Poland

Poland's national bank: too early for first stage of euro

Poland's national bank: too early for first stage of euroWarsaw - Poland's National Bank warned on Monday against moving closer to adopting the euro, saying that at present there were few economic reasons to enter the precursory stage for adopting the euro.

It was "highly uncertain" that Poland could meet the criteria to stay in ERM-2, a pre-cursor program to joining the eurozone, said the report, released on Monday.

A qualifying country is required to spend at least two years in ERM-2 and run a budget deficit at no more than 3 per cent of the GDP.

Polish zloty hits historic lows

Poland mapWarsaw - The Polish zloty hit its lowest point in several years on Monday when it traded at 4.77 against the euro.

The zloty also traded at 3.3 against the Swiss franc and 3.74 against the dollar in what was a historic low point for the currency.

"This should simply be explained by dismal sentiments and a huge aversion to risk," analyst Piotr Poplawski of Bank BGZ told the Puls Biznesu daily. "In this situation, the Polish currency will head in the direction of 5 zlotys against the euro, and I expect that barrier to break next month."

Polish-Russian relations "unblocked" says Poland's foreign minister

Radoslaw SikorskiWarsaw - Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski spoke of an opening in Polish-Russian relations based on compromise instead of rhetoric, local media reported on Friday.

Sikorski said Poland has "stepped away from rhetoric" and opted for "the language of pragmatism and looking for compromise, whenever we see signs of good will from the other side."

Sikorski proposed setting clear outlines that would mark relations between Poland, the European Union and Russia, reported the Polish Press Agency PAP. The EU should have "a shared strategy in relations with its Eastern partner," he said.

US, Poland top rankings of PC game pirates

Poland MapWarsaw - The United States and Poland topped a list that ranked countrie

Poland blames elements within Pak Govt. for sealing hostage’s fate

Warsaw, Feb. 11: Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has blamed elements within the Pakistan government for hampering efforts to save the life of a Polish hostage beheaded by Taliban militants.

"The (Islamabad) government cannot count on the loyalty of all of its officers and officials is a sad reality. This was an obstacle in our cooperation, but nevertheless we had cooperation (from the Pakistani side)," Sikorski was quoted by The News, as saying.

"We had to deal with people who are evil in a pure form, whose perverted sense of honour is based on cruelty," he added.

Warsaw offers reward for capture of Taliban who killed Pole

Donald TuskWarsaw  - Poland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered a reward of 1 million zloty (291,248 dollars) on Tuesday for information leading to the arrest of the Taliban responsible for killing a kidnapped Polish engineer in Pakistan.

Pakistani militants released on Sunday video footage of the Pole's beheading. They had offered to exchange him for 61 of their colleagues held by Pakistan.

Poland's foreign minister said on Tuesday that Pakistan confirmed the engineer is dead, but that neither side knows where the body was taken.

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