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Poland wants 'normal' Russia ties despite Georgia conflict

Georgia Materials 11 August 2008 15:51 (UTC +04:00)

Poland wants normal ties with Russia despite condemning Moscow for the armed conflict in breakaway regions of Georgia, Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said in remarks published Monday, dpa reported.

"We still want normal relations with the Russian Federation and, acting in a European context, we show that we're a serious and reliable partner," Sikorski told the daily Dziennik.

A planned visit to Poland by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov "is important to us because there are shortcomings in Polish-Russian relations that we want to make up for," Sikorski said.

Lavrov and Sikorski reportedly plan to meet in September. Polish media say the agenda includes the Russian-controlled Strait of Baltiysk, a waterway that Russia blocked in 2006 for Polish vessels that is the only sea route to a Polish port.

Poland on Saturday called for an emergency European Union summit to discuss the Russia-Georgia conflict.

The presidents of Poland and the three Baltic nations - all former Soviet satellites with at times difficult relations with Moscow - condemned Russia's military assault in South Ossetia, a Moscow-backed Caucasus region that has broken away from Georgia.

Sikorski has said he favours an EU peace mission to the area.

On Monday, 95 Poles evacuated from Georgia landed in Poland. They included Poles living permanently in Georgia, Georgians of Polish descent and tourists. A second group of 86 people were slated to arrive on Monday night.

Tensions are high between Russia and Poland over elements of a proposed US anti-missile shield to be placed on Polish soil. Russia suspects the shield could be used against it, despite US claims the system is meant for protection against "rogue states" like Iran.

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