Arkadiusz Mularczyk made the statement at a news conference on Wednesday, announcing that the Polish government would soon send a written reply to Berlin.
On Tuesday, Poland’s foreign ministry said in a statement that Germany had responded to Poland’s formal diplomatic note from October in which Warsaw called for more than PLN 6 trillion in compensation for World War II.
The Polish foreign ministry stated: “According to the German government, the issue of reparations and compensation for war losses remains closed and the German government does not intend to enter into negotiations on the matter.”
‘Germany cannot close an issue that’s never been opened’
Mularczyk told reporters on Wednesday: “The German government’s response means that Berlin regards the topic of compensation for World War II as closed and claims the issue cannot be subject to negotiations.”
He added: “In the view of the Polish foreign ministry, of the Polish state, this position is astounding, because the German state cannot close an issue that has never been opened.“
'We do not accept the German position'
Mularczyk urged Germany “to face up to its past,” adding that "so far we’re not seeing any willingness, any desire on the part of Germany to right the wrongs and compensate for war losses.”
He said Poland would "work on the international stage" to persuade the German public that its political leaders should change their stance on World War II damages for Poland.
The Polish deputy foreign minister also stated: “In our view, Germany should take systemic steps to implement the diplomatic note [sent by Poland in October]. I would also like to emphasise that we do not accept the German position, we reject it in its entirety as absolutely unjustified and incorrect.”
Mularczyk told reporters that Poland’s reply to the German note would be "issued soon and it should be brief.”
On September 1, Poland's government announced that the losses suffered by the country at the hands of Nazi Germany during World War II totalled PLN 6.22 trillion (EUR 1.3 trillion) and that it would demand compensation from Berlin.
On October 3, Polish Foreign Minister Zbgniew Rau signed a formal note to the government in Berlin, demanding compensation for losses Poland sustained during the war.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, tvp.info