Natural Gas from Norway will soon flow to Poland through a new pipeline – the Baltic Pipe
Natural Gas from Norway will soon flow to Poland through a new pipeline – the Baltic Pipe. Authorities of the North Pomerania district confirmed the location of this infrastructure and the investor ordered the pipes at a German company, Europipe. About 10 million cubic meters of Natural Gas will flow.
The project of the Natural Gas pipeline, which is to connect Norway submarine fields and Poland has a history of over 20 years. Until 2015 works were actively blocked by a Russian monopolist in the energy industry, Gazprom.
The Polish government is determined to finish constructing the pipeline by October 2022. Gaz System, a company developing the project, says it has received a set of permits in Denmark, Sweden and Poland, and this stage of the investment is coming to an end.
“March of a Thousand Gowns”
A March of a Thousand Gowns took place in Warsaw yesterday under the slogan „The right to independence, the right to Europe”. The march, organized by several organizations of legal professions, was a protest against the changes in the Polish judicial system, implemented by the government of the Law and Justice party.
The “March of a Thousand Gowns” took place yesterday in Warsaw. Judges and lawyers from all over Poland and Europe took part in the event held under the slogan “The right to independence. The right to Europe. ” Preceding the march, a press conference was held in the lobby of the Supreme Court in Warsaw. The march was organized by the associations of Polish judges, Iustitia, among others. Awaiting the march, individuals affected by the judiciary gathered in front of the Supreme Court building.
”We are here to protest against the pathology in the Polish judiciary system. These judges are legalizing this pathology. They are legalizing theft and lies, ever since 1944”- says participant in the march.
”If the district and appeal courts will continue to employ crime judges from the communist era in their management staff, not even the young generation will be able to make change”- says participant in the march.
The first president of the Supreme Court, Małgorzata Gersdorf, commented on the latest interview of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki for Die Welt daily, in which he stated that in the 90s communist judges trained their successors and thus shaped them.
”Maybe Prime Minister Morawiecki was shaped this way by a communist preschool teacher in his youth”- says Małgorzata Gersdorf, First President of the Supreme Court.
This is not just a matter of Polish judges, prosecutors or lawyers. It is a matter for every citizen, as the European Union is based on the European constitutional tradition and we must defend it.
The judges participating in the March of the Thousand Gowns disagree with being associated with the judges from the communist era. The march passed from the Supreme Court to the Sejm. The participants stopped in front of the presidential palace to make an appeal to president Andrzej Duda. These protests are related to the recent amendment to court laws, which are currently being processed by the Senate.
Morawiecki's interview in a German daily newspaper Die welt
German „Die Welt” daily newspaper published an interview with Mateusz Morawiecki in which the Polish Prime Minister spoke about the lack of financial support for NATO from member states, such as Germany and France. Morawiecki also spoke about the changes to the judicial branch in Poland and stated, that the prolongation of court proceedings is the fault of post-communist judges.
When asked about the reform of the judicial system in Poland, the head of government reminded that our country is making up for what was done earlier in other post-communist countries, for instance in West Germany. After the reunification of Germany, 30 percent of the judges who adjudicated in the German Democratic Republic could no longer practice because of their close links with the totalitarian regime.
Morawiecki underlined that France and Germany are continuously underperforming in terms of the percentage of their GDP being allocated to the NATO defense fund. He stated that those member states who do not meet the 2% quota, are to blame for the alliance not meeting expectations.
When asked about the Polish energy sector and the possible conflict with the EU regarding the exit from coal, the head of the Polish government reminded that Poland did not choose its current energy makeup, but that it was the result of decisions taken for us by the Soviet Union.
Speaking about the challenges facing the EU, Mateusz Morawiecki admitted that he was observing the growing anti-American sentiment in some EU countries. The Prime Minister noted that without cooperation with the US, the European Union will not be able to resist Russian attacks and China’s growing influence.
He also argued for stronger cooperation within the Weimar Triangle, that is Germany, France, and Poland, for instance in regards to the construction of a 5G network.
Iran admits shooting down the Ukrainian plane
The Iranian authorities, after firmly denying any responsibility for the crash of the Ukrainian Boeing 737, have confirmed today that it was indeed shot down by an Iranian missile, clouding the country in an even gloomier atmosphere, just days after the death of Qasem Soleimani. For Poles, this situation can be very reminiscent of the 2010 Smoleńsk plane crash, when the Russian authorities were also strongly denying any responsibility for the crash of the Polish presidential plane. For now, the Ukrainian officials are hesitant to make any harsh comments on the matter, and instead demand that Iran fully cooperates in investigating the crash, which took the lives of all 176 people on board.
The gruesome information was confirmed by Hassan Rouhani on Twitter yesterday.
“Armed Forces’ internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people. Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake”.
Iran’s revolutionary guard commander, Amir ali Hajizadeh took responsibility for the deadly mistake.
“I was in the west of the country following the completion of missile strikes against the U.S. bases when I heard the heart-wrenching news of the Ukrainian airlines flight crash. When I confirmed what had happened, I really wished I could die myself. I said that I wished I could die to not witness such an event. For a lifetime we (IRGC) have made ourselves ready to die for the people. Today, we are trading our reputation with almighty God and in these very difficult circumstances, I am here before you to explain what happened”- says Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Commander.
The Ukrainian authorities demand full cooperation from the Iranian officials. The question remains, whether the wreckage will be returned to Ukraine, and if so, how soon will it happen considering the tense situation between Iran and the United States.
“Our team has gained access to the “black boxes”, we plan to begin reconstruction of the conversations in the near future. We also got access to the records of dispatchers of the flight control centre at Tehran airport and our pilots. We do not reject any version. We are not looking for a simple or more diplomatic path. We now want to find out the truth, To do that we want, for example, to create an international coalition that will conduct an investigation”- says Vadym Prystaiko, Ukrainian Foreign Minister.
Hopefully, the investigation won’t be blocked by Iran the same way the 2010 Smoleńsk plane crash inquiries were slowed down by the Russians, who made sure any external investigations couldn’t reach a definite conclusion.
An explosion at a mosque in Quetta, in southwestern Pakistan
An explosion at a mosque in Quetta, in southwestern Pakistan, killed at least 13 people, including a senior police officer, and wounded 20 others. Police said an improvised explosive device had been planted at the mosque inside a seminary in the city.
The bomb went off during evening prayers on Friday. This was the second bombing in Quetta this week. Dr Wasim Baig, a spokesman for the main hospital, told Reuters that 13 dead and 20 injured had been brought in, adding that many of the wounded were in serious condition.
A senior police officer, Haji Amanullah was among the dead. His son was killed by unknown assailants last month. A spokesman for the Pakistan military said paramilitary troops were conducting a search of the vicinity. The mineral and gas rich region of Balochistan is at the centre of the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is part of China’s Belt and Road infrastructure project. Violence in Balochistan has fuelled concerns about the security of projects such as a planned energy link from western China to Pakistan’s southern port of Grader.
Poland’s parliament has overwhelmingly passed a resolution condemning statements made by Russian president Vladimir Putin
Poland’s parliament has overwhelmingly passed a resolution condemning statements made by Russian president Vladimir Putin. The Russian leader has, lately, strongly maintained that Poland played a significant part in causing the Second World War. Only one MP failed to vote.
“The parliament of the republic of Poland condemns the untruthful statements made by the authorities of the Russian Federation purporting to assign blame to Poland for the outbreak of the Second World War”- says Elżbieta Witek, speaker of the Parliament.
Much emotion and controversy was generated by this photograph: the lone MP out of 460, Janusz Korwin Mikke, refused to stand. MPs of his Confederation party declined to comment on this extraordinary behaviour.
“He was sitting over there, but I don’t see him sitting over here, I can invite him over if you want. He will surely give a very interesting answer. Thank God, I’m not Mr. Mikke’s spokesman, because this would be a difficult job. We’re working together so well, because in our party we don’t have to agree, even on such important issues. You’d have to ask him”- says Grzegorz Braun, the Confederation party.
Korwin-Mikke attempted to explain himself afterwards via social media, emphasizing that he despises democracy.
“For the same reasons I believe the parliament shouldn’t take on such matters like the Nobel prize in literature for Olga Tokarczuk – I believe it shouldn’t be discussing what stupid things the Russian president said. What’s more, parliament’s resolution was filled with trivial fragments straight from the history books; if parliament needs to legislatively declare historical truths, it means that the truths don’t defend themselves on their own. Of course, in cases such as this I wouldn’t even appear in parliament, but I was surprised by a sudden change in the order of the proceedings. They say “when in Rome do as the Romans do”. I prefer to live by the words of late Henryk Ibsen: “The strong is the strongest, when he’s standing alone!”. Even when he’s sitting, not standing”- says Janusz Korwin-Mikke, the Confederation party.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki had a different view on the matter, underlining the importance of parliament leading a strong historical policy.
“Today something important happened in the Parliament of the Republic of Poland. The provocative statements of Russian politicians falsifying Poland’s history were met with a firm response by MPs of all political parties. A special resolution was passed unanimously by acclamation. I would like to sincerely thank all members of parliament and encourage them more often to speak with one voice on matters important for the country”- says Mateusz Morawiecki, Prime Minister of Poland.