Paskas praises Polish role in Iraq; rejects calls for resignation

"It is the nation that choose the President, not the parties or politicians," said Lithunian President, Rolandas Paksas yesterday, rejecting speculation that he is about to step down. Paksas arrived in Poland on his way back from a short visit to Iraq, and had a face to face meeting with President Kwaśniewski that lasted for nearly four hours. Paksas praised the Polish command under which Lithuanian soldiers are serving in Iraq, but the two Presidents also touched on an affair in which Paksas has been recently involved. It has been disclosed that Paksas's advisors are suspected of having links with the Russian mafia. "We hope that everything will be resolved in line with democratic procedures," said Kwaśniewski, who also stressed that he hopes that the Lithuanian foreign policy will not change. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A7; Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 12) A.Z