Bartoszewski discusses WWII compensation, NATO with U.S. counterpart

Foreign Minister Władysław Bartoszewski met with his U.S. counterpart Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday in Washington, D.C., to discuss the delay in payment of damages to several hundred thousand former forced laborers. Secretary Powell said he understood Poland's position and would work to resolve the hold-up so that ageing victims of Nazi injustices could receive compensation as soon as possible. The two also discussed NATO enlargement plans, focusing on the situation in Eastern Europe and Poland's relationships with its eastern neighbors. In related news, during the meeting, the date of U.S. President George Bush's visit to Poland was set for mid-June. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A1) M.S.-C.