President Kwasniewski in Paris seeking French assurance of EU entrance

The three-day visit of Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski in France was launched by talks with his French counterpart Jacque Chirac yesterday. "Poland expects assurance on the French side that Paris will open the door to the European Union to aspiring countries, giving the date of their entrance," said the Polish president yesterday. According to Francois Rivasscau, spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry, "Kwasniewski's visit is an opportunity to express how much importance France attaches to the fact that Poland has chosen the European option of defense and armament." The Polish president is also being accompanied by Polish deputy ministers, experts and businessmen. Today Kwasniewski will meet Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 9) A.Z.