GEORGIA VS. POLAND’S INTEREST
Czeslaw Ryszka

Catholic Weekly
00409&dz=spoleczenstwo&id_art=00107
Sept 10 2008
Poland

Russia has recognised the independence of the two separatist Georgian
republics: Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Informing about that fact
the Russian President Dmitri Miedviediev said perversely that it
was the only possibility to prevent ‘a genocide’ of the Ossetian and
Abkhazian nations by Georgian forces. The presidents of both rebel
republics called Russia’s ‘help’ a historical event. They promised
to be at ‘Russia’s side’ forever. These are the facts. The Russian
aggression against Georgia shows that Moscow has not accepted the new
map of the region after the fall of the USRR. One can expect that this
invasion is only a step leading to further expansion. Let me remind
you that the provocative tensions occur in the enclave of the Upper
Karabakh in Azerbaijan, which is mainly inhabited by Armenians. Various
conflicts, stirred by Moscow, occur in Moldova, Kirgizia, Tadzikistan
and first of all in Ukraine: the conflict concerning Crimea and the
Back Sea fleet is literary in the air. It is true that protests
are being sent to Moscow from all parts of the world; that the
extraordinary EU summit took place and it was to consider possible
economic and diplomatic sanctions against Russia. Moreover, at its
nearest session the Polish Parliament is going to take a resolution
about this issue as an expression of our national solidarity with the
Georgian nation. It is good that we are living in the 21st century;
that one cannot silently partition a sovereign country as it happened
to Poland in the 19th century. But does Russia show any consideration
for the West and its criticism when it was the West that has assured
Russia to follow such a policy? It was the West, including the
Polish government, that recognised the new state of Kosovo, sectioned
from the territory of Serbia, ignoring the international law. Most
certainly this fact encouraged Russia to create puppet quasi-states
in its former republics. Is Poland safe in this situation? In some
sense it has already been attacked since our energetic independence
has been attacked: oil and natural gas pipelines from the Caspian
Sea run through Georgia. In brief, the Russian aggression against
Georgia stopped the Polish project to build a pipeline Odessa – Brody,
based on the natural resources transported through Georgia (for weeks
the Georgian oil terminals in Batumi, Kulevi and Poti, where oil was
transported from Azerbaijan by train, have not been working). In a
word, Russia has proved to be able to use all means to control oil
and gas transports in the territories that it recognises as its own
sphere of influence. In this context, one can see clearly how dangerous
the Northern Pipeline, built on the bottom of the Baltic Sea, is for
Poland and Europe since it will make the West completely dependent on
the Russian natural resources. If Germany and other European countries
had drawn conclusions from this war Berlin should have withdrawn from
the project of the pipeline or at least the German government should
have stopped supporting the project. To end the policy of nice gestures
of the West towards Russia – will it happen? At present, it has turned
out who the government of Leszek Miller, that broke the agreement with
Norway concerning gas delivery to Poland, served and what a vermin
the government was. Continuing this thought it was good that we had
connected our safety with the Western countries and that the military
agreement with the U.S.A. concerning the missile defence shield was
signed. It was certainly a good choice. We are allied to the United
States; we are in alliance with NATO and obviously we count on the
support of our allies in case of attack. The old Latin proverb says,
‘it you want peace prepare for war.’ We do not mean provoking enemies
but we mean a responsible approach towards state’s security. In a word,
in the name of preserving peace one should be always prepared to have
good alliances and be able to defend oneself. Therefore, at the moment
the American basis in our country has two important goals: a military
one and a symbolic one. The former means a long-term protection from
the American side against potential threats in the future and the
latter means our ever better integration with the West. However,
one cannot forget that every alliance or pact creates serious
dependence. This is possible if Poland accepts the Treaty of Lisbon,
which is directed towards a European superstate. Should the very way
of introducing this treaty not evoke fear in those who appreciate
sovereignty of national states? The present pressure to repeat the
referendum in Ireland is meaningful. In a word, being in the EU we
use our membership but thanks to that are we richer or are we being
perceived in a better way in the world? We must do more to protect
our interests, guard our possessions and achieve everything by our
own efforts. Many a time we have seen that the big and strong Western
countries have treated Poland as a country of economic expansion, a
market for goods; they have done colossal businesses in our country,
ignoring our national interests. Where are the Polish banks, steel
works, factories…? Now we can helplessly watch the fall of our
shipyards. Furthermore, following the EU order we must privatise our
power plants, post offices, hospitals…- in a word, we must make
our country and society more dependent on external factors. It is
worth remembering other threats, including the cultural and moral
ones, which attack our national community and family. Is the moral
revolution – promotion of homosexual relationships or abortion –
leading to a demographic catastrophe not one of such threats? Facing
the conflict in Georgia, the thing is not to see Russia as one big
opponent of democracy and freedom in the world. It is time to come
to our senses in many other issues. May it not be too late.