Polish Foreign Minister calls for stronger NATO presence in country's east
In an interview with Deutsche Welle, the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Witold Waszczykowski, called for long-term placement of NATO troops on the eastern flank. He also defended his country's policy towards refugees.
Waszczykowski called for a stronger presence of NATO troops on the eastern flank of the Alliance. He urged NATO western partners to protect his country from potential attacks by Russia. "Russia is trying to change the situation in Europe and, possibly, beyond its borders, as well as to review current architecture of security," Waszczykowski said in an interview with “DW Conflict Zone”, released on Wednesday, April 13, 2016. The Polish Minister noted that he is not afraid of a new cold war, but urged "to maintain dialogue with the Russians and explain to them that their behavior is wrong." The Polish Minister declared a long-term placement of the NATO troops in Eastern Europe "the only possible solution to the current insecurity" in the region.
Waszczykowski also advocated a Warsaw policy against illegal migrants. He said that Poland could not accept these people because they have "no prospects in the Polish labor market.” Waszczykowski stressed that every country has the right to conduct individual policies towards refugees. At the same time, he noted that "thousands of Muslims aren't knocking on the doors of his country.”
Waszczykowski refused to comment on disturbing relations between Poland and the EU. Among the topics of contention are the Polish government’s policies towards homosexuals and abortion as well as the dispute with the EU over restrictions on media freedom in Poland. He indicated that they were either "internal affairs" or "national issues" that are outside his purview.