Avoiding the bear trap

Since the outbreak of the conflict in early August, Poland has firmly supported Georgia in its struggle with Russia. The Polish side immediately expressed its solidarity with the Georgian people and, days after the Russian troops entered Georgian territory, Polish President Lech Kaczyński brought together the presidents of Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia and the prime minister of Latvia to visit Tbilisi in a show of support.

"We are here to take up the fight. For the first time in a long time, our neighbor showed the face that we have long known. This neighbor thinks that the nations around it should be subdued. We say 'no!'" Lech Kaczyński said during a conference in Tbilisi.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili called the CEE leaders' support "heroic" and "decisive" for the stabilization of the situation, the President's Chancellery reported. George W. Bush also supported the initiative. However, some German and French media criticized the Polish President for not agreeing the visit beforehand with EU.

In Poland, the president's visit was met with cautious support by the ruling Civic Platform and condemnation from the post-communist Democratic Left Alliance party.

Polish society also took action on behalf of the Georgians. A charity drive and collection of food and medical equipment for Georgian civilians was held by the Polish Humanitarian Action, Caritas Polska and other charity organizations. Several protests took place at the Russian embassy and its consulates.

Russian response

Russian reaction to the Polish president's initiative was harsh. The Russian ambassador to Latvia, Alexander Veshnyakov, commented that such actions should not be taken in haste, because they could lead to a "big mistake for which [the countries involved] would have to pay for a long time."

Energy security

The dramatic events unfolding in Georgia raised concerns about Poland's energy security and plans to reduce its dependence on Russian oil and gas supplies. A number of experts noted that the situation damaged prospects for the Odessa-Brody-Gdańsk pipeline project, which would transport Caspian Sea oil to Poland and other Eastern European countries, bypassing Russia.

The question also arose as to whether current oil and gas supplies from Russia could be threatened as well.

"I am a businessman and not a politician, so I don't want to speculate about whether it is possible to cut off oil supplies," Wojciech Heydel, the president of Poland's largest refiner, PKN Orlen, told the media. He added, however, that Orlen was prepared to import fuel from other sources than Russia.

Dealing with the bear

Poland and its Eastern European peers have been forthright in their condemnation of Russia's actions. Other European states, notably Italy and Germany, have been much softer-voiced in their approach to the crisis.

Sobieski Institute expert Andrzej Maciejewski stressed that now, as the future of relations with Russia are being discussed, it is high time for Europe to stop treating Russia like a country that cannot be provoked because of its alleged uniqueness.

"There is no space for such a 'silly Billy' approach, especially if Russia wants to be treated as a world power," he said.