- Janusz Reiter believes that in Poland we are experiencing “hysteria” over what is being said about Germany. This, in turn, makes it impossible to maintain even a good relationship
- – Migration policy is dividing many countries today, but they are talking about it. In our case, there is no dialogue, so there is no possibility of finding a solution, argued the former Polish ambassador to Germany
- According to the diplomat, restoring control on the Polish-German border was a political failure with potentially disastrous economic consequences
- PiS did not even hide that it played an anti-German game during the election campaign. Even so, Janusz Reiter believes relations between Warsaw and Berlin can and must be better
- – It’s not about who likes Germans and who doesn’t like them. This has nothing to do with the benefits. Germany is the largest European country and our direct neighbor. We have many common problems and interests – he said in an interview with Onet
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To say that there have been sparks on the Warsaw-Berlin line for a long time is an understatement. According to Janusz Reiter, a Polish diplomat and international relations expert, as well as former Polish ambassador to Germany and the United States, Polish-German relations are the worst they have been in recent years.
– In Poland we are experiencing hysteria over what is being said about Germany. These are inflamed emotions that make it impossible to view reality soberly. This condition has spread so widely that it makes it impossible to have a normal, even decent relationship, – he told Onet.
– The problem is not that this relationship is bad. They don’t work at all. “I don’t know of two countries in Europe that are experiencing something similar right now,” he said.
“Reintroducing border controls is a political failure”
Janusz Reiter believes that this state of affairs completely hinders the analysis of the problem and any attempts to solve it. There is no dialogue between Poland and Germany, which is the norm in relations between EU and NATO countries, regardless of whether their governments agree or argue.
– Migration policy divides many countries today, but they talk about it – often sharply, the government argues, but in our case there is no dialogue, so there is no possibility of finding a solution – our interlocutor argues and adds that restoring control over Poland-Germany This border is a political failure with potentially dire economic consequences.
– The aim of Polish policy is to prevent this from happening. Of course, Germany should also care about this. Border controls will not solve the problem of the mass influx of refugees and immigrants into Germany. Berlin knows this. The inspections were more symbolic than of real value, but for some time they were intended to appease German public opinion, which demanded the government do something, said Janusz Reiter.
– Poland has an interest in helping Germany in this matter. Unless someone thinks it’s better to watch the career of the nationalist AFD with “schadenfreude”. The things that are happening here affect our basic national interests, he added.
The former Polish ambassador believes that Germany is unable to cope with such a large influx of refugees. This led to internal tensions and sometimes disputes with other European countries, for example Italy.
– There was a similar situation in 1992. Then the government of the Federal Republic decided to change the asylum regulations, which caused great controversy. Germany then asked Warsaw to conclude a so-called readmission agreement, which obliges us to accept asylum seekers who come to Germany through our territory and do not receive asylum there. Poland agrees, the asylum seekers do not stay with us because they have very different plans, and the Germans equip our border guards and police with modern equipment. Besides, our neighbors really understand that we are helping them. Such wise countries can find mutually beneficial solutions in the most difficult situations, the expert stressed.
Janusz Reiter on the German issue
According to Janusz Reiter, German society already understands that maintaining the current state of migration policy is impossible. They don’t know how to get out of this situation, and they are also afraid to discuss it.
– On the one hand, there is strong pressure from the AFD, which exploits the AFD politically and puts pressure on democratic parties. On the other hand, Germany prides itself on its very liberal asylum policy. But maintaining it in the current world situation is unrealistic and, above all, politically dangerous. The case is poisoning German public life, the diplomat said. – We should talk to them about it, try to help them get out of this dangerous situation. This is how you build state authority, this is how you “invest” in relations with other countries, he added.
There is one more thing that according to Janusz Reiter hinders cooperation in this area. In Germany there is a tendency to moralize.
– Some Germans seem to believe that their asylum policies are a moral model of universal value and are surprised that other countries are unwilling to copy them. However, I think this attitude of moral superiority will soon end, he stressed.
The beginning of a lasting reorientation of German policy?
At the same time, according to Poland’s former ambassador to Germany and the US, our western neighbor took several steps in the right direction by announcing the so-called Zeitenwende, or change in security policy.
– They deserve respect for this, but this cannot be considered a permanent condition. This is not a lasting policy reorientation toward Russia, but it is necessary and, in my opinion, possible. This would not have been possible without Poland’s participation. This is a good time to influence Germany’s choices. These are things that directly affect our interests, the expert said.
– This will be a historic change in our region of Europe, and also in the entire European policy. Has anyone in Poland thought about this? What do we do when important things in history happen around us? – he added.
“It is not enough to take two or three breaths and then you can do normal politics”
Failure to reach an agreement could cause already tense relations between Warsaw and Berlin to worsen further.
– On the Polish side, this requires overcoming the emotional instability I have mentioned. This prevented any dialogue – recalls Janusz Reiter.
– But it won’t be easy. We have no reason to deceive ourselves. It is not enough to take two or three breaths and then do normal politics. This is a huge social emotion. It will be very difficult to control it, but it will have to be done at some point. This is a politically valuable time, he added.
PiS anti-German game. “Fear of Germany drives us East”
Law and Justice did not even hide that they were playing anti-German games during the election campaign. There were accusations of interference in Polish domestic policy or war reparations issues. Even so, Janusz Reiter believes relations between Warsaw and Berlin can and must be better.
– It’s not about who likes Germans and who doesn’t like them. This has nothing to do with the benefits. Germany is the largest European country and our direct neighbor. We have many common problems and interests. I repeat once again that it is normal to talk about such things, but there is no such dialogue – he stressed.
The former Polish ambassador to Germany also emphasized that Poland is also facing questions regarding its policy orientation.
– If we in Poland do not clearly explain to ourselves how we read the political map of Europe, we will constantly risk getting lost in international politics. The fear of Germany, artificially nurtured and even incited, drives us to the East. There’s no doubt about it, he said.
– Poland may once again find itself “between East and West”, which is the opposite of what we wanted to achieve and achieve after 1989, because we have become part of the West. We can also start moving east, towards Russia. Relations with Germany determine our relations politically. This is the nature of this relationship. There is no point in being offended by reality. Poland is the place and geography must be accepted as it is. We just need to form the right policies for this, he added.
Moreover, as the diplomat said, we are living in difficult times that will change Europe forever.
– It’s not like the war will end and everything will return to how it was before. That won’t happen anymore because we will be in constant tension. It will last a long time in our region of Europe. This means that Poland needs a very disciplined and rational foreign policy. In times like these, we must not make mistakes, says Janusz Rejter.
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