Former communist ruler feted by new Polish leadership

Poland's president prepared yesterday for an upcoming visit by the Russian president by gathering nearly all living democratic-era presidents and prime ministers - and even the country's last Communist-era leader General Wojciech Jaruzelski.

The special gathering of the National Security Council, called by president Bronislaw Komorowski to discuss Poland's evolving relations with Russia, highlights the importance Warsaw's leaders place on the 6 December visit by Dmitry Medvedev.

Poles still have very strong feelings about Moscow, which invaded the country's eastern half during the Second World War, dominated it during the Cold War, and now supplies it with gas and oil.

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For years after Poland overthrew Communist rule, ties remained troubled but have improved in the wake of former president Lech Kaczynski's death in a plane crash in Russia this year. Inviting Gen Jaruzelski, a former Communist leader once loyal to Moscow, also reflects the conciliatory approach towards Russia sought by Mr Komorowski and premier Donald Tusk.

However Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the late president's twin brother and a former prime minister who blames Russia for the fatal crash that killed 96 people, boycotted the meeting. He said he objected to the presence of a "former dictator of Poland". He also accused Tusk's government of being soft on Russia.

A top aide to Mr Komorowski defended the decision to invite Gen Jaruzelski. "Hardly anybody has such a knowledge of Russia," Slawomir Nowak said.

Gen Jaruzelski backers say he spared Poland a Russian invasion by cracking down on the democratic opposition in the 1980s, but critics say he is a traitor.

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