Lech Walesa "gains little satisfaction" from meeting Kaczynski in court

Lech Kaczynski has lost a court battle in a case filed against him by former President Lech Walesa, for slander. Kaczynski is to make an announcement on "Radio Zet" and in one of the national papers, saying that he "tarnished the good name and personal dignity of Lech Walesa" and is to pay zl. 10,000 to the Armia Krajowa foundation in Pomerania. The case concerns Kaczynski's public statement during a radio broadcast in which he confirmed the words of his brother as meaning that Walesa committed crimes and that Wachowski, Walesa's erstwhile subordinate, was an habitual criminal. The court stressed that Kaczynski's words were unjustified and that no court proceedings had been filed against the offended. "There is little satisfaction to be gained from members of the "right wing" meeting in court," said Walesa, adding that, "Kaczynski could have made a gesture and apologized and the problem would be over." The decision is not a final judgment and Kaczynski has said he will appeal against the ruling. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A4) M.T.