Poland Calls For Russian Calm
Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski urged an improvement in relations with Russia on Monday and called on Poles to avoid "senseless stereotypes".
Relations between Russia and Poland - which overthrew Soviet-imposed communism in 1989 - soured last week after the beatings in Moscow of two Polish diplomats and a journalist.
But Kwasniewski and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed in a phone call on Friday to work on improving an "unfavorable atmosphere" between the two uneasy neighbors.
"In relations with Russia we must do everything to eliminate radicalism and prevent the strengthening of negative, senseless stereotypes in order to conduct dialogue and build relations serving a neighborly future," Kwasniewski said at a military parade.
Russia has been irked by Poland's close ties with the United States, Warsaw's criticism of Russia's military campaign in Chechnya and its support for last year's "Orange Revolution" in Ukraine, which helped propel to power a pro-Western government.
Two Polish diplomats and a reporter were attacked in Moscow last week in apparent revenge attacks after four Russian children were beaten up and robbed in Warsaw by Polish thugs.
Russia reacted sharply to the incident, with Putin using it as an opportunity to decry Polish "Russo phobia".
Poland said his remarks were out of proportion and insisted the attack was purely criminal.