Historical disputes between Ukraine and Poland play into Russia's hands - Polish diplomat
Charge d'Affaires of Poland in Ukraine Piotr Łukasiewicz (all photos: Vitalii Nosach/RBC-Ukraine)
Poland has completed the first stage of exhumation work in the village of Puzhnyky in Galicia, which became a breakthrough in the difficult historical dialogue with Ukraine, stated the Charge d'Affaires of Poland in Ukraine Piotr Łukasiewicz, in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
According to him, these works should not be called a “beginning,” as the process had already lasted eight months. The initiative moved forward after negotiations between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Radosław Sikorski, and the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andriy Sybiha.
Their vision is not to politicize the issue of the past, but to return it to the humanitarian dimension.
“Let's not talk about remembrance or how to commemorate, but rather let's talk about how to allow families to find the remains of their close relatives and how to organize something that is a fundament of the European civilization, the right to be buried and to have a marked grave with a name, simple cross, where the relatives can come and pay their respects to their loved ones,” emphasized Łukasiewicz.
Strengthening the Poland–Ukraine alliance
According to him, the process will be long and will require joint archaeological work by both countries. However, the main thing is mutual understanding and support at the level of both governments and religious leaders of all denominations in Ukraine.
“We have a commission working to facilitate the process. We don't haggle: we give you this, you give us that,” said the diplomat.
Łukasiewicz emphasized that under the conditions of Russian aggression, any disputes between Poland and Ukraine benefit only the Kremlin.
“Of course, Ukraine is under invasion, and so whatever might divide us is to the benefit of Russia. And with this realization, the common enemy is revealed, and our Polish-Ukrainian alliance is more desired,” summarized the diplomat.
Exhumation of victims
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that on April 24, exhumation began in Ukraine of victims of the Volyn tragedy — citizens of Poland who died in 1945.
This is the first exhumation of victims of the Volyn tragedy in many years.
On May 4, the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine reported that the remains of more than 30 people had already been found. More than 20 individuals have been exhumed. In addition, a significant number of artifacts were discovered and retrieved: buttons, shoes, coins.
