Medvedev urges Poland to open energy market to Russian firms

KREMLIN LEADER Dmitry Medvedev has called on Poland to open its energy market to Russian companies on the first day of a visit aimed at improving fractious relations between the countries.

Mr Medvedev urged his Polish counterpart Bronislaw Komorowski to disregard Russia’s reputation for using its own energy might to manipulate its neighbours and to boost strained bilateral ties through stronger trade.

“There is an opinion that practically all Russian energy projects are politicised; that Russia’s wish is to turn Europe into an energy junkie for political gain,” Mr Medvedev said in Warsaw yesterday.

“We think that’s absolute nonsense. There are big energy projects in Poland with regard to privatisation that would be of interest to Russian entities.”

After signing broad agreements to deepen economic, political and cultural ties with Moscow, Mr Komorowski said “the bad drought in Polish-Russian relations has come to an end”.

The countries have been slow to mend ties after the Soviet period of Kremlin domination of eastern Europe, but their current leaders insist they can overcome historical grievances.

Ahead of Mr Medvedev’s visit, Russia’s parliament finally passed a resolution blaming Josef Stalin for the 1940 Soviet massacre at Katyn of some 22,000 Polish prisoners of war and handed over more previously secret files on the atrocity.

Mr Medvedev also guaranteed full transparency in a Russian investigation into the April plane crash that killed Polish president Lech Kaczynski and dozens of other prominent Polish officials as they flew to a commemoration event at Katyn.

“This is a very sad page [in our history],” Mr Medvedev said. “We must do all we can so that no practical questions remain, so we agreed [with Mr Komorowski] to continue to work in this direction under our joint patronage.”

Many Poles are suspicious of Russia’s handling of the case and demand quicker results and a greater Polish role in its handling.

“I think Medvedev has a duty . . . to explain to the Polish people what happened there and why he and his master [prime minister Vladimir] Putin have been lying since April 10th about what they did there,” said Edward Mizikowski, one of a group of protesters who waved Polish flags and placards near Warsaw’s presidential palace.

Mr Medvedev also said he hoped that Poland would become “more actively involved” in Russian discussions with Nato and the EU in issues including US plans to build a missile defence shield in central Europe.