Monday, August 01, 2005

Attack on children of Russian diplomats in Warsaw linked with anti-Russian campaign
17:19 | 01/ 08/ 2005




MOSCOW, August 1 (RIA Novosti) - The attack on children of Russian diplomats in Warsaw is a result of the anti-Russian campaign in the Polish media, which is being encouraged by some Polish politicians, the head of the State Duma (the lower chamber of the Russian parliament) committee for international affairs said Monday.

"Polish authorities will obviously make every effort to present this situation as common hooliganism with no political basis," Konstantin Kosachev said. "No one will believe this version given the details of the incident."

Three children of Russian diplomats were attacked by a group of young Poles in Warsaw on Sunday night, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement of protest to the Polish Foreign Ministry.

The Russian teenagers suffered numerous injuries. The attackers who stole their money and cell phones were shouting anti-Russian slogans.

Regardless of whether this attack was organized by authorities or at the initiative of skinheads, this is a result of the "anti-Russian hysteria" that has swept over Poland and is being encouraged by mainstream media and some politicians, Kosachev said.

He also said the Polish distorted history, accusing their eastern neighbor (the Soviet Union, or Russia) of all their troubles in order to strengthen the spirit of the nation.

The parliamentarian said such statements were false and "highly dangerous for the future of Russian-Polish relations."

Russia has always regarded Poland as a good neighbor and a promising partner in all spheres, Kosachev said.

He expressed hope that the Polish leadership would take all measures to punish the attackers and stop the anti-Russian campaign in the country.
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