Speaking at a debate during the Munich Security Conference, Radosław Sikorski said Europe and the United States share common ground but have long differed in key areas, including freedom of speech.
“In Europe, for important historical reasons—for example in Poland—advocating fascism or communism is banned,” Sikorski said. “We believe in freedom of speech with responsibility.”
Referring to remarks made at last year’s conference by the U.S. vice president, Sikorski added: “The vice president of the United States told us that our concept of free speech is censorship, and I simply do not accept that.”
“The difficulty we face now is that one side of the Atlantic is trying to impose its values on the other, and that is unacceptable,” he said.
Sikorski also criticized what he described as a break with an unwritten rule of noninterference in allies’ domestic politics, citing U.S. support for Karol Nawrocki in Poland’s presidential election. “That is completely outrageous,” he said. “In Poland, for example, it is irrational.”
He said Poland had long been one of the most pro-American countries in Europe, noting that governments and opposition parties once competed over who was more supportive of Washington. “When you start picking sides, a different dynamic begins,” Sikorski said.
The debate also featured Hillary Clinton and Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka, and focused on ideological divides and approaches to Ukraine.
Sikorski sharply criticized the Trump administration’s stance on the war, calling efforts to pressure Ukraine into concessions to Russia “shameful.”
“I believe that the position of the Trump administration toward Ukraine is shameful,” he said, adding that attempts to force Kyiv into a settlement with President Vladimir Putin would be a “historic mistake.”
In exchanges with conservative U.S. political scientist Gladden Pappin and Macinka, Sikorski rejected arguments against excluding extremist parties in Europe. “Yes, we exclude fascists,” he said, insisting the threat remains real on the continent.
(jh)
Source: PAP