Karol Karski, former deputy foreign minister in Jarosław Kaczyński’s cabinet, denied on Polish Radio 3 on Wednesday morning Moscow’s and Donald Tusk’s allegations that Kaczyński’s government had blocked Russia’s entry into OECD.
Karski said OECD had never held any talks on Russian membership, because Russia never met OECD standards, but admitted that Poland had refrained from supporting the idea of accepting Russia as OECD member.
Former deputy criticised Donald Tusk’s ignorance and said his opinions could not be relied upon.
Karski pointed out that consent from all OECD members was necessary to initiate negotiations with potential new members and added that Poland had doubts as to Russia’s candidature because of its centrally controlled economic system whose standards were far from those expected by OECD.
Karol Karski said that Donald Tusk’s consent to Russia’s membership in OECD was too hasty. He expressed concern at Tusk’s announcements of inviting Russian companies to invest in the Polish energy sector. In Karski’s opinion, powerful Russian energy companies would quickly take over the sector. (mj)