Polish authorities have protested against a controversial video clip put together by the European Commission for the 20th anniversary of the fall of communism. Focusing mainly on the fall of the Berlin wall, the video fails to mention the role of the Solidarity movement, Poland’s epic struggle against dictatorship, Pope John Paul II and other distinctly Polish contributions instrumental in the democratic changes in East Central Europe.
 

Report by Joanna Najfeld

A three-minute clip available on You Tube fails to show Poland’s legendary Solidarity movement, the first to bring down a communist government in Eastern Europe, nor does it even mention the name “Solidarity”. Instead, it focuses on the fall of the Berlin Wall, and briefly reviews events in other countries. Reportedly, the first version of the clip was even more biased, in that it focused even more on the fall of Berlin wall.

Polish authorities reacted to the scandal with protests. Permanent Representation of Poland to the EU issued an official letter, in which ambassador Jan Tombinski demanded a quick and decisive reaction of EU authorities. He wrote how disappointed he was with the lack of professionalism on the part of those responsible for the clip. He listed numerous mistakes, as well as crucial omissions in the movie. Ambassador Tombliński also stressed the clip presented an unfair simplification and the selection of the pictures shows a clear German bias. The fall of the Berlin wall was just a symbolic end to the period of changes in East Central Europe, the ambassador wrote.

Spokesman for the European Commission Joseph Hennon said that if indeed pictures from 1990s were used, they will be removed. Asked if Solidarity will now be included, he said "probably", provided that the video clip makers agree to it. 'We do not change the opinion that this is a very good clip', Hennon added.

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