§ 30. Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Poland.
§ Mr. RifkindFollowing the recent amnesty in Poland and the release of virtually all the political detainees, the Government concluded that the time was now right to resume contacts with the Polish Government at Ministerial level. I therefore visited Poland from 3 to 7 November.
The visit was useful and successful. My aim was to gain a first-hand impression of the situation, to have contact with a broad range of Polish opinion and to put across British views and concerns. The visit achieved all three objectives.
I held talks with my host, the Polish Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, on bilateral issues and international topics of mutual concern. I also called on the Polish First Deputy Prime Minister, a Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Trade, the Chairman of the Polish Parliament's Foreign Relations Committee and the Deputy Minister for Economic Reform.
I was able to meet several Solidarity representatives as well as a representative of the Catholic Church.
There have been some positive developments in Poland. I was impressed by the degree of public expression and public debate which I encountered. It would, however, be unrealistic to suggest that a wide gap between the Government and the people does not still exist. I emphasised these points in my official and other discussions. I was also able to raise human rights aspects and to convey to my hosts the widespread concern in parliamentary and public circles in the United Kingdom at the continued detention of political prisoners including Bogdan Lis and Piotr Mierzejewski.
Our aim now is to work for a more normal bilateral relationship and to give our support to the much needed process of reconciliation in Poland. In our further exchanges with the Poles we shall reserve the right to continue to emphasise our concerns wherever appropriate.