2023-01-03 18:07 update: 2023-01-04, 15:57
Photo: PAP/CAF
Berlin has responded to Poland's diplomatic note on war reparations by reiterating that the matter is closed, the Polish foreign ministry has said.
On September 1, 2022, the Polish government presented a comprehensive report detailing the material losses suffered by Poland during the Second World War along with a pledge to demand money from Germany in reparations to the tune of EUR 1.3 trillion.
Subsequently, on October 3, Poland's foreign ministry sent a diplomatic note to Germany demanding compensation for the destruction. However, Germany has consistently maintained that the issue of reparations is closed.
The German Foreign Ministry's reply to the note, dated December 28, 2022, was delivered to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on January 3, according to the Tuesday statement by the Polish MFA.
"According to the German Government, the matter of reparations and compensation for war losses remains closed, and the German Government does not intend to enter into negotiations on this matter," the statement read.
"The government of the Republic of Poland will continue its efforts to settle debts resulting from German aggression and occupation in 1939-1945," the Polish MFA added.
Arkadiusz Mularczyk, a deputy foreign minister who earlier headed a government team that compiled the report on Poland's wartime losses, told PAP that the German response to the note on compensation "shows a disrespectful attitude towards Poland and Poles."
"We will continue actions regarding compensation, and dialogue with Germany will be conducted through international organisations," he said.
The Polish EU minister, Szymon Szynkowski vel Sek, told private radio broadcaster Radio Zet that he was not surprised by the news.
"The position of the German government has been known for a long time, but this certainly does not end the matter. The German government considers this matter closed and our position on this matter is completely different," he said. (PAP)
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