Diplomatic mission to Germany a breakthrough

After the talks, Sikorski and his German counterpart, Frank Walter Steinmeier, were beaming with optimism and stressed the visit opened up a new chapter in German-Polish relations. Regular bilateral consultations, scrapped by the previous Polish government, are  to be restored and although Poland and Germany remain divided on a number of important issues, the German Foreign Minister emphasized that Germany was ready for full and frank discussion and was receptive to  Poland's point of view. For example, in order to address  Poland's fears over the Russian-German Baltic gas pipeline, he said Germany was prepared to guarantee emergency gas supplies to Poland should Russians turn off the tap. Similar talks are to be held on other controversial issues, such as a memorial in Berlin commemorating Germany's refugees from what is now Poland. (Gazeta Wyborcza p. 1) R.M.