Poland has sent diplomatic notes to its EU and NATO allies to drum up support for its dispute with Germany over €1.3 trillion in World War II reparations, Deputy Foreign Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk said on Wednesday.
Last month, Poland sent a diplomatic note to Berlin, asking for €1.3 trillion in World War II reparations from Germany. In the notes to its other allies, Poland informs them of the reasons behind Polish demands, Mularczyk told the Polish Press Agency (PAP).
Germany has never compensated for the damage or paid it to the victims of German aggression, said Mularczyk, noting that “Germans do not want to touch upon it, do not want an international agreement, there is also no legal path for the victims.”
“We will systematically inform the international community” about Germany’s unwillingness to fulfil those duties, the minister insisted, noting that the notes aim to convince foreign diplomats, politicians, activists and lawyers that the problem remains unresolved and that the violation of the rule of law and human rights are at stake.
The Polish government “wants to open an international debate about Germany’s attitude” towards its post-war obligations, Mularczyk said, adding that the country has not responded to the diplomatic note yet.
Berlin continuously rejected Poland’s claims for reparation, maintaining that all financial claims related to World War II were settled by the Two-plus-Four Treaty of 1990, which allowed the reunification of Germany.
In 1953, Poland’s communist government, under pressure from the Soviet Union, relinquished all claims to war reparations. Moscow wanted to free East Germany, another Soviet satellite, from any liabilities, reported Deutsche Welle.
Polish authorities claim the agreement is invalid since Poland could not negotiate fair compensation at that time.
(Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | EURACTIV.pl)
Source: euractiv.com
