Poland Criticizes Chirac Over Russian Enclave Visa Row

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, July 23, 2002

Poland Criticizes Chirac Over Russian Enclave Visa Row

Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller said in Warsaw Monday that French President Jacques Chirac's remarks on backing Russia in a dispute with the European Union (EU) over the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad was only "propaganda," the Polish News Agency reported.

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Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller said n Warsaw Monday that French President Jacques Chirac's remarks on backing Russia in a dispute with the European Union (EU) over the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad was only "propaganda," the Polish News Agency reported.

It seems that Chirac's declaration had more to do with propaganda than with the real state of affairs, Miller said, adding that it would not trigger any changes in the EU stance.

Chirac on Friday offered support to Russia on Kaliningrad when he met Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea resort ofSochi, saying France would not agree with a proposed visa regime that demands visas for residents of Kaliningrad if they want to travel to Russia proper.

Miller said Warsaw would go ahead with its plan to impose visasfor Kaliningrad Russians from next July.

Kaliningrad is a Russian enclave bordered by Poland and Lithuania, which are expected to join the EU, probably in 2004.

The EU says Kaliningrad residents wishing to travel to Russia proper will need visas to cross Poland and Lithuania once the two states join the EU.

Russia, which fears that Kaliningrad Russians will be cut off from the rest of the country, is demanding visa-free travel for Kaliningrad's 1.3 million people.

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