Poland seeks to tamp down German war reparations row

Warsaw played down a row with Germany over its demand for World War II reparations, with Poland’s foreign minister saying the issue should not hinder good relations between neighbors.

“At the moment, there is no question of it becoming an obstacle standing between the relationship of our two countries,” said Jacek Czaputowicz, in his first visit to Berlin since he was appointed Poland’s foreign minister in a reshuffle last week.

“We are looking for solutions… This discussion should take place on the basis of experts,” he said after talks with his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel, adding that Warsaw is “open to discussions.”

Poland’s right-wing government ruffled feathers in Berlin when it revived in July the issue of reparations — an issue that for years had been considered settled.

Germany has firmly rejected Poland’s claims, pointing to a 1953 decision by the country’s then communist regime to relinquish demands for compensation.

But Poland’s nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) government disputes the validity of Warsaw’s 1953 deal, arguing that it was made under the diktat of the Soviet Union.

— AFP