“Solidarity in the Arab Spring”
“Making sense in the aftermath of revolution is never easy. But as countries such as Tunisia and Egypt … grapple with how to rebuild institutions and build democracies, a few of the stewards of Eastern Europe’s great break from communism seem ready with advice, money and help” – writes Reuters in the special report on Polish support for Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.
The news agency cites Lech Wałęsa and Radosław Sikorski’s visits to Tunisia and Egypt and the fact Sikorski was “the first senior developed world official to visit rebel-held Benghazi in Libya.” It also mentions Warsaw’s plans for an endowment to help the Arab world during the Polish Presidency of the EU: as Sikorski puts it, “Promoting democracy is cheap, USD 100 million is the price of two F-16s. I think it is worth it.”
Poland, which President Obama called “a living example of what is possible when countries take reform seriously,” can also serve as an example to the Arab Spring countries. The anti-Gaddafi group Minister Sikorski met in Benghazi included former political prisoners and the former justice minister who now work together. “This recalls Poland’s Round Table,” said Sikorski, who also advised the Libyan interim government “they need an action plan for each ministry before they enter Tripoli … They must have an idea of what they want to do because the period of extraordinary politics is very short.”
MR
