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New Polish PM visiting Brussels Russia poll vexes EU and Poland
(about 11 hours later)
Polish PM Donald Tusk has travelled to Brussels on his first major foreign trip since he took office last month. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has criticised the conduct of Russia's election, during his first talks with top EU officials since taking office.
He has pledged to improve ties with the EU that were strained under Poland's previous Euro-sceptic government led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski. His comments in Brussels contrasted sharply with those of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who congratulated President Vladimir Putin on Monday.
Mr Tusk will meet both EU and Nato officials for talks on Russia and about the controversial US proposal to build part of its missile shield in Poland. The EU's Portuguese presidency said Sunday's parliamentary election failed to meet international standards.
He will also meet European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. A Polish-Russian dispute has fuelled EU-Russia tensions in the past year.
Mr Tusk's plan to adopt more constructive diplomacy towards the EU contrasts sharply with his predecessor, Mr Kaczynski. The previous Polish government blocked talks on a new EU-Russia agreement after Russia imposed a ban on imports of Polish meat products.
Soften stance Referring to the Russian election, Mr Tusk said "we should not in Europe be tolerant of a situation where certain democratic standards are being broken".
In June, Mr Kaczynski astounded his EU counterparts when he argued that Poland should have more voting power within the 27-member bloc because Germany had killed six million Polish citizens during the Second World War. EU voices concern
One of the subjects Mr Tusk is expected to discuss with Mr Barroso is Russia. The EU statement on Tuesday echoed that criticism, noting that "there were many reports and allegations of media restrictions as well as harassment of opposition parties and NGOs" during the election.
Poland is blocking fresh talks on a new EU-Russia partnership deal because of a Russian ban on Polish meat. I will stand up and defend the European interest Donald TuskPolish Prime Minister
Mr Tusk has signalled his government may soften its stance if Russia ends the embargo. It called on Russia to investigate the allegations about irregularities.
The Polish prime minister will also meet the Nato Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. Mr Tusk received a warm welcome from the European Commission president, Jose Manuel Barroso.
Mr Tusk wants Nato's opinion on US plans to build part of its missile shield in Poland, before talks resume with the Americans. Mr Tusk was critical of the Russian authorities' treatment of the opposition activist and former chess star Garry Kasparov, whom he described as "my political friend".
Mr Kasparov was detained during the election campaign and his party was prevented from taking part in the election.
But Mr Tusk added that he wanted ties between Warsaw and Moscow to improve.
Meanwhile, Mr Sarkozy's call to President Putin has angered human rights groups in France and the opposition Socialist Party.
New EU-Poland chapter
In a significant change from the Eurosceptic stance of his predecessor Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Mr Tusk said there was no conflict between the interests of Poland and those of the European Union.
"Along with others who have fought for the European Union, I will stand up and defend the European interest as well," he said.
Our European Affairs correspondent Oana Lungescu says top EU officials were all smiles, welcoming Donald Tusk as a dedicated European and an old friend.
It was a marked contrast to Mr Kaczynski, who shocked the rest of the EU by demanding more voting rights in exchange for the 6.5 million Poles killed by Germans during World War II.
His government had also decided to opt out of a European charter of fundamental rights because it thought it would encourage gay marriages.
Britain has also decided not to adopt the charter.
Mr Tusk said Poland could reconsider its position on the charter in the future, but only after ratification of the new EU Reform Treaty, of which the charter is part.
Mr Tusk has also been having talks with Nato officials about Russia and the controversial US missile defence system.
Jaroslaw Kaczynski agreed to have a missile interceptor base built in Poland and Mr Tusk's government says it wants to reassure Moscow about the project while working in partnership with its Nato and EU partners.
Russia and Poland will have their highest-level talks for more than a year when the Polish Foreign Minister, Radek Sikorski, meets his opposite number Sergei Lavrov in Brussels on Thursday.