Adam Krzemnski on German-Polish relations

The Warsaw-based journalist Adam Krzeminski explains in the weekly paper Die Zeit why the German president of the Association of Expellees Erika Steinbach has reopened old wounds in Poland: "In Germany the conflict over Erika Steinbach should not just be passed off as the result of Polish hypersensitivity. Of course there is such hypersensitivity, but it is better to try to disarm such feelings. Conversely, many Poles miss the root of the problem when they retreat into their own historical neuroses and ignore those of their neighbour. It is unfortunate that both countries currently lack young politicians, intellectuals and journalists who are sufficiently aware of the European dimension of German-Polish relations that they could indicate a way out of this vicious circle of mutual arrogance and ignorance. ... It is idle to fight over who has done more in recent years to escalate tensions between the two countries. Politics resides on the legal principle of 'do ut des' [I give, so that you may give]. The statements made by Wladyslaw Bartoszewski, Poland's special representative for relations with Germany, are to be understood as a signal that German-Polish relations continue to deserve special attention."

» more information (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » History, » Germany, » Poland
All available articles from » Adam Krzeminski

» To the complete press review of Friday, February 20, 2009