Though ultimately a matter for the head of state, President Lech Kaczynski has said he will not get involved in the delicate matter surrounding Anna Fotyga’s nomination to represent Poland in the United Nations.  

Fotyga is set to be nominated to be Poland’s ambassador to the United Nations, but last week, in a hearing before the lower house of parliament’s Commission on Foreign Affairs – standard procedure before approving diplomats – the former Foreign Minister stated that her view of Poland’s current foreign relations is ‘painful.’ 

Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called for an official, public explanation of that statement, claiming that it is unacceptable for someone who seeks to represent Poland abroad to not support the government’s line of thinking. 

“I have the feeling that [Ms. Fotyga] has de facto publicly showed us that she is not interested in the post,” stated Tusk, adding that she might have to wait for a new government if she seeks to represent Poland abroad. Elections take place in 2010. 

President Kaczynski, when asked if he will intervene in the case - Fotyga is a close colleague of the head of state - stated that he prefers not to open up yet another source of contention with the Civic Platform-led government. 

“According to Article 133 [of the Polish Constitution], ambassadors are appointed by the President. That is all I have to say,” stated Kaczynski. 

Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has yet to provide a concrete nomination to Kaczynski for the UN post. Last week, he defended Fotyga’s statement by claiming that she must have “pain on the mind” as she was recently in a traffic accident.  

Sikorski stated on 25 April that Fotyga was very positively received by the lower house of parliament commission, but, “she will have to prove that she can carry out the policies of the current government.” 

Spokesperson for the Foreign Minister, Piotr Paszkowski, stated that no final decisions as to who will represent Poland as UN Ambassador in New York have yet been made. (mmj/pg)