MOSCOW, August 12 (RIA Novosti) – Despite the current stand-off between the European Union and Russia over the crisis in Ukraine, Poland is interested in continued cultural cooperation with Russia, Poland’s new ambassador to Russia, Katarzyna Pelczynska-Nalecz told RIA Novosti Tuesday.
“There is a rift in Moscow-Warsaw relations, but this is not a deterioration of relations between Russia and Poland, but between Russia and the European Union,” Pelczynska-Nalecz stressed.
“Cultural exchange will continue. Even though Poland’s Year in Russia [dedicated to cultural exchange between the nations] was cancelled, I can say that the Polish side was very interested in holding the event… The Polish side is very interested in salvaging earlier planned events not within the framework of the Year [in Russia], and to continue developing our cultural connections, because it is very important for ordinary Polish and Russian citizens. It is essential that people have an opportunity to learn and understand each other,” the ambassador added.
Last month amid escalating tensions in Ukraine, the Polish government cancelled all cross-cultural events between Russia and Poland scheduled for the 2015 Year in Russia. The Russian-Polish cross-cultural year was a mutual initiative of the countries' foreign ministers agreed upon in December 2013 in Warsaw.
Pelczynska-Nalecz is the first woman ambassador to Russia in Poland’s history. Incumbent envoy Wojciech Zajaczkowski, who held the post since 2010, is returning to Warsaw this fall.
