Poland is not willing to take Guantanamo prisoners following the closure of the detention center, writes Rzeczpospolita.
Press reviewed by Danuta Isler
"Poland does not want Guantanamo prisoners," writes Rzeczpospolita daily in its two-page article following Monday's meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels devoted to discussing possible ways to resettle Guantanamo prisoners, after US President Barack Obama pledged last week to close the detention center within a year. It seems that European countries are divided over how to proceed, writes the daily. While most European governments have praised Obama for his commitment to shut down Guantanamo, few have been eager to take its prisoners. According to Poland's foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, this country will not readily accept prisoners as there is no Muslim community or many fluent Arabic speakers here, which could make the situation more difficult. Rzeczpospolita also quotes an international law expert who says that the problem lies not in the fact that the prisons were illegal but in the fact that it is still undecided as to what legal status should the Guantanamo prisoners be granted.
"Smoking and drinking is not fashionable among students any more," writes Dziennik. According to the latest research by the Center of Public Opinion Research (CBOS), the number of Polish junior high school students abusing drugs, drinking or smoking has decreased over the past five years. Sixty-two percent of youngsters claim that they do not smoke cigarettes, 85% say they have not used drugs over the past year. Five years ago, similar research showed different results: there were only 50% who claimed to be non-smokers and 75% to not have tried that year. "We used to meet up just to get drunk and now an alcohol-free party is nothing short of unusual - says 17-year-old Agnieszka in the paper. Dziennik also publishes an interview with a Warsaw sociologist who claims that young Poles seem to have grown up, changed their image and lifestyle. The statistics reflect that - concludes Dziennik.
"Metallica in exchange for millions," writes Życie Warszawy reporting that the legendary rock band could be the star of a concert commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Warsaw Rising for the staggering price of two million USD! According to the paper, Metallica which is coming to Europe in February with its "World Magnetic Tour" could perform in Warsaw in August. The official offer has not been presented yet but according to a poll commissioned by the Warsaw Rising Museum, Metallica, the Red Hot Chili Pepper and U2 top the list of artists that Poles would like to see during such a commemorative concert. Negotiations with "more affordable artists" like Bjork and Coldplay that start from 500,000 euros are underway - writes Życie Warszawy.
Polish tabloids devote their front page coverage to the recently confirmed divorce of Poland's former PM, Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz. He decided to leave Maria, his wife of 28 years and the mother of his four children, for a woman twenty years his junior. "I am blaming my family for the dissolution of my marriage," splashes SuperExpress across the headlines printing the photograph of the 50-year-old former PM and his girlfriend reportedly sent to the tabloid by Marcinkiewicz himself. In another feature in the tabloid Fakt Marcinkiewicz confides that he has already asked his newfound love to marry him - the wedding could take place in half a year. Their love nest is London where they met and both currently work.