Polish president says cooperation will be “easier” with Obama

President Barack Obama finally returns to the White House after his election victory: photo - EPA/Michael Reynolds

“I am happy about Obama's victory,” Komorowski said on Thursday in an interview with TOK FM, describing his American counterpart as a "warm and agreeable" man.

“It's easier to work with someone you already know – someone with whom you already have a few pre-arranged matters.”

The Polish president noted that among these matters were relations with Ukraine, a subject which he says he has discussed on several occasions with Obama.

“Poland has worked consistently to convince the West that Ukraine's doors must not close to the western world, on the contrary, they should be opened, as this path can lead to the solving of many of Ukraine's internal problems,” he said.

Komorowski also stressed “the small but for us significant matter” of Obama's 2010 promise to scrap the necessity of Poles to have visas to enter the United States.

“I believe that President Obama's promise will be easier to meet after the election,” he said.

“Of course, this will require the mobilization of positive action on the part of the Republican majority in Congress, because this bill can only pass only through cooperation between the two American parties,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Komorowski said that there is “a very, very realistic” chance that Obama will return to Poland for the launch of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, an insiution which has sponsors in both Poland and the US.

The project was presented in New York last month, and it is hoped that the museum will open in the autumn of 2013. (nh)