Claims that the subject of reparations have ended are morally and legally baseless, government spokesman Piotr Müller told PAP, referring to the words of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

READ ALSO: Scholz Rejects Reparations Claim: “This matter has finally been resolved.” Mularczyk: “The Chancellor is very wrong”

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) rejected Polish demands to repair the damage caused by the Germans to Poland during World War II. In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung to be released on Wednesday, Scholz said:

I can point out, like all previous federal governments, that this question is finally resolved under international law.

In rejecting Poland’s claim for payments, the federal government referred to the 1990 two-plus-four agreement on German unity in foreign policy.

On September 1, a report on the losses suffered by Poland as a result of German aggression and occupation during World War II was presented in Warsaw. The document was prepared by the Parliamentary Team for Estimates of Compensation Due to Poland from Germany for Damage Caused during World War II, which operated during the previous parliamentary term. About 30 scientists – historians, economists, property appraisers – and 10 reviewers worked on the report.

The report states that the total amount of Polish losses is more than PLN 6 billion 220 billion. A day later, the deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk, submitted the report to the German coordinator for cooperation with Poland, Dietmar Nietan. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told the PAP that Poland wanted to send a diplomatic note on reparations to Germany as soon as possible.

Müller responds to Scholz

The government spokesman referred to Scholz’s words in an interview with PAP.

It is known that the German side has been claiming for years that the subject of reparations has been completed

– He says.

This is an unfounded claim, both morally and legally, as Poland has never renounced any war reparations

– he emphasized.

As Müller points out, the accusation of refusal (recovery from Germany) in 1953 was ineffective, even under the laws of the Polish People’s Republic, and above all ineffective, because at that time there was no sovereign government in Poland, but one imposed by Soviet Union.

Poland is not sovereign. And only a sovereign state can make such a decision. No effective reparation waiver

said a government spokesman.

We know that the German side will try to stop this process for months, maybe even years, it will claim that it is impossible, but we will consistently point out the facts and the unimaginable losses that have hit Poland.

– said the government spokesman.

We hope that in the long term such a process will end positively for Poland – similar to the difficult talks that are now being concluded and which concern reparations for Namibia. Until recently, no one expected Germany to admit its colonial crimes 100 years ago and propose funding. It was a long process

– added.

How will the government report reparations?

When asked about the government’s action regarding the information campaign in Germany regarding reparations, Müller replied that such action would be taken.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki now has a series of interviews with German media to highlight the issue

– he told.

Preparation of a diplomatic note to Germany has been carried out. We also discussed this at the last government meeting. We’ll see how the German side reacts after the official handover of the money

said a government spokesman.

As he points out, “the role of Polish institutions in Germany, the role of embassies, the role of the Pilecki Institute is to point out all these crimes and to raise social awareness in Germany”.

World War II was the largest and bloodiest war in the history of mankind, in which Poland suffered the relatively greatest losses and demographic damage among all the battles and occupied countries.

READ ALSO: Vice President of the Constitutional Court: Poland is not without opportunities. The compensation that Germany paid to some war victims cannot be combined with reparations

mm / PAP