Mixed reaction after EU negotiator admits to communist secret service links

Jan Truszczynski, Poland's chief European Union (EU) accession negotiator, a dmitted yesterday that he had cooperated with the communist secret service. Under Polish law, all officials are expected to file a declaration with the President's Office concerning any links they may have had with the communist regime. Truszczynski made a statement in February this year, attesting that he had served as an agent. But his declaration was never made public, as req uired by law. According to President Aleksander Kwasniewski, the failure to publish Truszczynski's statement can be blamed entirely on his Office. Trusz czynski's revelation was received with mixed feelings by Sejm deputies. Janu sz Lewandowski from Civic Platform (PO) said, "I'm afraid the fact of his co operation ... may affect our negotiations with the EU." Law and Justice (PiS) leader Lech Kaczynski agreed, adding that Truszczynski's past may hav e grave consequences for the negotiation process. On the other hand Jozef Ol eksy, leader of the parliamentary commission on Europe, said he does not bel ieve that Truszczynski's past will have any influence on Poland's negotiatio ns with the EU. (Zycie, p. 5; Reuters) M.T.K.