POLAND:Polish prime minister Donald Tusk has pledged to withdraw his country's troops from Iraq in 2008 and end the confrontational politics pursued by the previous administration, writes Jamie Smythin Warsaw.
Delivering his coalition's programme to the Polish parliament yesterday, Mr Tusk said he would lead a "government of common sense" and signalled he would repair relations with Germany, the EU and Russia.
He also announced an ambitious programme of economic and social reform, pledging to cut taxes, balance the budget and prepare Poland to join the euro currency as soon as this was possible to achieve "safely".
In a three-hour address to the Sejm, Mr Tusk said he would follow through on an election pledge to bring back 900 Polish troops from Iraq.
"The specific date will be decided on in consultation with the US . . . but 2008 is the last year of the military presence in Iraq," he said about a crucial foreign policy decision which, although well flagged in the media, suggests he will pursue an independent relationship with the US.
Poland's previous administration, led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, was a staunch supporter of the US and his government was one of several in the EU that backed the US invasion of Iraq, prompting divisions in Europe.
In a bid to assuage US concerns about the pull-out, Mr Tusk said the 1,200 Polish troops in the Nato-led force in Afghanistan would remain. He also promised to continue talks with the US over its plan to use Poland as one of its bases for a missile defence system, which is designed to protect Europe and the US from strikes from rogue states.
Mr Tusk also offered to hold talks with Russia on the missile defence shield, which has provoked major tensions between the two states.
"We want dialogue with Russia . . . it is time for a change for the good in this relationship," said Mr Tusk, who, during his speech referred to the need to engage in negotiations with neighbouring states to build trust.
Mr Tusk also launched a stinging attack on the previous administration's handling of both foreign and domestic politics, accusing it of invoking history to pursue party politics.
"Contrary to those who stepped down we are convinced that the task of good authority is to solve conflicts, mitigate conflicts and not to feed on conflicts," he said.
In June the Kaczynski-led government enraged Germany by invoking the second World War in negotiations on the new EU Reform Treaty. It also pursued a vocal and divisive campaign to identify communist collaborators in positions of public office in Poland.
Mr Tusk said his coalition, which includes his own conservative Civic Platform Party and the Polish Peasant Party, would look to the future rather than focus on the past. He also signalled a shift of tone in Poland's relationship with Europe, saying it was not a matter of the "EU and us" anymore because Poland was a member of the EU.
"We are ready and hope to have even more integration and co-operation with all members of the EU," said Mr Tusk, who added that Poland would join the euro as soon as it was possible to do so without hurting the public.
But Mr Tusk acknowledged in his speech that he faces a tough job getting his ambitious reforms adopted because Jaroslaw Kaczynski's twin brother, Lech, remains president until 2010.
Despite supporting the charter for fundamental rights - a Bill of rights attached to the new EU Reform Treaty - Mr Tusk said his government would continue to follow a British opt-out from this part of the treaty for fear that the president would delay or endanger ratification of the entire treaty.
"The most important thing is the safe ratification of the treaty," said Mr Tusk, who appealed to the president to play a constructive role in helping his coalition change Poland for the better.