Polska wobec emancypacji politycznej Łotwy i Estonii w latach 1989‑1991

Abstract

Poland’s attitude towards political emancipation of Latvia and Estonia in 1989‑1991

Year 1988 saw the beginning of the political emancipation of Latvia and Estonia. Both republics declared that the decisions about their incorporation in the Soviet Union – taken by their respective parliaments in 1940 – were illegal, and therefore null and void. Both countries took advantage of the freedoms gained as a result of Mikhail Gorbachev’s political reforms, and obtained international support for their independence aspirations. Poland found itself in a tricky situation. On the one hand, it supported Latvia and Estonia’s endeavours, but on the other hand, it advocated the territorial integrity of the USSR. Minister of Foreign Affairs Krzysztof Skubiszewski defined the policy towards the former Soviet republics as a policy of adaptation to the progressing “pluralism” within the Soviet Union (so‑called ‘dual‑track policy’). Poland maintained interministerial contacts with the Baltic republics, accepted their delegations, supported their gradual emergence in the international arena as individual entities, even though within the framework of the Soviet delegation. However, Polish officials avoided actions that could be regarded as formal recognition of the Baltic states’ independence. Given the restrictions that tied up the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was the delegates and senators from the CPC club that performed a significant role in the Polish diplomatic efforts. Their visits to the Baltic republics, seen as part of interparliamentary contacts, encouraged trust in the mutual relations and contributed to the promotion of the Polish dual‑track policy. Once the independence of the Baltic states was officially recognised by the Soviet Union, Poland resumed the relations with Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.