The wounds of Wołyń partially healed with opening of Monument

During the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Wołyń tragedy in Pawliwka, formerly Poryck, President Aleksander Kwaśniewski said that the Ukrainian nation could not be blamed for the massacre, as, "There are no nations of guilty citizens". However, he used very harsh words when talking about the ideology which led to these events. He used expressions like "genocide" and "civil slaughter" and added that, "Neither any goal nor value, even so precious like the freedom and sovereignty of a nation could justify such acts of violence. I cannot decide whether this office gives me the right to forget and express shame on the behalf of all Poles. However, I would like both sides to express their forgiveness and reconciliation". Ukrainian President Leonid Kuczma said at the ceremony that, "Ukraine and Poland have at their disposal enormous potential of moral trust, which will allow our nations to reach historical reconciliation." The presidents jointly opened the Reconciliation Monument. (Rzeczpospolita, July 12-13, pp. A1, A4) M.M.