As expected, the German government rejected the Polish demands for World War II reparations in a diplomatic note. The corresponding letter from the Foreign Office in Berlin was received in Warsaw on January 3, the Polish Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday evening.
“According to the federal government, the issue of reparations and war reparations remains closed and the federal government does not intend to enter into negotiations on this issue,” the statement said.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also underlined the negative position of the federal government. During her visit to Warsaw in October, she “already made it clear that the question has been legally clarified for us by the German side,” said the Greens politician on Wednesday on the sidelines of her visit to the Portuguese capital of Lisbon when asked by a journalist. Baerbock added: “We have now included this point of view again in our written communication.”
Polish government spokesman Piotr Müller said of the German government’s response on Wednesday: “Running from one’s own crimes is not the best way in diplomatic relations.” Poland will make its position clear both at European level and at the United Nations. Deputy Foreign Minister and Reparations Commissioner Arkadiusz Mularczyk also announced that he would travel to Washington at the end of January and talk to members of parliament and senators to promote Poland’s concerns.
In early October, Poland’s national-conservative PiS government issued a diplomatic note demanding 1.3 trillion euros in compensation for the damage Poland suffered during World War II and Nazi Germany’s occupation.
The federal government rejects any claims for reparations. For them, the question is closed with the 2 4 treaty on the foreign policy aspects of German unity. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) made this point of view clear during a visit to Warsaw in October.
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