This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/23/world/europe/tapes-said-to-reveal-polish-minister-disparaging-us-ties.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Tapes Said to Reveal Polish Minister Disparaging U.S. Ties Tapes Said to Reveal Polish Minister Disparaging U.S. Ties
(about 7 hours later)
WARSAW — In a new excerpt released on Sunday from secretly recorded conversations involving some of Poland’s highest officials, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski is quoted as describing his country’s security relationship with the United States as “worth nothing.” WARSAW — In a new excerpt from secretly recorded conversations involving some of Poland’s highest officials, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski is quoted as describing his country’s security relationship with the United States as “worth nothing.”
Indeed, Mr. Sikorski goes on to say in the recording, “It’s even harmful, as it gives Poland a false sense of security.” He also describes the relationship in rather more robust and vulgar terms. Mr. Sikorski goes on to say in the recording released on Sunday, “It’s even harmful, as it gives Poland a false sense of security.” He also describes the relationship in more vulgar terms.
The deepening scandal over the conversations — apparently recorded in the back rooms of restaurants frequented by Poland’s political elite and leaked to a weekly Warsaw newspaper — has threatened the survival of Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s center-right government.The deepening scandal over the conversations — apparently recorded in the back rooms of restaurants frequented by Poland’s political elite and leaked to a weekly Warsaw newspaper — has threatened the survival of Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s center-right government.
The comments by Mr. Sikorski were especially startling because they would appear to drag the scandal into foreign policy at a time when Poland has become a leading voice in advocating a forceful reaction to Russia’s activities in Ukraine.The comments by Mr. Sikorski were especially startling because they would appear to drag the scandal into foreign policy at a time when Poland has become a leading voice in advocating a forceful reaction to Russia’s activities in Ukraine.
The purported conversation between Mr. Sikorski and Jacek Rostowski, a former finance minister of Poland, was said to be recorded at the Amber Room, an elegant restaurant in Warsaw, earlier this year. It would have taken place before the Ukraine crisis erupted, which gave new urgency to Poland’s security ties with the United States. The purported conversation between Mr. Sikorski and Jacek Rostowski, a former finance minister of Poland, was said to be recorded at the Amber Room, a restaurant in Warsaw, the capital, earlier this year. It would have taken place before the Ukraine crisis erupted, which gave new urgency to Poland’s security ties with the United States.
The newspaper, Wprost, said it intended to release the full transcripts of several of the conversations in its Monday edition. Mr. Sikorski’s comments came in an excerpt from that transcript released by the newspaper on Sunday. The newspaper, Wprost, said it intended to release the full transcripts of several of the conversations in its Monday issue.
Spokesmen for Mr. Tusk and Mr. Sikorski said the government would have no comment until it had a chance to read the full transcripts. Spokesmen for Mr. Tusk and Mr. Sikorski said the government would have no comment until it had a chance to read the transcripts.
The scandal erupted last weekend, when Wprost released the first of the transcripts, declining to say where it had gotten them or who it believed had recorded them. Opposition party leaders called for Mr. Tusk’s government to resign, and the prime minister said he might call early elections if the crisis deepened.The scandal erupted last weekend, when Wprost released the first of the transcripts, declining to say where it had gotten them or who it believed had recorded them. Opposition party leaders called for Mr. Tusk’s government to resign, and the prime minister said he might call early elections if the crisis deepened.
The first batch of recordings, made at another Warsaw restaurant where political leaders met, included a conversation last year between Poland’s interior minister and the chief of its central bank about whether the bank might step in to shore up the economy, if necessary, in advance of national elections in 2015. While much of the early attention has focused on the content of the conversations and its potential effect on the Polish government, an investigation is also underway to determine who made the tapes. Such eavesdropping is illegal under Polish law.
Mr. Tusk described the recordings as an attempt “to bring down the Polish government by illegal means.” In an episode that was also highly embarrassing to Mr. Tusk’s government, prosecutors raided the offices of Wprost last week and tried to seize the editor in chief’s laptop. The subsequent siege was broadcast on live television, and security agents were forced to leave empty-handed, though the newspaper later turned over copies of the taped conversations to the authorities.
While much of the early attention has focused on the content of the conversations and its potential effect on the Polish government, an investigation is also underway to determine who made them. Such wiretapping is illegal under Polish law. “I am especially concerned about the lack of clarity as to who did the recordings,” said Andrew Michta, a professor of international studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, who has extensive experience in Central and Eastern Europe. “And also why they surfaced now, at a time of significant shifts in regional security, when Poland is making key decisions on defense, military modernization and working to increase U.S. and NATO military presence in the country.”
In an episode that was also highly embarrassing to Mr. Tusk’s government, prosecutors raided the offices of Wprost last week and tried to seize the editor in chief’s laptop. The subsequent siege was broadcast on live television, and security agents were forced to leave empty-handed, though the newspaper later turned over copies of all the taped conversations to the authorities. Rumors have been flying in Warsaw about who might be behind the electronic eavesdropping, which appears to have been underway for more than a year. Potential suspects include political enemies, disgruntled security operatives or Russian agents releasing the tapes now in reaction to Poland’s hard-line on Ukraine.
“I am especially concerned about the lack of clarity as to who did the recordings,” said Andrew Michta, a professor of international studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, who has long experience in Central and Eastern Europe. “And also why they surfaced now, at a time of significant shifts in regional security, when Poland is making key decisions on defense, military modernization and working to increase U.S. and NATO military presence in the country.” At first, Wprost would not say how it had obtained the recordings, but on Sunday it said that the tapes had been provided by a “businessman.”
Rumors have been flying in Warsaw about who might be behind the electronic eavesdropping, which appears to have been underway for more than a year. Potential suspects include political enemies, disgruntled security operatives or Russian agents releasing the tapes now in reaction to Poland’s hard line on Ukraine.
At first, Wprost would not say how it had obtained the recordings, but on Sunday it said that they had been provided by a “businessman.”
Aleksander Smolar, the president of the Stefan Batory Foundation, which advocates for open government and civic issues, said the timing of the conversation was critical to understanding the comments in it.Aleksander Smolar, the president of the Stefan Batory Foundation, which advocates for open government and civic issues, said the timing of the conversation was critical to understanding the comments in it.
While still maintaining a strongly pro-American position, Poland’s top officials had worried in recent years about the United States’ interest in deepening its commitment to regional security. But Russia’s annexation of Crimea turned that attitude around, he said, as shown by President Obama’s warm reception in Warsaw this month. While still maintaining a strongly pro-American position, Poland’s top officials had worried in recent years about the United States’ interest in deepening its commitment to regional security. But Russia’s annexation of Crimea turned that attitude around, Mr. Smolar said, as shown by President Obama’s warm reception in Warsaw this month.
Mr. Sikorski’s comments, if they are accurately depicted in the excerpt, were a reflection of that earlier frustration, Mr. Smolar said.Mr. Sikorski’s comments, if they are accurately depicted in the excerpt, were a reflection of that earlier frustration, Mr. Smolar said.
“This is private conversation with alcohol,” he said. “It was a private declaration. It was not a declaration of Polish policy.”“This is private conversation with alcohol,” he said. “It was a private declaration. It was not a declaration of Polish policy.”
Still, he said, the release of the tapes has been damaging to Mr. Tusk’s government. Still, he said, the release of the tapes has been damaging to Mr. Tusk’s government. “It is very difficult to see how this government can overcome this crisis,” Mr. Smolar said.
“It is very difficult to see how this government can overcome this crisis,” Mr. Smolar said.