Polish Solidarity at work in MENA

Benghazi, Libya - As the first foreign official to visit Libya after the liberation announcement made by National Transitional Council, Polish foreign minister Radek Sikorski tried to kill two birds with one stone.

First, to enable Polish energy and construction companies’ comeback to post-Gaddafi Libya. This "unique opportunity" at the "best possible moment" excited members of his entourage.

The other part of what may appear a new Warsaw Pact being offered to the Arab nations was more idealistic. Poland wants to share its knowhow on transfer to democracy.

"We want you to learn from our successes as well as our mistakes," Sikorski declared after the meeting with NTC head Mustafa Abdel Jalil. The offer was backed with signs of goodwill. From his previous visit to Libya in June, Sikorski brought back to Warsaw three families of African refugees. This time he offered the services of Polish doctors and nurses to Libyans wounded in war, both in Poland and in Libya. The Polish medical mission in Misrata has now begun its work.

The old Solidarity trademark seems still helpful. "We remember your brave Solidarity movement and we want to learn from Poland how to depart safely from dictatorship," Abdalla M. Fellah, head of the Libyan Business Council, told IPS.... (emphasis added)

Read the rest at TruthOut
Poland Steps Into Arab Spring
by Robert Stefanicki, Inter Press Service