Catastrophe offers chance for reconciliation

Polish President Lech Kaczyński perished on Saturday in a plane crash on his way to a memorial service for the victims of the Katyn massacre. Paradoxically, the liberal daily Gazeta Wyborcza sees a chance for reconciliation despite the sadness which has gripped the country: "The first paradox: since April 10, 2010, Katyn has stopped being an empty word - for both the Western world and Russia. Until now it was often merely considered a particularity of the anti-Russian sentiment among Poles. Thanks to the catastrophe the truth about the Stalinist crime against 22,000 polish officers 70 years ago is etched in everyone's mind. ... The second paradox is that the reaction of Russia and the Russians to the tragic death of the Polish president and many state dignitaries ... on their way to Katyn of all places has led to an unprecedented if traumatic chance for authentic Polish-Russian reconciliation."

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