Buzek and Miller meet to ensure smooth transition amid rancor over report

Outgoing Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek and his successor Leszek Miller met on F riday to discuss details of the government transition. According to the two leaders the meeting, which also touched on European Union (EU) accession neg otiations. marked a good new tradition in Polish politics, as it ensures the smooth transfer of power. This is particularly important now, in the face of a difficult international situation, they stressed. However, the sense of ha rmony has been shattered by the publication of the "Report on the State of t he State" prepared by the outgoing administration. Members of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), the leading party in the new government, describe the r eport as a waste of public money and say they will prepare their own "Openin g Balance Sheet". SLD leader Miller said, "Citizens should know in what stat e Poland is after four years of rightist rule." (Gazeta Wyborcza, Oct. 13-14 , p. 4) T.J.