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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Poland leak: Radek Sikorski scorns 'worthless' US ties | Poland leak: Radek Sikorski scorns 'worthless' US ties |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Poland's Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski called his country's ties with the US "worthless", a Polish news magazine says, giving excerpts of a secretly recorded conversation. | Poland's Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski called his country's ties with the US "worthless", a Polish news magazine says, giving excerpts of a secretly recorded conversation. |
| The magazine Wprost is already at the centre of another scandal over leaked tapes involving the Polish government. | The magazine Wprost is already at the centre of another scandal over leaked tapes involving the Polish government. |
| Mr Sikorski called Poland's stance towards the US "downright harmful because it creates a false sense of security", according to the new leak. | Mr Sikorski called Poland's stance towards the US "downright harmful because it creates a false sense of security", according to the new leak. |
| He has not denied using such language. | He has not denied using such language. |
| According to the excerpts, Mr Sikorski told former Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski that "the Polish-US alliance isn't worth anything". | According to the excerpts, Mr Sikorski told former Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski that "the Polish-US alliance isn't worth anything". |
| Using vulgar language, he compared Polish subservience to the US to giving oral sex. He also warned that such a stance would cause "conflict with the Germans, Russians". | Using vulgar language, he compared Polish subservience to the US to giving oral sex. He also warned that such a stance would cause "conflict with the Germans, Russians". |
| 'Total suckers' | 'Total suckers' |
| He also used a racially loaded term to describe the Polish stance - "murzynskosc", which suggests a slave mentality. | He also used a racially loaded term to describe the Polish stance - "murzynskosc", which suggests a slave mentality. |
| ``(We are) suckers, total suckers. The problem in Poland is that we have shallow pride and low self-esteem,'' Mr Sikorski was quoted as saying. | ``(We are) suckers, total suckers. The problem in Poland is that we have shallow pride and low self-esteem,'' Mr Sikorski was quoted as saying. |
| Earlier this month Mr Sikorski, a conservative and leading critic of Russia in the current Ukraine crisis, was nominated by the Polish government to replace Baroness Ashton as EU foreign policy chief. | Earlier this month Mr Sikorski, a conservative and leading critic of Russia in the current Ukraine crisis, was nominated by the Polish government to replace Baroness Ashton as EU foreign policy chief. |
| Baroness Ashton, known as the EU High Representative, will step down in November, but EU leaders have not yet decided who will replace her. | Baroness Ashton, known as the EU High Representative, will step down in November, but EU leaders have not yet decided who will replace her. |
| Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski told reporters on Monday that the US was a "very important ally and partner". Mr Sikorski and the prime minister hit back at the leak, accusing an "organised crime group" of being behind the revelations. | |
| State prosecutors are already examining material provided by Wprost on Saturday, days after a controversial police raid to find separate leaked tapes published by the magazine a week ago. The magazine's editor had refused to hand over his laptop during the raid, which was broadcast live on Polish TV. | |
| Bugging of conversations to gain information is illegal in Poland, punishable by up to two years in jail, Polish national radio reports. But prosecutors were widely criticised for the raid and Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he may have to call snap elections. | Bugging of conversations to gain information is illegal in Poland, punishable by up to two years in jail, Polish national radio reports. But prosecutors were widely criticised for the raid and Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he may have to call snap elections. |
| In last week's leak, Wprost published the content of an alleged private conversation in which Poland's top banker discussed the next election with a minister. | In last week's leak, Wprost published the content of an alleged private conversation in which Poland's top banker discussed the next election with a minister. |
| Under Polish law, the central bank must remain independent of politics. | Under Polish law, the central bank must remain independent of politics. |
| In the recording, Interior Minister Bartlomiej Sienkiewicz was allegedly heard talking to Marek Belka, head of the National Bank of Poland. | In the recording, Interior Minister Bartlomiej Sienkiewicz was allegedly heard talking to Marek Belka, head of the National Bank of Poland. |
| Mr Belka was apparently heard calling for ex-finance minister Rostowski to be removed in return for the bank's support in the event of an economic crisis. | Mr Belka was apparently heard calling for ex-finance minister Rostowski to be removed in return for the bank's support in the event of an economic crisis. |