Traditional feast held in city center for haves and have ... - Krakow Post

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6 The Krakow Post P O L A N D R E G I O N A L N E W S World’s oldest man dies in Ukraine, aged 116 A Ukrainian shepherd believed by some to be the world’s oldest man has died at the age of 116, authorities in the western Lviv province announced early this week. Grygory Nestor put his longevity down to never having married: “If I had had a wife, I would have been in a coffin long ago,” he told AFP in a recent interview. Nestor’s passport and birth certificate put his date of birth as March 15, 1891, but he is thought to have been awaiting confirmation from the Guinness Book of World Records when he passed away. The Ukrainian media has claimed him as the world’s oldest man. He remained a shepherd until nearly his 100th year, and could still read the newspaper without glasses. He offered a spartan sampling of other reasons for his long-life: a strict regime of no cigarettes, light drinking and healthy food – but also a routine of prayer and repentance. Nestor died in the town of Stary Yarychiv. “In the next world, all will be well,” he once said. “And if that’s not the case, a lot of people will run away.” (AFP) Poland prepares withdrawal from Iraq for October 2008 Poland’s new liberal government late last week asked conservative President Lech Kaczynski to extend the country’s mission in Iraq until the end of October 2008, at which point it wants a troop withdrawal. “The government requests the extension of the mission of the Polish military contingent in Iraq to Oct. 31, 2008,” a government statement said. “Polish troops and other personnel will carry out tasks aimed at ending the mission,” it said. Bringing Poland’s 900 troops home from Iraq was a key manifesto pledge of Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s liberal Civic Platform party, which trounced the ruling Law and Justice party in parliamentary elections in October. The previous conservative government led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the president’s identical twin brother, was intent on maintaining the four-yearold Polish presence in Iraq despite widespread public opposition. Under Polish law, the president is the country’s commander-in-chief and is responsible for approving foreign operations. The current contingent’s deployment to Iraq is due to finish at the end of this month. (AFP) Ukraine parliament approves Tymoshenko as premier Ukraine’s parliament early this week narrowly approved Orange Revolution leader Yulia Tymoshenko as prime minister, in the ex-Soviet republic’s latest bid to escape months of political turmoil. Deputies in the single-chamber Rada voted 226-0 in favor of Tymoshenko, proposed by pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko – the absolute minimum for a vote to pass in the 450- seat Rada. The opposition boycotted the vote. Tymoshenko supporters cheered following her victory, which came a week after a first parliament vote failed to pass by just a single deputy. On this occasion deputies voted one by one in a show of hands to avoid a repeat of the previous week when Tymoshenko’s coalition claimed that tampering with the electronic system had been responsible for her defeat. Dramatically underlining divisions in this country of 46 mln people, pro-Moscow opposition forces, who control just under half of parliament, did not take part in the vote. Tymoshenko rose to fame when she and Yushchenko led the 2004 Orange Revolution protests that forced a re-run of a rigged presidential election victory by Moscow-backed rival Viktor Yanukovych, who now heads the opposition. Yushchenko won the re-run and appointed Tymoshenko premier, but their alliance fell apart shortly after. Ahead of the vote, the fiery Tymoshenko accused the opposition of corruption and said “they are petrified that... I will put order into the state.” (AFP) Martin Pollack wins Angelus Central European Literature Award for 2007 Urszula Ciolkiewicz Staff Journalist Martin Pollack is the winner of the Angelus Central European Literature Award for 2007. The winning book is titled “Smierc w Bunkrze – Opowiesc o Moim Ojcu” (“Death in the Bunker – the Story About My Father”). Angelus is the most important award in the field of creative prose translated into the Polish language. The award is presented on an annual basis to writers from Central Europe whose works undertake themes most relevant to the present day, encourage reflection and deepen the world’s knowledge of other cultures. It is directly connected with Wroclaw as a city of intercultural dialogue, as it is the place where people of various nations and cultures have always been coexisting. The members of the Angelus jury are: Natalia Gorbaniewska (Russian poet, journalist and translator of Polish literature), Stanislaw Beres ( a literary historian, poet, essayist and translator), Piotr Kepinski (poet and literary critic), Julian Kornhauser (poet, writer of prose and literary critic), Ryszard Krynicki (poet, translator and publisher), Tomasz Lubienski (playwright and writer), Krzysztof Maslon (publicist, literary critic) and Andrzej Zawada (literary historian, writer for radio and editor). This year’s laureate is an Austrian essayist, publicist and translator. Martin Pollack, born in 1944, who translated into the German language all the books of Ryszard Kapuscinski, the famous Polish reporter, journalist, publicist, poet and photographer. Pollack studied Slavic literature and Eastern European history in Vienna and Warsaw. The honored book was written in 2004. Pollack tells the story of his father, Dr. Gerhard Bast, whose body was found in 1947 at the entrance to a bunker on the Austrian- Italian border. The investigation brings into light a terrifying truth: Pollack’s father was a war www.isaf.wp.mil Military contingent in Partnership for Peace international program Joanna Zabierek Staff Journalist One of Poland’s top priorities after independence in 1989 was NATO membership. But being a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a two-edged sword. On the one hand, it gives Poland military security that it has never had before. NATO rules say that if one member is attacked, all members will go that country’s defense. But on the other hand, membership means that Polish troops must participate in NATO missions abroad. The alliance’s Partnership for Peace program sends troops overseas to deal with threats such as terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and energy security. Polish troops have been deployed in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Iraq and in the Mediterranean. Afghanistan continues to be the country’s biggest mission. About 1,200 soldiers are there. The mission is complicated, requiring a mix of fighting and nation-building skills. NATO troops in Afghanistan must not only try to ensure security and stability but also help with reconstruction of the country. The Nangar Khel tragedy underscores how difficult it has been for NATO forces to handle all facets of their difficult mission in Afghanistan. Seven Polish soldiers attacked the village of Nangar Khel in August, killing six unarmed civilians. They face charges that could put them in prison for 12 years to life. Although Polish troops had been in Iraq, their experiences were not automatically transferable to Afghanistan because different Muslim countries have different rules of conduct. The Nangar Kher case showed that many soldiers don’t recognize that a knowledge of and appreciation for local culture and religion can be keys to the success of their mission, analysts say. They maintain that if the Polish soldiers at Nangar Kher had had good working relationships with the locals, the tragedy might not have occurred. The Defense Ministry now recognizes that troops not only need battlefield and militaryintelligence preparation for an overseas mission but also specialized knowledge about the country where they are being deployed and psychological preparation. NATO’s post-Cold War overseas missions are so-called “three-bloc” operations. Soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan may have to perform combat tasks. They also may have to act as policemen. Plus, they become involved in humanitarian activities. They need to be proficient in all three tasks – and that requires special training. Lack of such training probably played a key role in what happened in Nangar Khel, analysts say. Although NATO has not offered precise information on its plans for staying in Afghanistan, indications are that the mission may last until at least 2020. The exact time frame is up in the air because it involves not only how much military success NATO is having but also winning the hearts and minds of the population. Peacekeepers are dependent to a large extent on the goodwill of locals for success in both their military and humanitarian missions. That goodwill also helps ensure their safety. A Nangar Khel-type breakdown can destroy that goodwill. The goodwill lesson applies not only to Iraq and Afghanistan, but other places as well. In January, Polish soldiers will be deployed to Chad. Becoming peacekeepers in that country’s civil war may be the most difficult overseas mission Poles have faced. About 150 Poles will be going to Darfur as part of a multinational force whose task is to try to stop four years of violence there. The start of the Chad mission will come a few months before Poland pulls its 897 troops from Iraq, fulfilling a promise that Prime Minister Donald Tusk made in his election campaign this fall. DECEMBER 20-JANUARY 9, 2008 Poles hope for a better future the krakow post LUK Agency Apparently the approaching end of 2007 brings out hope for the future among Polish people. According to a poll by the Public Opinion Research Center (Centrum Badania Opinii Spolecznej – CBOS), Poles are extremely optimistic and positive about ongoing changes in the country and their own financial situation. They have not been this enthusiastic since 1998. For the first time since the end of the 1990s, the number of people who consider the country’s situation to be positive has exceeded 50 percent. Only a fourth of those questioned expressed an opinion to the contrary. The judgment appeared to depend much on the age, education and residence of the respondents, with the younger, better-educated and betterpaid inhabitants of bigger cities generally much more satisfied with the direction the country is heading after the October election. Among those with the lowest income, a majority considered the country’s situation unsatisfactory. People’s opinions regarding their own financial status have also improved, with 36 percent of those questioned considering it good, 42 percent average and 22 percent bad. The most significant changes in the poll results, in comparison to the last three months, regard the political situation in Poland. Twenty-four percent of respondents believed it to be good, which is 8 points higher than a month ago. Even though more people were still displeased with the politics (27 percent), their number has significantly decreased during the last three months. The remaining 41 percent believe the political situation in the country to be average. As for the economic situation, a third of those questioned are satisfied and a fifth consider it unsatisfactory. Hungarian Cuisine and More... Stary Kleparz Pharmacy Momotown Hostel 28 Miodowa St. tel. 012 4296929 info@momotownhostel.com www.momotownhostel.com 10% discount with this ad! We speak English and French. Rynek Kleparski 14 Tel.: (0) 12 430-0410 www.starykleparz.pl
DECEMBER 20-JANUARY 9, 2008 B U S I N E S S The Krakow Post 7 Bestsellers for 2007 Magdalena Lyko Staff Journalist “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” by J.K. Rowling heads Empik’s bestsellers of 2007 English book list. The Harry Potter series has continued to dominate the market since its introduction, attracting a readership beyond its child-teenage audience, with many adult readers seduced by Rowling’s magical writing style. From the magical to the mystical, Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code” continues to fair well with its enlivening of thoughts and questions surrounding the Christian world. A popular subject in an overtly Catholic country like Poland. Paulo Coelho’s “The Witch of Portobello” also fits into this mould, if somewhat more subliminally in his ongoing engagement over spirituality and the Catholic Church. Patric Suskind’s mystical realism work “Perfume,” recently presented in film, holds a continuing presence over 20 years after publication in 1985. Along with the “Devil wears Prada” by Lauren Weisberger and “Memoirs of a Geisha” by Arthur Golden, each of these publications have been buoyed by their respective film releases post-publication. From the non-fiction genre Britain’s Jeremy Clarkson makes the bestseller list with “The World According to Clarkson” and “I Know You Got Soul,” rounding off a varied selection of readings for the coming holidays. Ancora means “more” Fine cuisine for business & non-business Ancora was opened in July by Adam Chrzastowski, restaurant head chef and coowner with his associate, Robert Radzinski, a wine connoisseur. the krakow post Ancora’s name translated from Italian means “more.” With its auteur cuisine by Adam Chrzastowski, Ancora restaurant is a culinary challenge for those who want to explore new tastes. Ancora was opened in July by Chrzastowski, restaurant head chef and co-owner with his associate, Robert Radzinski, a wine connoisseur, and is the fruit of many years of culinary exploration. Auteur cuisine are courses invented and prepared by the chef, based on individual compositions inspired by particular dishes or national cuisines. The rest is based on the chef’s culinary imagination. “To a major extent, matching tastes is like matching colors – you instinctively remember the taste and then invent new combinations,” said Chrzastowski. The whole composition of a meal is complemented by the rich content of the restaurant’s wine menu (ca. 400). To deter categorization, courses in Ancora’s CALL TO ADVERTISE: Andrzej Kowalski, Marketing Manager, +48 (0) 798-683-160 Hotel Eden ul. Ciemna 15 31-053 Krakow Tel. 012 430 65 65 eden@hoteleden.pl www.hoteleden.pl menu avoid standard titles, they are more descriptive. What is more, tastes and dishes change for occasions, with the latest innovation being a Christmas menu. An open kitchen engages diners with the process of preparing dishes and provides the opportunity for a culinary chat with Chrzastowski. Ancora states its meticulous selection of quality ingredients puts it at an advantage over others. Chrzastowski personally oversees the process of course preparation. “I only purchase the highest quality seasonal products. Otherwise I simply don’t take it,” said Chrzastowski. The restaurant strives to debunk the belief that Polish cuisine is only pierogi and pork meat by promoting a new Polish cuisine experience through its fine dishes, hospitable atmosphere and the celebration of the meal as an event in itself. Ancora restaurant is located at ul. Dominikanska 3, open from 12:00 to 23:00. www.ancora-restaurant.com German railway could invest in India, Poland and Romania Logo of Deutsche Bahn. agence france-presse The German railway Deutsche Bahn is mulling an expansion into Poland and Romania, and has also created a joint-venture with Indian steel company Jindal, a press report said early this week. Norbert Bensel, head of Deutsche Bahn’s logistics unit, told Financial Times Deutschland the company was closely following privatization in Romania where he expected state-owned logistic companies and cargo units of state-owned railways to be sold for below 100 mln euro ($144 mln). Deutsche Bahn is prepared to invest more than 100 mln euro in Poland, the Financial Times Deutschland reported, possibly partnering with Russia’s state-owned railways. HOTEL EDEN announces our annual festive CHRISTMAS and NEW YEAR’S PARTIES. We also provide EXCEPTIONAL CATERING SERVICES for your own holiday parties or functions throughout the year. “We’re expecting an operating license for our subsidiary there by early 2008,” Bensel said. Deutsche Bahn wants to play an active role in the consolidation of Europe’s rail cargo industry as passenger traffic shows slower growth rates and is still heavily regulated. On the joint venture with Jindal, Bensel said Deutsche Bahn will hold the majority in the project, which in a first phase will handle Jindal’s cargo operations. He did not disclose the investment but said it is low as the German rail operator first seeks to gain experience in India. He said Deutsche Bahn in a second step would handle logistics for German automotive suppliers in India. REGISTER FOR FREE TODAY BE FIRST! SEND YOUR CV NOW MAKE YOURSELF VISIBLE TO EMPLOYERS IN IRELAND, UK AND MIDLAND EUROPE REGISTER NOW ON www.snazzyjobs.ie NEW EMPLOYMENT PORTAL LAUNCHING NOVEMBER 2007 EU’s top court rules against Swedish union agence france-presse Europe’s top court early this week ruled against a Swedish trade union that blockaded a work site used by a Latvian company to force the firm to pay its staff higher local rates. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) recognized the right of workers to take collective action but it said that the picketing in this widelywatched case had restricted the right of the Latvian company to provide services. “Such action in the form of a blockade of sites constitutes a restriction on the freedom to provide services, which, in this case, is not justified with regard to the public interest of protecting workers,” the court said. The case concerned Latvian company Laval un Partneri, which posted workers to Swedish building sites, mainly on extensions at a school in the town of Vaxholm in May 2004. The works were handled by a susidiary, L and P Baltic Bygg. Sweden’s Byggnads construction union accused Laval of paying rates far lower than permissable and blockaded three of its building sites to pressure the subsidiary into signing a collective wage agreement. The action forced L and P Baltic Bygg into bankruptcy. The rift has been followed closely in Sweden, where it was seen as a direct consequence of EU enlargement amid fears of an influx of cheap labor from Eastern European countries, such as Latvia, which joined the bloc in May 2004. The court, based in Luxembourg, noted “the right to take collective action for the protection of workers of the host state against possible social dumping may constitute an over-riding reason of public interest.” But it said that, in this case, that right was liable to make it more difficult for the Latvian firm “to carry out construction work in Sweden and therefore constitutes a restriction on the freedom to provide services.”
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Traditional feast held in city center for haves and have ... - Krakow Post

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