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Poland's
Foreign Minister defends decision to send troops to Iraq
Poland's
Foreign Minister, Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, does not believe the
Polish government is in danger of being toppled if there are casualties
amongst the Polish-led multinational force which has taken over
security duties from US marines in the Najaf region of central Iraq.
Speaking
to the 91Èȱ¬ World Service programme Europe Today
on Wednesday 3 September Mr Cimoszewicz said he recognised that
if something tragic was to happen to the Polish troops, public support
could dip even further.
The
Foreign Minister said: "Unfortunately from the very beginning
the decision taken by the Polish government for a Polish presence
was not very popular amongst our people, there was no big support
for that.
"We
understand that people are afraid, people probably do not understand
fully what is the reason to engage our personnel in such a far place
like Iraq.
"However,
we believe that this is most right, that there's a question of a
responsibility for international security and we will continue that
kind of policy…."
Questioned
on why the decision was taken to send the 9,000 strong force, Mr
Cimoszewicz said the Polish government felt Iraq did not comply
with international obligations.
He
added: "As an ally of the United States and of the United Kingdom,
we believe that it was necessary to support our allies."
Mr
Cimoszewicz also said that Polish personnel were well prepared for
this mission: "There is a very low risk of making any mistakes
and we will try to do our job in the best possible way."
This
interview is available in audio at -
Notes
to Editors
Europe
Today is the 91Èȱ¬ World Service's leading European news and current
affairs programme.
It
covers all European news as well as international developments affecting
the continent.
91Èȱ¬
World Service broadcasts programmes around the world in 43 languages
and is available on radio and online at .
It
has a global audience of 150 million listeners.
All the
91Èȱ¬'s digital services are now available on ,
the new free-to-view digital terrestrial television service, as well
as on satellite and cable.
Freeview
offers the 91Èȱ¬'s eight television channels, interactive services
from 91Èȱ¬i, as well as 11 national 91Èȱ¬ radio networks.
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