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Marek Kuchcinski, Deputy Speaker of the Sejm, participated in the Europe-Russia Economic Forum

Marshal Kuchciński took part in the panel entitled "Brussels and Moscow - two centers of integration processes. Partnership or Rivalry?" In his speech Marshal Kuchciński, among others, compared these two centers in relation to such basic traditional values as independence, democracy, civil liberties, peace between nations, and solidarity (as the principle of cooperation and partnership - opposing the principle of domination).

In his opinion, the importance of integration centers and processes will grow only if these processes are based on these basic values. As far as the European Union is concerned, there are not only positive but also, unfortunately, negative examples. Speaker Kuchciński counted the situation during the EU-Russia summit in Samara in 2007 among the former.

It was the time of the German presidency in the EU, and Chancellor Angela Merkel confronted President Putin with a position representing European, including Polish interests, and opposing Moscow's actions aimed at creating divisions within the EU. On the other hand, a negative example is the northern gas pipeline running through the bottom of the Baltic Sea, supplying gas - bypassing Poland - to Germany. This is the result of an agreement, not just a business deal, but also a political one, in which one EU country makes a deal with Russia - basically against the interests of another EU country.

An example that puts into question the prospects for integration between the European Union and Russia was the Russian military aggression against independent Georgia in 2008. This action was contrary to both its obligations to the UN and the 1997 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. In his speech, Marshal Kuchciński demanded symmetrical rules for cooperation between the EU and Russia. He also raised the issue of Russian democracy, which - in the face of facts ignoring human rights, media freedom, independence of courts and freedom of elections - seems to be a façade democracy. Brussels has a chance to continue to be the center of the integration process if it stops the policy of domination of some states inside the EU and takes care of the interests of all member states in solidarity.

In turn, Moscow, if it wants to participate in the integration process, must take into account the principles and values of the democratic world," Marek Kuchciński concluded in his speech.

The Forum was held in Warsaw on 31 May - 1 June 2011.

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