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US Expresses Sympathy to Poland Over Skubiszewski Death

   VOA News 11 February 2010
   Poland's  former  Foreign  Minister  Krzystof  Skubiszewski,  (l)  and
   Germany's Hans-Dietrich Genscher (2006 file photo)

Photo: AP

   Poland's  former  Foreign  Minister  Krzystof  Skubiszewski,  (l)  and
   Germany's Hans-Dietrich Genscher (2006 file photo)

   The  U.S.  State  Department has expressed its sympathy and solidarity
   with  Poland  over  the  death  this  week of its first post-communist
   Foreign Minister, Krzysztof Skubiszewski.
   State  Department  spokesman  P.J. Crowley says Skubiszewski paved the
   way  for  Poland's eventual membership in NATO and the strong alliance
   between Poland and the United States.
   He called Skubiszewski a great statesman and visionary.
   Skubiszewski died Monday at age 83.  No cause of death was announced.
   He  was Poland's first foreign minister after the fall of communism in
   1989.  He held the post until 1993.
   Skubiszewski  opened talks with NATO and worked towards reconciliation
   with Germany.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP.
   

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