Poland is interested in extending its ties with Israel in all fields, but is still not ready to establish full diplomatic relations, the foreign minister of Poland told Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir Wednesday.
Shamir met with the Polish foreign minister, Marian Orzechowsky, for one hour at the Regency Hotel here. The Polish official told Shamir that his country is interested in extending its economic and cultural ties with Israel, as well as increasing the exchange of tourists.
Although Shamir speaks Polish, he spoke in English with Orzechowsky, who spoke in Polish through a translator.
Shamir pointed to the deep, historic relations between the two peoples, noting that Jews have been living in Poland for more than a thousand years.
Shamir said he is interested in encouraging visits to Poland by Jewish youth to learn about Jewish history there.
As for economic ties between the two countries, Shamir said he would do his utmost to increase trade with Poland.
He noted that the bilateral trade between the two countries presently stands at $30 million annually, compared to $1 billion in trade between Poland and all Arab nations together.
Israelis officials described the meeting between the two as “very warm and friendly.”
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