an opportunity for Europe. "Angela Merkel adopts a different attitude when she talks to Vladimir Putin. She broaches the subject of Chechnya, despite it being taboo for Putin. She supports the Russian non-governmental organisations that play the role of the opposition. This is a sign to Europe as a whole that authoritarian practices – violations of the rule of law and freedom of opinion – should be openly opposed. Upholding such values could serve to unite Europe. We must defend these values and not let them be reduced to commodities that can be traded with Russia in exchange for oil and gas and with China in exchange for goods and services."
» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Germany
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